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 1030 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at
945 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 Nyberg. I'm going to speak from Genesis
chapter 5, and before I read this scripture, I would like
to say a couple of things about the scripture. The Old Testament
scriptures are just as inspired as the New Testament scripture.
And the Old Testament scripture is given to illustrate New Testament
truth. the truth of the gospel, and
really, everything in the Old Testament is given to teach us
something of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, in type, in
shadow. It's all inspired by God, and
it's all very important. Now, the passage of Scripture
that I'm going to read is the first prophecy given in Scripture. Lamech giving a prophecy concerning
his son Noah, what would took place. A prophecy, a prophetic
statement, is a statement inspired by God that is 100% accurate with regard to the future. There had been two prophecies
before this, but God had given them. He said, in the day you
eat thereof, you shall surely die, talking about Adam's fall.
He said it's gonna happen. It was a prophetic statement.
And then we have the prophetic statement after the fall where
God spoke of the seed of woman which shall bruise the serpent's
head. And that's talking about the
cross, a prophetic statement with regard to what Christ would
do on Calvary's tree. But here we have the first prophetic
statement of a man. This man, Lamech, is making a
prophecy concerning his son, Noah. And in this we have a beautiful
picture and type of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now
we read in verse 28 of Genesis chapter 5, and Lamech lived 182 years and begat a son. And he called his name Noah. Now most of you probably know
who Noah is. He's the one who built the ark.
And the ark is a beautiful type of the gospel. It's not just
the children's Bible story. It's a gospel type of salvation
in the ark, salvation in Christ. Outside of the ark, there was
nothing but destruction. All God's mercy is in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Well, here we have the birth
of this man who was going to build the Ark. And Lord willing,
in a few weeks, we'll probably consider the Ark on this program. But right now, I want us to consider
Noah. He called his name Noah, and
his name means rest or comfort. And this is what he named his
son, Noah. This same, now here's the prophecy,
this same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our
hands because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. This son of ours, Noah, He's
going to give us comfort. He shall comfort us. He shall
give us rest. Now, did he know about the ark
at this time? I doubt it. But he knew that Noah was going
to be bringing comfort to them concerning the works of their
hands and the curse that God had placed upon the earth. Now,
Lamech's father was Methuselah. And you read of all these men
in Genesis 5 about how long they lived. Methuselah was the longest
living person, 969 years old. Now, somebody says, how did they
live that long back then? I have no idea, but they did.
That's the record of scripture. And Methuselah was 171 years
old when Adam died. Adam lived 930 years, and so
you can be sure that Methuselah knew Adam, and he heard all about
what had happened in the Garden of Eden. He heard about the fall,
the curse, he knew Cain and Abel, he knew the story of Cain and
Abel, he knew all that. And you can be sure that Methuselah
told his son Lamech about all of this because Lamech mentions
the curse. Look in verse 29. And he, Lamech,
called his name Noah, saying, this same shall comfort us concerning
our works and the toil of our hands because of the ground which
the Lord hath cursed. He knew about the curse that
took place in Genesis chapter three. And all men by nature
are now under the curse of God because of the fall and because
of sin. Now, the first thing that I would
notice in this passage is being a type of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And this is so beautiful. Verse 28. And Lamech lived 182
years, and begat a son. Now this son was the one who
is prophesied as the one who would bring them comfort, who
would bring them rest, who would bring them deliverance. And my
mind was brought to think about he begat a son. My mind was brought
to think about the only begotten son. This is a name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He's called five times in the
scriptures, the only begotten son. There's only one only begotten
son. God has many sons, but he has
only one only begotten son. This is the one of whom Nebuchadnezzar
said after the three Hebrew children were thrown into the fire, bound,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, because they wouldn't worship
his golden image. And when they were thrown into
that fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar said, did we not throw three
men bound in the midst of the furnace? Lo, I see four men loose
walking, and the fourth is like unto the Son of God. the only begotten son of God. This is the son spoken of in
Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 when Isaiah says, unto us a child
is born, unto us a son is given. You see that son was never born. This is the eternal, only begotten
son of God. John 1.14 says, and we beheld
His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth. He was and is the sole representative
of the being and the character of God. That is who he is. Now this begetting, the only
begotten, is the unoriginated and eternal relationship he has
with God. This begetting is not an event
of time. Psalm 110 says, thou art my son
this day. Have I begotten thee? That's
not talking about a calendar day. This is the eternal begetting
of Christ. It's a fact irrespective of time. He is the eternal only begotten
son of the living God. He, a person, possesses eternal
life. every attribute of pure Godhead. Colossians chapter two verse
nine says, in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead in
a body. Now listen real carefully. Jesus
Christ is not like God. He's not like God at all. He
is God. God the Son, the only begotten
of the Father. In John 1 18, He's called the
only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the father, expressing
his eternal union with and the love and intimacy between the
father and the son. John 3.16 says, God so loved
the world that he gave his only begotten son. This expresses
the greatness of the giver, God, and the greatness of the gift,
his only begotten son. John 3.18 says, he that believeth
on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned
already because he hath not believed. on the name of the only begotten
Son of God. This is why unbelief is such
a crime. This is why it's so evil. Look
who you're failing to believe. the only begotten and well-beloved
Son of God. 1 John 4, 9 says, and this was
manifested, the love of God toward us in that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we love
God, but that he loved us and sent his only begotten Son that
we might live through him. Now Lame began a son. God has
only one, only begotten Son. All hail the power of Jesus'
name. Let angels prostrate fall. bring forth the royal diadem
and crown him Lord of all. Now, Lamech begat a son and verse
29 says he called his name Noah. Now that name means rest or comfort. I think of the words of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Listen to these words in Matthew
11, verse 28. Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. there remaineth a rest for the
people of God. For he that's entered into his
rest has ceased from his own works as God did from his. Now, faith is compared in the
scripture to resting. When do you rest? when the work
is finished. You're uneasy until the job is
completed. But when the job is completed,
and that's what the Lord Jesus Christ did, he completely completed
salvation. When he said it is finished,
the salvation of all of his people was accomplished. And what are
we to do? Rest. in who he is, rest in what
he did. There's no works for me to do.
