Would you turn back to 1 Corinthians
chapter 14? Many in the church at Corinth
had the gift to speak in other languages. You can read about
this in Acts chapter two when God the Holy Spirit came upon
the church and they began to speak in other languages. 17 different languages are mentioned
in Acts chapter two. It's what people call today,
speaking in tongues. You've met people who claim to
have this gift. We speak in tongues. Well, the
church of Corinth actually practiced this gift, this gift of speaking
in other languages, which is what speaking in tongues is.
Look in verse 30 of chapter 12. Have all the gifts of healing?
They had some who did. Do all speak with tongues? Not
all, but they had some who did. Do all interpret? Not all, but
they had some who did. So many in the church at Corinth
had this gift to speak in tongues or other languages. It was only in the early church
that this was practiced. Somebody says, well, why don't
we do it today? Well, Acts chapter eight points
out that it was only through the laying on of the apostles'
hands that this gift was transferred. And when the apostles died, there
wasn't anybody left to transfer this gift. So those people who
claim to be speaking in tongues today, they have no scripture
to support that at all. It's not real. It's a gift that
died out with the early church. Somebody says, it seems like
it would be good if we could speak with other languages and
if we could heal people and if we could perform these miraculous
things that the early church did. Well, I can see where it
would be. It seems like it'd be good, but
the Lord caused it to cease. Therefore, it's best without
it. We have the full revelation of scripture. And the church
of Corinth was not using this gift for which it was intended.
They had this gift, but what if I stood up before you and
started speaking in Chinese the gospel? You'd be impressed. He can actually
speak in fluent Chinese. You'd be impressed. But if you
didn't understand the language of Chinese, you wouldn't understand
one word I said. and you would get no benefit
from it at all. Now, this is what these people
were doing. They'd start speaking another language right there
in the church services. They had this gift. And what
was it for? It was to preach the gospel to
somebody of that language. It wasn't used to be practiced
in the church, but they were doing this to show off. And,
you know, you or I, if we had that gift, we might be doing
the same thing they were doing. It wasn't right, but that is
what was going on. Now in verse 1 of chapter 14,
follow after charity, pursue charity, and desire spiritual
gifts, but rather that you may prophesy. This is the one that
is to be desired most of all that you might preach In a language
everybody can understand. And say, thus saith the Lord.
And it's the Lord's word. Now, this again was a gift in
the early church to be able to prophesy, to say, thus saith
the Lord. We didn't have the full canon of scripture yet.
And men were still saying, thus saith the Lord. He said, now
here's something you would rather have to be able to prophesy rather
than to speak in other languages. Verse two. For he that speaketh
in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God. For
no man understands him. He might understand it, but nobody
else does if he's just speaking another language in the public
assembly where it's not necessary. How be it in the spirit, he speaketh
mysteries. He may preach a glorious truth,
but it's in a language no one understands. It doesn't do any
good. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification.
and exhortation and comfort. Now this is what's going on in
the true preaching of the gospel. Building up, edification, encouragement,
exhortation, comfort, the comfort of the gospel. What good is that
in a foreign language if no one understands? That's not going
to happen. Verse four, he that speaketh in a tongue, a language,
he may edify himself, he understands what he's saying, but he that
prophesieth edifieth the church because they all understand what
he's saying. Verse five, I would that you all speak with tongues.
