I choose thee Lord of all.

Todd's Road Grace Church would like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at 9.45 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services. For more information, visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com.

Now here's our pastor, Todd Nybert.

I've entitled the message for this morning, What is of First Importance? Now, from time to time, I've heard people say with regard to the Word of God, this is more important than some other thing in the Word of God. And my thoughts are, since when does any man have the wisdom to be able to look at one part of God's word and say it's more important than another part. If God said it, it's all important.

Now, the Bible is the word of God. It's the inspired, infallible word of God. 1 Timothy 3.16, or 2 Timothy 3.16 says, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. Now, this is a presupposition that we must begin with. The Bible is the Word of God. And somebody says, how do you expect me to believe that this book is written by God and doesn't have any error in it? Well, it claims that. But do you believe that God created the universe? with no help because he's all-powerful? I dare say you do. That's the only reasonable explanation for creation. And God created the universe, the heavens and the earth, as an act of his own will. And if God has the power to create the universe, which he does, He has the power to inspire men to write a book and to preserve it over the centuries. If we don't have an inspired record, all we have is my opinion and all we have is your opinion, which you tie them together, they're worthless. What we need is to hear what God says.

What is of first importance? Now, this is not what I say or some man says is of first importance. This is what Paul says under the inspiration of God, the Holy Spirit. He says in verse 3 of 1 Corinthians 15, for I delivered unto you first of all. of first importance. This is more important than anything. I delivered unto you first of all how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. I delivered unto you first of all that which I received. I'm bringing you this message as a mailman brings you a piece of mail. He has nothing to do with the content. He simply delivers the message. Paul said, this is what I'm doing to you. I am giving to you what's of first importance. I'm giving to you that which I also received, which the Lord Jesus Christ himself gave to me as of first importance.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, the Old Testament scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. I delivered unto you that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And he was buried, he really died. Graveyard dead, he was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This is what Christ says is of first importance.

Now last week I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a car and it said, Christ died for our sins. Now, that's in the Bible. Christ died for our sins. But if that's all I quote, I'm misquoting that passage of scripture. I'm leaving out a part which, if I don't have that, I don't know what Christ died for our sins means. If we want to quote Paul exactly, You know, people quote half a verse a lot. How many times have I heard people say, all things work together for good, but they don't finish the verse. All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. There is the full quotation of the verse.

If I just say, well, all things work together for good. There's a reason for everything. It's taking away from the meaning of it. And if I simply say that Christ died for our sins, I'm misquoting the scripture. Paul said it's how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture. If I simply say Christ died for our sins, what I'm saying is meaningless. It's how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. That's what's of first importance.

Who does Paul mean by our? When he says Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Paul did not say Christ died for everybody's sins. He didn't say that. He said Christ died for our sins. Why make an issue of this? The Bible does. The Bible's written in language that's to be believed exactly as it's stated. Christ died for our sins. Who's meant by our? Now, if I won the lottery and said to my family, this is ours, Who did I mean? The members of my family. You couldn't come in and say, well, you said ours. I stake a claim in this, can't do that.

Who is meant by ours when he says Christ died for our sins according to the scripture? Well, he means everybody he died for. Christ died for our sins according to the scripture. But did he not die for everybody? No, he didn't. You can't get that from the scripture. I know religion teaches that Christ died for all men without exception, but the Bible doesn't teach that. I mean, if you look into the Old Testament, Who is the sacrifice for, the whole world or for Israel? For Israel, the chosen people of God.

Christ's death is for his people. Matthew 121 says, thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. The hour represents the elect of God. Christ died for the church, not everybody, for the church and gave himself for it. He said, I lay down my life for the sheep. Not the goats, the sheep. God's got a people he calls his sheep, his elect, his bride.

Listen to this scripture. If God be for us, who can be against us? For he that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, hath shall he not with him freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? That's who they are. It's God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It's Christ that dies. yea, rather, that's risen again, who's even at the right hand of God, who maketh intercession for us. The hour represents the elect of God.

Now most of what goes under the name of Christianity, and listen to me and I know you'll know what I'm saying is so, most of what goes on under the name of Christianity says that God loves all men, Now, before I go on, I'm not just trying to get you to agree with my doctrine. I want you to understand the gospel, and I want you to rest in who Christ is and what he did. That's my end in this. I'm just not trying to get you to believe the way I believe, but please hear me out on this. This is so very important.

Most of what goes on under the name of Christianity says God loves all men. God wants to save all men. Christ died for all men. And the Holy Spirit calls all men. Salvation is offered to all men. The forgiveness of sins is offered to all men. But as to whether or not you'll be saved, it's whether or not you accept it or reject it. Those who are in heaven and those who are in hell, God loved them, Christ died for them, God the Holy Spirit called them, but it was what they did that the others did not do that made the difference. That's why some of them are in heaven and some of them are in hell.