He that's entered into his rest has ceased from his own works
as God did from his. Now, this man, Noah, Lamech says,
the same shall comfort us concerning our work. and the toil of our
hands because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed." Now, somebody
says, was he just talking about the difficulty they had in agriculture? You know, the Lord did say in
this curse that the earth would bear thorns and thistles and
you'd earn your bread by the sweat of your brow and it was
gonna be with great difficulty. Well, I have no doubt that's
included in it. But the curse has something to
do with sin. Lamech and Noah and everybody
else that came from Adam is a sinner and all the works of their hands
are toilsome and trouble because of sin. Now, this same shall
comfort us concerning the works of our hands that are so bad
because of the curse. Now, how is that? Now, before
I go on, See him in Genesis chapter 6 verse 5. And God saw that the
wickedness of man was great in the earth. And this is a description
of you. This is a description of me.
He's talking about every man. And God saw. And remember how
God sees things as how they really are. Me and you, we don't see
things as they really are. We have our perceptions, but
God sees things as they really are. 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. Now that's what happened as a
result of the curse. Man is described just like that. Isaiah put it this way in Isaiah
64 verse six, our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Do you believe that about yourself?
Do you believe that about your righteousness? Well, I know Lamech
did, and Lamech was looking for comfort, some kind of hope, some
kind of rest with regard to that. Now, Christ is the one who will
bring comfort with regard to this curse for this reason. I'd
like to read a passage of scripture from Galatians chapter three. This is Paul talking, and he
says in verse 10, For as many as are of the works of the law
are under the curse. For it is written, curse it is
everyone that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified
by the law on the side of God, it's evident. For the just shall
live by faith. And the law is not of faith,
but the man that doeth them shall live in them, Christ. Listen
to this real carefully. Christ hath redeemed us from
the curse of the law, being made a curse. Now do you hear that
language? Being made a curse for us. For it's written, cursed. Cursed by God. Cursed is everyone
that hangeth on a tree. Now, because Christ was made
sin, He was made a curse. And who knows what all that means?
It certainly sounds terrible. The sins of God's elect became
his sins. And he fell under the curse of
God as guilty of the sins, the commission of the sins of all
the people he represented He was made a curse for us, and
he bore the full equivalent of hell on Calvary's tree, suffering
the curse of God. And the only reason a sinner
can be comforted concerning this curse is because Christ bore
that curse for them. Now I'd like to read a passage
of scripture from Isaiah chapter 40. And Isaiah, God inspires
him to say, and this is what God says to Isaiah, Isaiah, comfort
ye, comfort ye my people. The message of the gospel, this
is literally Noah, Noah, my people, it's the same thing, comfort,
same word, comfort ye, Comfort ye my people, sayeth your God."
Now, the message of the gospel is always a message of comfort. to the people of God. You know,
some people seem like they like to hear preaching that makes
them feel bad, and they feel like, well, a preacher really
stepped on my toes today, and it's almost like they think somehow
things are better because they feel bad. And no, that's not,
that's man's religion. That's not the gospel. The gospel
is a message of comfort to everybody who is comforted by it. Now,
it's not a message of comfort to all men, without exception,
but notice he said, comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your
God. Well, who are his people? The
same ones the Lord spoke of when he said that with this prophecy
concerning the Lord, thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins. Who are his people? The elect
of God. those God chose before time began. Now, you can't preach the gospel
and leave out election. Who are the people that believe
those the Father chose before time began? They're the people
that Christ died for and put away their sins. They're the
people that God, the Holy Spirit, has given a new heart to, a new
nature. They've been born of the Spirit. He doesn't say comfort
everybody. He says, comfort ye, comfort
ye my people, saith the Lord. Verse two, speak ye comfortably
to Jerusalem. And Jerusalem is the church.