I wish everybody could speak in other languages and spread
the gospel everywhere. I would desire that but rather
this is more important that you prophesied For greater is he
that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except
he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, if
someone's there that has the gift of interpretation and then
say, here's what he said, well, that's okay. But if you don't
have an interpreter, it was forbidden to speak in tongues and other
languages in the church. But yet that was what was going
on. I would be trying to showcase my gifts and show everybody how
gifted and how blessed I am. Now, we can see from this that speaking in tongues is not gibberish,
some unrecognizable language that nobody understands. I've
seen preachers do that. I remember somebody said, if
you want to learn to speak in tongues, say this, look at my
tie, look at my bow tie, and say it real quick, look at my
tie, look at my bow tie. He's speaking in tongues. No,
I'm not. I said, look at my tie, look
at my bow tie. But that's what's going on when
that is taking place. It's phony. It's phony. But he
says, I want you to be able to prophesy rather than speaking
in tongues. Except there be an interpreter
that can say what was actually said that the church may receive
edifying. Now brethren, if I come into
you speaking with tongues, other languages. What shall I profit
you except I speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge
or by prophesying or by doctrine? That is what must be taking place
in the preaching of the gospel. Revelation, God revealing who
he is through his word by knowledge. There's no salvation apart from
knowledge. You can't believe what you do
not know or by prophesying or by doctrine teaching. And then
he says in verse seven, even things without life giving sound,
talking about musical instruments, whether pipe or harp, except
they give a distinction in the sound, how shall it be known
what is piped or harped? Now you've heard kids come down
and start banging on the piano. They don't know how to play the
piano. What's it sound like? It doesn't make any sense, just
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,
Who shall prepare himself to the battle? There's a distinct sound for
the trumpet to give, to tell people we're going to war. What
if it is off? What if it's wrong? Nobody will
be able to prepare themselves for the battle and defeat a certain
if the trumpet give an uncertain sound. Verse nine, so likewise
you. except you utter by the tongue
words easy to be understood. How shall it be known what is
spoken? For you shall speak into the air, words easy to be understood. Now I want you to listen real
carefully right now. I don't care if you're a six-year-old
kid, you can understand. with words easy to be understood.
The problem is not intellect. Everybody in this room can leave
here at least understanding what has been said. Now you might
not believe it. You might reject it. You might
not receive it, but you're going to be able to understand exactly
what's being said. Pray for me. Pray for yourselves. that God will give us a word
and that He will give us hearing ears. Words clearly marked, clear
and definite, distinct. That is what is necessary in
the preaching of the gospel. Words easy to be understood. And you can leave here by the
grace of God having at least understood what is being said. Like I said, you might not believe,
you might say, I don't agree with that, but you will know
what is being said, not unclear and indefinite and indistinct
and ambiguous words, easy to be understood. Now, when Paul
was preaching to the Corinthians, he said in first Corinthians
chapter one, verse 17, for Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
preach. the gospel, not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross of Christ be made of none effect." Now,
Paul tells us clearly, I'm not here to get results. Now, I want
to see people saved and you do too. I would like, if it's the
Lord's will, for him to bring a thousand people in here or
ten thousand. I'm not talking about an indifference
about people believing. I want to see everybody in this
room believe. Believe the gospel. Rest in Christ. We want to see
results in that sense if God sends them. But God didn't send
us to get results, to baptize. He sent us to preach the gospel. And I love the way Paul says,
not with wisdom of words. You see, wisdom of words is a
way of packaging the gospel, marketing the gospel, trying
to present it in such a way that is less offensive to the flesh
and more appealing to the flesh. And that's what religion's all
about. Let's market it. Let's make it easier to understand,
easier to receive, less offensive. And when that's done, the power
of the cross is taken away. Not with wisdom of words, lest
the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. It's meaningless
when that's done. When somebody tries to dress
up the gospel to make it more attractive, Paul says, no. He said in 2 Corinthians chapter
1, when he was speaking of preaching, he says, I didn't come to you
with yea, nay preaching. saying yes and no to the same
thing. Is the blood of Christ enough
to save you? Yes, it is. But if you don't accept it, it
won't save you. That's yea, nay preaching. That's
all it is. It's saying yes and no to the
same thing. It's confusing. No one is saved through that
kind of preaching. No, we need words easy to be understood that
are not ambiguous, that don't mean one thing one time and something
