so so There's no words that my tongue
can say enough about right. There's no gold, there's no jewels
that pay a part of the prize. And there's no bridge that I
can build to spend such grace. So be still, O my heart, rest,
rest in the Christ. What am I that my Lord would
show amazing love? Were it not for grace that comes
from above And there's no bridge that I can build to spend such
grace So be still, my heart, rest in the cross. And come one morning I shall
see And meet Him in the sky And I shall see Him with my own eyes
The one for me who died Oh, I am persuaded In the Christ I see,
nothing can divide us, for grace has found out me. Though I look for thousands and
thousands of years, I won't find Such a love that casts out all
of my fears. And there's no bridge that I
can build to stand such grace. So be still, O my heart. Rest, rest in the Christ. And come one morning, I shall
see I shall see him with my own eyes,
the one for me who died. Oh, I am persuaded in the Christ
I see. Nothing shall divide us for grace
has found out me. Grace has found out me. Would you turn to John, Chapter
20? I'd like to read the first 10 verses of John, Chapter 20. The first day of the week cometh
Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher,
and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she
runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple,
whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They've taken away the
Lord out of his sepulcher and we know not where they've laid
him. Peter therefore went forth and that other disciple and came
to the sepulcher. So they ran both together and
the other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulcher. And stooping down and looking
in, saw the linen clothes lying. Yet went he not in. Then cometh
Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and
seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin that was about
his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together
in a place by itself. Then went in also that other
disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and
believed. For as yet they knew not the
scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples
went away again unto their own home. I've entitled this message, What
Must Be. What Must Be. Now we read of a very special
woman. Mary Magdalene. She is the one
that the Lord selected to appear first to. She is coming to the
tomb of Christ before daybreak early on Sunday morning. The
Lord had died on Friday. They had to rest on the Sabbath
day. And she's coming very early to
anoint his body with spices. And when she comes to the tomb,
She sees the stone has been taken away, and she's shocked. Verse
two, she then runneth and comes to Simon Peter and to the other
disciple whom Jesus loved and saved unto them. They've taken
away the Lord out of his sepulcher, and we know not where they have
laid him. Peter, therefore, went forth
and that other disciple who came to the sepulcher, so they ran
together. I love to think of them running together. What all
was going on in their mind at this time? It's kind of fun to
think about it, isn't it? They didn't know what to think.
They were running together. And the other disciple did outrun
Peter and came first to the sepulcher. Now, it's pretty much viewed
that John was a lot younger than Peter because he did live a whole
lot longer after this. And he outran Peter and they
came to the sepulcher together and they had a different reaction.
We read in verse five, And he, John, stooping down and looking
in, he wouldn't go into the sepulcher. He just stooped down and looked
in. And he saw the linen clothes, the grape clothes. Remember that
they wrapped him up in? They were removed. He just stopped
and looked in. Then come a Simon Peter following
him, and he went into the sepulcher and see if the linen clothes
lie. Now, here's two different responses. One fellow, John,
is not quite as impulsive as Peter. He's excited. He comes to the sepulcher, but
he's reserved. He's afraid to go in. Peter,
impulsive Peter, he just rams right in through. He's right
there. You can see that out of his character when we read about
him in scripture. These two men were different. One way is not better than the
other. They were simply different. One went in immediately, the
other was more reserved. God's people are one in Christ
Jesus, but they're different. And different is good. I'm glad that we all have unique
personalities, really personalities that we're born with, that God
gave us. And it makes everybody special. I'm looking at some special people.
I got a letter from a guy this week. It was kind of funny. He
said he'd been listening to the messages and he said, I didn't
find anything I disagreed with. And I thought, oh, you know,
I'm glad to have your affirmation. I feel a lot better. But he said,
and then I looked, I looked in your bulletins and you had birthdays. And he said, and that let me
know that you're a corrupt church because you recognize the flesh.
And only a corrupt church would do that. That's the most ridiculous
thing I've ever heard. We worship Christ. We're here to worship him. And
we love his people, don't we? We love his people and his people
are special. They're different. They're unique.
You've got the personality you've got. I've got the personality
I've got. We're what the Lord. And we recognize his people.
We glorify him, but we love his people, don't we? We love his
people. John and Peter are very different. They have a very different response.
Verse six, didn't come with Simon Peter following him and went
into the sepulcher and see if the linen clothes lie and the
napkin that was about his head not lying with the linen clothes,
but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also
that other disciple which came first to the sepulcher and he
saw and believed. Now what is the significance
of the linen clothes and then coming in and seeing this? Now
you'll remember that Nicodemus had bought the fine linen and
Joseph of Arimathea and wrap the Lord up for his burial. So
they come in and they see these linen clothes by themselves.