It's every one of God's people. And he says, speak ye comfortably,
and that word means literally, speak to the heart of Jerusalem. It's the new heart that he has
given. Speak to the heart of Jerusalem
and say unto her, Her warfare is accomplished. It's ended. It's over. The victory's already been won.
And her iniquity is pardoned. For she hath received of the
Lord's hand double for all her sins. Now, here's the message
of the comfort of the gospel. And this is that prophecy concerning
Noah who will comfort us. And this is just given to typify
the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the comfort of every believer. Now, tell her her warfare is
accomplished. Now, do you know anything about
warfare going on inside of you? Read Romans chapter 7, where
Paul speaks of this warfare. He says in verse 23 of Romans
chapter 7, I see another law in my members.
warring, there's the word, warring against the law of my mind and
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my
members. Oh, wretched man that I am. Not that I was, but that I am
right now. Who shall deliver me from the
body of this death? Speaking of his old nature, I
thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind
I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of
sin. Now if God has saved you, he's given you a new nature,
a holy nature. And that is when you start to
understand what sin is. You didn't really understand
sin before God saved you. But now that he saved you, you
see that law warring in your members, the old man. Every believer
has two separate natures. The old man, the one he was born
with. The new man, the one that he was given when he was born
again. And these are at conflict. Paul said in Galatians 5.17,
the flesh lusts against the spirit, the spirit lusts against the
flesh, and these are contrary one to the other so that you
cannot do the things that you would. Now, if you only have
one nature, you'll not know what I'm talking about. You'll think,
that's strange, what's he saying? But if God has given you two
natures, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Now,
speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem and tell her, her warfare is
accomplished. That sin you struggle with has
already been put away, and you stand before God without guilt
because of the work of Christ in your behalf. Your sin has
been put away, and you have a perfect righteousness. You tell her her
warfare is accomplished. The battle's already over. You
may be stressed about the war going on within, It's already
over. There's nothing to worry about.
You're complete in the Lord Jesus Christ and nothing else is needed.
And then he says, you tell her that her iniquity is pardoned. Perfect tense, a completed work. Her iniquity is pardoned. Her
sin has been purged away. Hebrews 1.3 says, by one offering,
Or Hebrews 10.14 says, by one offering he hath perfected forever
them that are sanctified. Hebrews 1.3 says, when he had
by himself purged our sins, he sat down at the right hand of
God, work accomplished. Her iniquity has been pardoned. And that means more than forgiven.
It means she's now well-pleasing. to God. She's acceptable to God. However pleased he is with Christ
is how pleased he is with the believer. As he is, so are we
in the world. And then it says, she hath received
of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Now, when you Take
a piece of cloth and fold it in half, perfectly doubled, and
that's what this word means. You have a complete covering. The other half is not seen at
all. Now, when God looks at the believer, all he sees is Jesus
Christ. That's good. That's not bad,
that's good. I just simply want to be found
in him. You've received of the Lord's
hand double, he says. Tell Jerusalem, this is not for
every son of Adam, but this is for every believer. You've received
of the Lord's hand double for all your sins. Not only are you
perfectly righteous, you're also not condemned. Not only are you
not condemned, you're perfectly justified. Not only are you saved,
you're perfect in Christ Jesus. You've received of the Lord's
hand. This is what the Lord has done for you, double for all
your sins. What a message of comfort to
the Lord's people in this prophecy. Now I'm gonna go back to Genesis
five and read a little bit more about Noah. And Lamech lived
after he begat Noah 590 and five years, and he begat sons and
daughters, and the days of Lamech were 777 years, and he died,
and Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Now, the names of these boys
that belong to Noah are very important. Shem means name. Ham means warmth. Japheth means wide open and spacious. Now this is what the Lord has
done for us, every believer. He's given us His name. That's
why I'm saved, for His namesake. This warmth. If you touch a dead
body, it's cold and lifeless. But if the body is warm, it's
because life is there. We have the very life of Christ
as our life before God. Christ in you. The hope of glory. And what liberty there is in
this. Wide open. Stand fast in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. I'm free. I don't owe anything. I get to
do what I want, follow Christ. What liberty there is in Christ
Jesus if the Son has made you free. You're free indeed. What a glorious prophetic statement
concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, we have this message on
DVD and CD. If you call the church, write
or email, we'll send you a copy. This is Todd Nyberg praying that
God will be pleased to make himself known to you. That's our prayer.
Amen. To receive a copy of the sermon
you have just heard, send your request to todd.nyberg at gmail.com. Or you may write or call the
church at the information provided on the screen.