else another time. Words easy to be understood. Now here's the first statement
I want to make that everybody in this room could understand
this. The Bible is the inspired word
of God. Every word is God breathed. Second, Timothy 316, all scripture
is given by inspiration of God. There is no error in this book. Men were used by God to write
the words, but the words were all inspired by God. Now, you understand what I'm
saying. Even the young people, you can
understand this. God wrote this book. God inspired this book. Now, you might say, well, I don't
believe that. Well, you can say that if you want, but you understand
what's being said. The only source of truth we have with regard
to God and his gospel is this book, the Bible. I love it in
2 Peter 1 where Peter is Talking about when him and James and
John were on the Mount of Transfiguration and the Lord appeared to them
and the scripture says His face shined like the sun and His raiment
was white as light and they were witnessing this. I bet you think,
I would like to be there to see that. And I would too. I would
too. I would like to be there with them. And you would too. To see this manifestation of
the glory of Jesus Christ. And you're so sure He is who
He is. And then Peter turns around and says, we have a more sure
word of prophecy. Better than this. This book is
better than that experience. Knowing this first, that no prophecy
of the scriptures of any private interpretation. This was holy
men of God speaking as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. The Bible is our only source
of true truth with regard to the character of God, with regard
to the character of man, with regard to salvation. The Bible
is our source. We don't believe something because
a church believes it, or a denomination believes it, A preacher believes
it, we believe what God says. What saith the scripture is the
only issue. Now you understand that. You
understand that. I'm not saying you believe it.
I'm not saying you even receive it, but you understand that the
only sort of, this is what I'm saying. This is what the Bible
says. All scripture is given by inspiration. of God. Scripture alone is our only rule
of faith and practice. Here's a second statement I'd
like to make. We talked about the Scripture.
It's inspired by God. We don't believe something because
I said it. Like the noble Berean searches the Scriptures daily
whether these things be so. That's the only issue. Only the
Scripture declares God as he really is. God is as the Bible declares
him to be. Let me repeat that. God is as
the Bible declares him to be. What do you think about God?
I don't care what you think about God. I'm not saying that harshly,
but I don't because I know all of our thoughts naturally are
wrong. God is as the Bible declares him to be. Now there are things
we can know about God without the Bible. Look at creation. Paul said in Romans one for the
invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen. being understood by the things
that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they're
without excuse. You can look at creation and
know God is. Let me try to illustrate this.
Somebody says, I need more evidence that God is. I need more evidence. Well, if you see a building,
say this building, you say, well, I need evidence that somebody
built it. No, obviously somebody built it. It's as obvious as
it can be. Who made this place? God did. Everybody knows that deep down.
God made this place. Well, I need more evidence. Do
you need evidence somebody built this building? Here it is. Somebody
had to have built it. Somebody had to have created
the universe. God is. He created the universe
as an act of His own will. He had to be all-powerful to
do this, and He is eternal. There's nobody that made Him.
Somebody says, well, who made God? Nobody made God. God's eternal. You can see this. God is as the
Bible declares Him to be. Now, according to the scripture,
I love this. According to the scripture, God,
and there's, God is one God. Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy
God is one God. He's one God in three distinct
persons. God, the Father, God, the Son,
God, the Holy Spirit. Somebody says, I don't understand
that. I don't either, but I believe it. This is how God has revealed
himself in his word. as one God in three distinct
persons." Remember when the Lord taught us how to baptize? He said, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. One God in three distinct persons
when the Lord was baptized. Do you remember what happened?
A voice from heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I'm well
pleased." And we read of God the Holy Spirit descending like
a dove in a visible form upon him. There's all three persons
of the Godhead at the baptism of Christ when the Lord said,
let us make man in our own image. Well, that's the three persons
of the Trinity speaking. Let us make man in our own image. God is one God in three distinct
and I think of his attributes. Only the Bible tells us of his
attributes. For instance, how would we know that there's
such a thing as sin without the Bible? How would we really know? I mean, if evolution is true
and the survival of the fittest, who's to say what's sin and what's
wrong? I mean, people are just trying
to survive. But if the Bible is true, and it is, sin is. Now, how can we even know that
God would forgive sin? Did not the Bible tell us that
God forgives sin? And all of God's glorious attributes
are in this book. God's holiness. His otherness. He's separate from this creation.