Now, the first thing that that tells me is that thieves did
not take the body. You know, I think it's very curious
that the enemies of the Lord remembered that he said he would
rise from the dead. Let me show you that. Turn to
Matthew chapter 27. The enemies of the Lord remembered
this, but the disciples didn't. That's interesting, isn't it?
Look in verse 62 of Matthew chapter 27. Now, the next day that followed
the day of the preparation. The chief priests and Pharisees
came together unto Pilate saying, Sir, We remember that that deceiver
said while he was yet alive, after three days I'll rise again. Now he said this in no uncertain
terms on numerous occasions. Why weren't the disciples waiting
at the tomb for him to rise from the dead? They weren't. They forgot about it. Somehow. But his enemies remembered. Verse
64, command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure into the
third day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away
and say unto the people, he's risen from the dead, so the last
error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto him,
you have a watch, go your way, make it as sure as you can. So
they went and made, I love that, make it as sure as you can. And
they did make it as sure as they could, but I didn't know how
many could have did it. So they went and made the sepulcher
sure, sealing the stone. and setting a watch. Now, when
the disciples come to the sepulcher, obviously it hadn't been robbed
by thieves where they first undress the Lord and undress the linen
clothes. He was raised from the dead and
he removed his own grave clothes. This speaks of resurrection.
And I love to think of the Lord. He's dead and just wakes up. He's alive. He knows exactly
what he's accomplished, and he begins to remove the grave clothes
by himself. Verse eight, then went in also
that other disciple which came first to the sepulcher, and he
saw and believed. He should have believed before.
He should have believed before, but he does now. Verse nine,
for as yet they knew not the scripture that he must. rise again from the dead. Turn to Psalm 16, verse 10. They didn't have this understanding
yet. They would, but not yet. Psalm 16, verse 10. For thou wilt not leave my soul
in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. His body never went through the
process of decay. Thou wilt show me the path of
life in thy presence's fullness of joy. At thy right hand there
are pleasures forevermore." Now turn to Acts chapter 2. This
is Peter's message on the day of Pentecost, and he quotes this
passage of Scripture. Remember, they knew not the scripture,
the Old Testament scripture, that he must, that it was absolutely
necessary for him to rise from the dead. Acts chapter 2. Let's read Peter's sermon on
the day of Pentecost. This happened just days after
the resurrection of Christ. Ye men of Israel, verse 22, Acts
chapter 2, ye 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 determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken and by
wicked hands have crucified and slain whom God hath raised up,
having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that
he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning
him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, and he is on
my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my
heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover, also my flesh
shall rest in hope, because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou
hast made known to me the ways of life. Thou shalt make me full
of joy with thy countenance. Amen. Let me freely speak unto
you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and
his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a
prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him
that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would
raise up Christ to sit on his throne, he, seeing this before,
spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not
left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus
hath God raised up, whereof we are all witnesses, therefore
being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received
of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed
forth this, which you now see and hear. For David is not ascended
into the heavens, but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my
Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God
hath made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ." I hear preachers say, won't you make Jesus the Lord
of your life? God beat you to it. He's already
made him both Lord and Christ. Now, how did Peter get such an
understanding of the scriptures all of a sudden? Now, in John
Chapter 20, as yet, they knew not, they didn't understand the
scriptures that he must rise from the dead. And all of a sudden,
just a few days later, whenever, however long there was between
the Sermon on Pentecost and the resurrection of Christ, maybe
it was 40 days, I don't know, but it wasn't very long. All
of a sudden, Peter has such a command of the scriptures. Turn to Luke
Chapter 24. And this is the angel speaking
to Mary. And he says in verse six of Luke,
Chapter 24, he's not here, but he's risen. Remember how he spake
unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying the Son of Man must be
delivered into the hands of sinful men. He must. It's necessary
that he be delivered into the hands of sinful men. It is necessary
that he be crucified and he must. on the third day rise again and
then they remembered his words. Look in verse 25. This is the Lord speaking to
those on the road to Emmaus. Then he said unto them, O fools
and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken,
ought not, and that word ought is the same must, is it not necessary
for Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into glory?
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expanded unto
them and all the scriptures, the things concerning himself.
Look at verse 44 of the same chapter. And he said unto them,
These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with
you, that all things must be fulfilled. It's absolutely necessary
that they be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. Then opened he
their understanding that they might understand the scriptures.
Do you know when you're going to understand the scriptures?