Now, I want you to think with me. Judas Iscariot, Is he in heaven, the one who betrayed Christ? We know he's not. The Lord called him a devil. The Lord called him the son of perdition. He was prophesied that he would do this in the Old Testament. Judas Iscariot, and I hope I say fearfully, but he's not in heaven. He's in hell.

What about Peter, the other disciple? Well, somebody says, Peter's in heaven. Yes, he is. Peter's in heaven, amongst the redeemed, singing the praise of the Lamb, along with everybody else Christ died for. He's in heaven.

Now, Judas is in hell. Peter is in heaven. Now, if Jesus Christ paid for the sins of Judas and of Peter when he died on the cross, His blood didn't do any good for Judas. It makes his blood meaningless for Judas. Even though Judas' sins were paid for and he's still in hell, that would make the blood of Christ meaningless.

Let's say God loved Judas and Peter equally. Yet Peter's in heaven, Judas is in hell. Well, that would make God's love meaningless. He couldn't save Judas. He's in hell even though God loved him. That makes the love of God meaningless.

Let's say God willed. God wanted to save Judas. God wanted to save Peter. Peter's saved. Judas is not. Well, that makes the will of God meaningless. The will of God has nothing to do with salvation. Salvation is determined by what Peter did and by what Judas did not do. That is a message of salvation by works.

Now, if someone wants to argue against this, you're not being wise. We're talking about what Christ accomplished on the cross. We're talking about the will of God. If God wills your salvation, you will be saved. If God loves you, you will be saved. If Christ died for you, you will be saved. You can't be anything but saved if Christ died for you. Who is he that condemneth? It's Christ that died. That's the only answer that's needed.

The hour represents the elect of God. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Now here's the next thing I want us to think about. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Who is Jesus Christ? This is what is of first importance.

You see, if I died for your sins, you know how much it would good or do for you? Nothing. I'm a sinner. I can't do anything for you. If I died for you, it would be meaningless. It might be a good gesture. It might be very noble on my part if I give my life for yours, but it wouldn't do you any good eternally. This is Christ that died. Christ, the eternal Son of God. I love to think of Christ as the God-man. In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead in a body. He's 100% deity. God over all, blessed forever. He's the creator of the universe. He's the controller of providence. Everything that happens in time is his willing being done. He is Lord of salvation. Your salvation is up to Him because He's God. Not only is He God, He's man. God was manifest in the flesh. God became flesh and He's 100% man. He's got a heart pumping blood just like me and you do. He breathes just like you and I do. He's bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. You see what counts is who died. It's the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the Lord of glory. If He died for you, you must be saved. He's incapable of failure. because of who he is, the God-man.

I love, it's Christ that died. Christ is not his last name, this represents his offices. as prophet, priest, and king. Now, in the Old Testament, there were three offices that were anointed. The office of the prophet, he was anointed with oil to demonstrate God's hand upon him. The office of the priest, anointed with the holy oil. And the office of king. And no mere man in the Old Testament held all three of these offices. There's only one man who holds all three of these offices.

The Christ is the Hebrew word, or it's the Greek word translated from the Hebrew word, which means the anointed, the Messiah. Christ is God's anointed prophet. Christ is God's anointed priest. Christ is God's anointed king. It's Christ that died. He's a prophet like no other prophet. Every other prophet said, thus saith the Lord. He says, I say unto you, he is the word of God. He's a priest like no other priest. Every other priest offered the blood of a sacrificial animal that could never take away sins. He came into God's presence with his own blood. Not only is he the sacrifice, he's also the priest who offers the sacrifice, and he's the altar upon which the sacrifice was laid.

He's God's Christ. He's God's prophet. He's God's priest. He's God's king. He's a king like no other king, because every other king has authority, but it's borrowed authority. It's given to him of God, and the only reason he has any authority is God has placed him in that position, and God controls him in every way. But the Lord Jesus Christ is King of kings. He has actual authority. He said, all authority is given to me in heaven and in earth. It's Christ, God's prophet, God's priest and God's king that died.

Whom say men that I am? He said to his disciples, well, they say good things about you. Some say you're John the Baptist or Elias or one of the prophets. Whom say ye that I am? Peter answered, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God.

Moreover, for I delivered unto you, first of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. Now I want to talk a little bit about the fact that Christ died. Remember, this is what is of primary importance. Christ died for our sins.