He's the creator. There's none like him. He's other. He's separate. How would we know
that without the Bible? What about God's righteousness?
He's utterly righteous. He cannot not punish sin because
of who He is. His absolute sovereignty. There
can't be two sovereigns. That's why free will is so foolish. If God's sovereign, there's no
such thing as free will. If man's got a free will, that
means his will can trump God's will. That doesn't even make
sense. As far as that goes, there's no such thing as free will in
the first place. God doesn't have a free will. His will is
controlled by its nature. He's holy. He's just. That's
who He is. God is immutable. He never changes. He's incapable of change. He's
independent. He has no needs. He's all-powerful. He's omniscient. God is as the
Bible declares Him to be. And the only way we can know
God's character is from what He's revealed in His Word. And
I love the simplicity of this. All of God's character, every
attribute of God is displayed in the cross of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The cross is the whole counsel
of God. The cross is eternal, the lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. Through the cross
we see God's holiness, we see God's love, we see God's purpose,
we see God's power in putting away sin, we see God's wisdom
in making a way for him to be just and justify the ungodly.
This book, I read about these words, easy to be understood.
This book tells us the true character of God. Canst thou by searching
find out God? No, you can't. Now there's some
things you can know, but as far as his character, you cannot
know it apart from what this book reveals with regard to his
character. God is as the Bible declares
him to be. Now that's easy to understand.
That's easy to understand. You might not believe it, but
you hear what's being said. God is just as this book declares
him to be. Here's the second simple statement. Well, first the Bible's the word
of God. Second, God is as the Bible declares
him to be. And here's the third statement,
man, that's me and you. That's me and you, that's everybody
in this room, everybody outside of this room. This is all humanity.
Man is as the Bible declares him to be. Now, do I understand? my own sinfulness. No, I don't.
No, I don't. If I did, I'd never have a proud
thought again. I'd never have a self-righteous thought again.
I'd never look to myself again. If I had some real grasp of my
own sinfulness. But I believe what the Bible
says. This is the point. I believe what the Bible says.
I don't understand this. I don't even see it all together,
but I believe it. Genesis chapter 6, verse 5, and God saw. that
the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. I believe that. I believe that
about me. I believe that about you. Every
imagination of the thoughts of the heart are only, listen to
the language, only evil nonstop. Now that's what the Bible declares
about the character of man. There's none righteous. No, not
one. There's none that understands.
There's none that seeketh after the Lord. You know, I loved it
when that passage of scripture in Isaiah 45, reading, I said
not to the seed of Jacob seeking me in vain. You're not going
to seek the Lord in vain. Everybody that seeks finds it,
but here's the fact of the matter is nobody naturally seeks it,
nobody. You've not sought the Lord, unless
he first sought you. David said, when thou said, seek
ye my face, I said, thy face, O Lord, will I seek. We know
that's the way that works. There's none righteous, no, not
one. There's none that understands. There's none that seeketh after
the Lord. They've all gone out of the way. They've together
become unprofitable. There's none that doeth good,
no, not one. You see, according to the scripture, Men are dead in sins. Dead. And you hath he quickened
who were dead in sins. When Adam ate the fruit, he died
spiritually, and you and I inherited his spiritually dead nature. We were born into this world
dead in sins. That's what the Bible declares. You understand that. You might
not believe it. I'm not saying you believe it, but you understand
that this is what the Bible is saying with regard to man. So
much so that I can't even come to Christ unless God the Father
draws me. The Lord said no man can come
to me. He didn't say no man may come.
You can come if you will. But he said no man has the ability
to come to me except the Father which has sent me draw him. These are words easy to be understood.