When God opens your understanding and not before then. You can't
figure it out, but when he opens your understanding, you'll understand
the meaning of this book. He said in verse 46, and he said
to them, thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ.
Now that word behooved is the same word that translated must.
It was necessary. It was absolutely necessary. It was a divine necessity. Thus
it behooved Christ to suffer. and to rise from the dead the
third day, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached
in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you
are witnesses of these things. Now, in those passages of scripture
I just read from Luke 24, four times we read, it was necessary. It was necessary. It behooved. It ought. It was necessary for
him to suffer. It was necessary for him to die. It was necessary for him to be
raised from the dead. And then we read in John chapter
20, that passage of scripture, as yet they knew not the scripture
that he must, that it was absolutely necessary for him to rise from
the dead. Now, question. Why was it necessary
for him to suffer? Why was it necessary for him
to die? Why was it necessary for him
to rise from the dead? Now, if you and I can come to
some understanding of this, we're going to understand the gospel.
Now, wouldn't that be a blessing, a blessing from God, if you and
I leave this place having been taught by God when he opens the
scripture to us, And we have some understanding, some spiritual
understanding of the gospel. May God give us that this morning. Now, why was it necessary for
him to die? Well, let me give you some reasons.
First of all, because he said he was going to die. And everything he says must come
to pass. He told his disciples, I'm going
to die. I'm going to be crucified. The
third day I'm going to be raised from the dead. It's necessary
because he said he was going to die. Secondly, it was necessary
for him to die because it was God's purpose for him to die. Remember that scripture we just
read in Acts chapter 2, verse 23, him being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God. It was God's purpose for him
to die. When he said, I must be about
my father's business. This is a part of his father's
business. He must die because the father willed it. Remember,
he's called the land slain from the foundation of the world.
He had to come in time to do what God purposed in eternity.
He's called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
He must die because God the Father purposed the death of His Son.
He must die because He said He would. He must die because it
was the will of the Father. It was God's purpose. And thirdly,
He must die because the justice of God demanded
His death. He must die because he was guilty. He must die because of sin. There's only
one reason for death. What's that one reason? That's
the only reason, isn't it? The soul that sinneth shall surely
die. The sins of God's elect became
his. So that he became guilty of them. I don't understand how that works.
Nobody does. It's mysterious, it's glorious,
it's God's work. He took my sin. And he placed
it upon Christ. He was made sin. Now, he never committed a sin. And when he was made sin, he
never committed a sin. He knew no sin. It's far worse. He was made sin. And the justice of God demanded
his death. The soul that sinned shall surely
die. My sins so truly became his. The sins of all who believed
so truly became his that he was guilty. And God's wrath came
upon him, he got exactly what he had coming. The justice of
God demanded his death. He died because he deserved to
die. And there was a necessity in
his death because he gave up the ghost. He voluntarily laid
down his life. He died like no one else has
ever died. He's the only one to ever give up the ghost. What
he said at that time, he told death, death was under his dominion.
He said, come and take me, come and take me. And that's when
death came and took him. He had to die because he laid
down his life voluntarily. His death was necessary because
the scriptures said that he would die. Can you see how his death
was an absolute necessity? It wasn't anything but that. It was necessary. It was necessary. There's a must-needs-be in his
death. But not only was it necessary
for him to die, it was absolutely necessary. There was a must-needs-be
in his resurrection. And the reason for that necessity
is the same reason for the necessity of his death. First, it was a
necessity that he be raised from the dead because he said he would.
He said he would. It was necessary that he be raised
from the dead because he raised himself from the dead. He said,
I have power to lay down my life. And I have power to take it up.
Now, that's mind boggling. He said, I have power to raise
myself from the dead. And that's what he did. It was
necessary that he be raised from the dead because he had the power
to raise himself from the dead. And he willed it. It happened.
It was necessary that he be raised from the dead because the justice
of God demanded it. How is that? He came to this
purpose. He came to take away sin and
to put away sin. And that's what He did. He was
manifested to take away our sins. Did He do it? Yes, sir, He did
it. He took away our sins. Now where
there's no sin, there's no death. That's why He had to be raised
from the dead. Sin was put away. And so He must be raised from
the dead. The law and justice of God demanded
it. He must rise from the dead. Death can't hold Him who is life. Now, I've heard people say, Jesus
is alive and well. That's blasphemous. Jesus isn't
alive and well. He is life. He must. He must rise from the dead. Now, there Several other things
that must be because of this necessary death and this necessary
resurrection. There are several other things
that must be. First, because of his death, burial, and resurrection,
it is absolutely necessary that all of the elect be saved. It's a necessity. Let me show
you that in scripture. Turn to John chapter 10. Verse 14. I am the good shepherd. And know
my sheep. And then known of mine. As the
father. Know with me. Even so know I
the Father, and I lay down my life for thee, sheep." Is everybody
sheep? Look what he said in verse 24.