Jesus Christ, who is life, independent life, He has life in himself. You and I are so dependent. We're dependent upon God to give us the ability to take our next breath. Our heart will stop beating when he wills it to stop beating. We're so dependent. If we don't have food, we'll die. If we don't have shelter, we'll die. If we don't have something to do, water will die. We're dependent creatures.

Jesus Christ is utterly independent. He has no needs. He has life in himself. As the father hath life in himself, even so hath he given to the son to have life in himself. He has no needs. He is independent God. I've heard people say, Jesus is alive and doing well. No, he's more than alive. He's life itself. He died. That's one of the great mysteries of the scripture. The God-man died. Somebody says, how could God-man die? I don't know, but he did. He did. Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures. Now, why did he die? Scripture says the wages of sin is death. The only reason a man dies is because of sin. If there were no sin, he would never die. Christ Jesus the Lord on Calvary's tree was made sin. What all that is, no one can understand. But he was made sin. The sins of his elect became his sin. He became guilty of it. So he became guilty before God. God's just, the soul that sinneth, shall surely die. God's wrath came upon him and killed him. That's why he died. He didn't die innocent. He died guilty before God, because the sins of God's elect literally became his sins. That's why he died.

Listen to this scripture from 2 Corinthians 5, 21. For he, God the Father, hath made him sin. who knew no sin. He never committed a sin. He didn't know what it was like to sin. Why did God the Father make him sin? That we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Just as truly as he bore the sins of his people and he was made sin, everybody he died for is made to be the very righteousness of God in him. Christ died for our sins. That's why he died. Christ died for our sins. And how did he do this? He died for our sins according to the scriptures. Now, here's the gospel. It's how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. Now, he's talking about the Old Testament scriptures, and I could go to so many different Old Testament scriptures to demonstrate what that means.

But the Day of Atonement, when the high priest went into the Holy of Holies, who is he representing? He had the 12 tribes of Israel on his breastplate. Christ Jesus represented the elect when he died, just like the great high priest. He wasn't representing the whole world. He was representing Israel, which represents the elect. That's the purpose of the Old Testament.

I could go into Isaiah 53, looking at his great substitutionary death. You could go into Abraham and Isaac and the substitute ram in Isaac's place. But what I thought about was the Passover. This is how Christ died for our sins according to the scripture.

You were to take a lamb, 14 days old, Two, or you were to observe it 14 days. A year old lamb without blemish, observe it for 14 days. That two sevens, that speaks of the seven is the number of perfection, the perfect deity of Christ, the perfect humanity of Christ.

You were to take that lamb and slay it, kill it, eat all of it. All of the gospel is to believe. You'd take that blood of that lamb and put it over the doorpost. They would take a hyssop bush and strike it over the lint on the doorpost, blood.

God made this promise. God said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you. He didn't say, when I see your faith. He didn't say, when I see your works. He didn't say, when I see your sincerity. He didn't say, when I see your good intentions. He didn't say, when I see how well you're doing in your battle with sin.

He said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you. What's the one thing God was looking for? The blood. And he said, when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

Think maybe that day there was some Israelite who had committed murder. What a horrible sin. He had committed murder. If he was in the house with the blood over the door, did God pass him by? or did God go ahead and judge him? No, if he was in the house with the blood over the door, God passed him by in mercy, because all that's needed for me to be accepted by God is the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, some people will take that and run with it in a bad way. I can't do anything about it. It's still true. God said, when I see the blood, that's all he's looking for, I will pass over you. I don't care how sinful you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you.

Verse four, he was buried. His graveyard dead. He was buried. And he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Now, I love to think about this. The Lord's buried in a tomb. In the darkness of that tomb, three days, all of a sudden his heart begins to beat. His lungs heave. He opens his eyes. He's been raised from the dead. Only God witnessed this, but he was raised from the dead and he walked out of that tomb.

Now, what does his resurrection mean? The reason God raised him from the dead is God was completely satisfied with what he did and he was completely satisfied with everybody he did it for. That is the hope of the gospel. That if Christ went to the grave and stayed there, wouldn't do us any good. But he went to the grave and he was raised from the dead.

Listen to this scripture. Romans chapter 4 verse 25 says he was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. When he was raised from the dead, everybody he died for is justified before God. That means sinless, without guilt. perfect in God's sight, the law looks me over and says, He's perfect. He's never done anything wrong. He's always done that which is right. Now that is what the death of Christ and the resurrection accomplished.

Now this is what is of first importance. This is what Christ gave to Paul as first importance. It's how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he was raised again the third day according to the scriptures. Now this is the gospel message. And every message must have this in it. It doesn't mean just repeating these same words, but this is the foundation of everything, the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

May God write that on my heart and yours.

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