I cannot be saved unless he saves me. That's what that means. I'm
so sinful that if the Lord leaves me to myself, if he leaves you
to yourself and doesn't intervene with you and doesn't do something
for you, you will not be saved because of what the Bible declares
with regard to our character. Sinful. God is as the Bible declares
him to be. Man is as the Bible declares
him to be. And salvation is as the Bible
declares salvation to be. Now, I love what Jonah said in
Jonah chapter two, verse nine, salvation is of the Lord. That's what the Bible has to
say with regard to salvation, the salvation of the sinner.
I mean, God is holy, I'm sinful, I can't save myself, I can't
do anything to save myself. Salvation, the salvation of the
sinner is of the Lord. Now you'll remember, this is
so important, you'll remember at the very first of this message
when I was talking about the character of God, only the Bible reveals
that God is one God in three distinct persons. And all three
of the persons of the Godhead is the one who saves us. I don't
know how to say that. All three persons of the Godhead
is the one who saves us because God is one God in three distinct
persons. Now, for the sinner to be saved, remember he's dead
and sins. For the sinner to be saved, first
of all, God the Father must choose that sinner to be saved. It doesn't begin with my choice.
It begins with God's choice. It's called election. Ephesians
chapter one, verse four, according as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world. God's choice of a people to be
saved before time began. Now, before somebody thinks,
well, that just doesn't seem fair, that God would choose some
and not choose others. Now, let me remind you, election
doesn't keep anybody from being saved. Election saves men who
would most surely have otherwise been damned. Thank God for election. Can you say that? Do you realize
that you would not be saved if God did not choose you before
time began? And that's Paul's handling of
this glorious, holy truth with regard to the character of God.
You know, election is just God being God. He really is God. Paul said, we're bound to thank
God always for you. Brethren, beloved of the Lord.
Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. Thank the Lord. There would be no salvation had
not God elected a people. The election of grace. Now, you understand this. You may not believe it. You might
even reject it. But you understand, if you're
saved according to the scripture, it's because God, before the
foundation of the world, chose you to salvation. And I've quoted
the scriptures. Maybe I ought to be turning to
them so you can see them, but you can look it up yourself.
Romans 9-11. Read it. The children, being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil for the
purpose of God according to election, might stand Not of works, but
of him that calleth. Now, the second person of the
Blessed Trinity is God the Son. Salvation is of the Son in his
redeeming work for his people. The people that God elected are
the people he gave to his Son. The Lord said, all that the Father
giveth me. There we have it, shall come
to me. him that cometh to me I'll in
no wise cast out for I came down from heaven not to do my own
will but the will of him that sent me and this is the father's
will which has sent me that of all which he hath given me I
should lose nothing but raise it up again at the last day."
Now Salvation is of the Lord, of the Father in election. It's
of the Son in redemption. Now here's what took place. God
the Father gave all of His people to God the Son to take full responsibility
for their salvation. And He accepted this responsibility. He willingly took upon Himself
this responsibility and He knew what it would cost Him. He knew.
He took me. He knew He was going to take
my sins and my sorrows and make them His very own. And He agreed
to do it. He knew that He would be forsaken
by His Father. He knew that He would suffer
the full equivalent of an eternal hell and be totally separated
from His Father and cut off and Who can understand what all took
place on the cross? I can't, you can't. Only, as
a matter of fact, the reason God turned the lights off on
the cross is to let us know we don't understand. This was a
transaction between God the Son and God the Father, and God the
Son did what God the Father told him to do. He bore my sins, he
took my sins and my sorrows, he made them his very own. And he suffered, oh how he suffered,
and here's what happened when he died. God said, with regard
to what he was doing, I am satisfied. completely satisfied. The debt
has been paid. He was delivered for our offenses. He was raised again for our justification. Now, you can understand this.
According to the Bible, Jesus Christ died for a sheep. He died
for the elect. He did not die for every single
individual. If He did, every single individual
would be saved. He put away the sins of His people.
He died for them and saved they must be. So much so that Paul
said, who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?
It's God that justifies. Who is he that condemneth? It's
Christ that died. No other answer is needed. It's
Christ that died, yea, rather is risen again, who's even at
the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Now
you can understand that. If Jesus Christ paid for your
sins to pay for, they're put away. They're gone. You can understand
that. And you can understand that Jesus
Christ didn't simply make salvation available if you do your part.
When he said it is finished, everybody he died for, their
salvation was finished, accomplished, signed, sealed, and delivered. That's the gospel. And you can
understand that. May God give us all grace to
rest in him and believe this and rejoice in it. But the fact
of the matter is, God the Father elected a people. Before time
began, and Christ died for those people and saved them, thou shalt
call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins. Now, because of their sinfulness,
They can't be brought into heaven the way they are. Remember, God
the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. The work of
God the Holy Spirit is to give them spiritual life. You see,
I can't the way I am unless God does something for me. I can't
believe. I can't. It's beyond my ability. I can't repent. I can't love
in a heart that has no love to God by nature. It's not going
to love him. I can't come to Christ. The Lord said that so
clearly. No man can come to me except
the Father which has sent me. Draw him. And that is the work
of God the Holy Spirit. He gives life. That's what the
new birth is. Life from the dead. It's the spirit that quickeneth,
that gives life. John 6, 63. The flesh profits
nothing in this thing of life. You make no contribution. This
is God breathing life into you. Now, when Adam was just dirt
formed from the dust of the earth, he had no life. God breathed
the breath of life in him. God didn't say to Adam, will
you let me do this? Do you want me to do this? No,
he's dead. I mean, he had no life. God breathed
life in him. And if God gives me the new birth,
he breathes life in me through the word. This is not apart from
the word. Of his own will begat he us with
the word of truth. The truth of the gospel. God is as the Bible declares
Him to be, man is as the Bible declares Him to be, and salvation
is as the Bible declares it to be. God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit. Now, everybody in this room can
understand that. Salvation's of the Lord. You
can understand that. Doesn't mean you'll believe it.
You won't believe it unless God gives you the grace to believe
it, but you understand that. Salvation is of the Lord. And these people that God elected,
Christ died for, that God the Holy Spirit calls, and let me
say, well, what if I'm not one of them? What if you are? What
if you are? Don't even look at it that way.
You're called upon to believe in Christ. That's God's command
to you. God commands all men everywhere
to repent. Don't say, well, what if I'm not elected? No, God commands
you to believe. God commands you to repent. You've
got no excuse not to. God commands you to. And what
He commands, He gives the grace to obey. So don't look at this
as shutting me out. No, it's not. It opens up the
door wide for the chief of sinners, for anybody who needs Christ.
If you need Christ, this is for you. If you don't need Christ,
what do you care? You know, I don't need Him anyway.
Well, okay. But if you need Christ, this
is for you. These people, that God elected, Christ died for,
God the Holy Spirit calls, they really are saved. Saved, plumbed,
saved, saved, can't get any more saved. And these people will
persevere all the way to the end, believing the gospel. They
won't leave. John said in 1 John 2, 19, they
went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been
of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went
out that they might be manifested, that they were not all of us.
This is talking about leaving the gospel. There have been people here who
have left, you know that. Well, if they left Christ, they're
described by John. They went out from us, but they
were not of us. If they had been of us, they
would have no doubt continued with us. But they went out, that
they might be manifest, that they were not all of us. I want to be in this group of
us, don't you? I want to be one of them. The Lord described them to John
the Baptist when he said, thus it becometh us to fulfill all
righteousness. I want to be one of those us,
don't you? And so this is easy to understand. Nobody can
say, well, I don't understand what he's talking about. Yeah,
you do. May God give us grace to believe. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you. For the simplicity. Of words easy to be understood,
Lord, we we believe by your grace. And Lord, we believe salvation
is of the Lord. And Lord, if there's anybody
in this room that doesn't rejoice in that, we ask that you would
give them the grace to rejoice now, to trust thy dear son completely
for their salvation. Bless this message for your glory
and for our good. In Christ's name we pray, amen.