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long
dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us
plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed
not the works that I do in my Father's name. They bear witness
of me, but you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I
said unto you. No, everybody is not a sheep.
They are goats, and they are sheep. He said, My sheep, in
verse 27. hear my voice, I know them, and
they follow me, I give unto them eternal life, and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man
is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. The sheep are
the elect. That's who they are. God's elect. Those the Father
chose before time began and gave to Christ to represent. Now he
says, I lay down my life for the sheep. And look in verse
16. He says, and other sheep I have, which are not of this
fold, I'm not just talking about my disciples, them also I must
bring. It's absolutely necessary that
I bring them. He's talking about me. He talks
about these other sheep. He's talking about Todd Lambert.
He's talking about every one of his elect. He's not just talking
about these other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them
also I must bring. And they shall hear my voice,
and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. You know. There's really no understanding
of the death of Christ apart from an understanding of divine
election. Did you know that? Who did he die for? First, who
died? It's Christ that died. Who did
he die for? Well, he died for his people. He died for the elect.
He died for his sheep. What did he accomplish by that
death? The complete salvation of his people. So there's a divine
necessity in all the elect being saved. Thank God for that. Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? It's God that justifies it. Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather that's risen again, who's even at the right hand of God,
who also maketh intercession for us. There's a divine necessity
that all of the elect be saved. And now, because of that, because
he must die, because he must be raised from the dead, because
everybody he died for must be saved, now he must needs go through
Samaria. Why? Because one of his elect
is there. He must, needs, go through Samaria. Zacchaeus, make haste, come down,
for today I must abide at thy house. Todd Divert, make haste,
come down, today I must abide at thy house. Here's what I'm
saying. He's on the trail of his sheep.
And he's going to have every single one of it. He must needs
go through Samaria. That's a divine necessity. And
he must needs go after you. Isn't that wonderful? He came after me. You know, this
is a this is a glorious thing for me to think about. Dear son,
some in this room right now, you have no interest in Christ.
But you will. You will. You see, His grace
is irresistible and invincible. You may say no, but He says yes. And you don't have any choice.
He must need to know through Samaria. That's a divine necessity,
isn't it? In John chapter 3, verse 7, Once you turn with me there,
you're in John. I've seen this a little bit different
of a light. Verse seven, he said to Nicodemus. Marvel not that
I said unto you that you must be born again. He said to Nicodemus,
it's absolutely necessary. For you to be born again. Now,
Previously in this chapter, he talked about how there's no salvation
apart from the new birth. Except a man be born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Except
a man be born again, he can't see the kingdom of heaven. There's
no spiritual understanding. There's no faith. There's no
repentance. There's no love to Christ until you're born again.
But he says to Nicodemus, And I feel quite sure that Nicodemus
ended up being brought to a knowledge of the gospel, a knowledge of
Christ, because remember, he was one of the ones at the end
when all the disciples had fled. He was one of the people who
was participating in the burial of Christ and paid for the burial.
So I have no doubt that he ended up being a believer. He wasn't
in John chapter three when the Lord's first talking to him.
But our Lord says to Nicodemus, Nicodemus, you must be born again. You're one of the elect. Christ died for you. You must
be born again. You see, everybody that Christ
died for, everybody God the Father elected, they must be born again. Nicodemus, you must be born again. It's absolutely necessary for
you to be born again. Let me give you another must. In John, chapter three, verse
20, John said he must increase. And I must decrease. It's absolutely necessary that
he should increase. And it's absolutely necessary
that I should decrease. Here's what came to my mind when
I thought about that. It's going to be to where He is everything and nobody else
sees anything. And my great heart's desire is
that I be nothing and He be everything. That when I'm seen, all you see
is the Lord Jesus Christ. He must increase. And I must. Decrease. Turn to First Corinthians,
Chapter 15, let me give you a couple more. Remember, these are things
that must be. First Corinthians, Chapter 15. Now, this is the end of Paul's
formal definition of the gospel. He begins in verse one, saying,
moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel. And if you'll
notice in these first twenty five verses, there's a conjunction.
With each verse and and but for so on to let us know the thought
is not over to verse twenty five. When he defines the gospel, it
begins in verse one, and here's how he ends it up in verse twenty
five, for he must reign. He must reign. Now, what does the reign of what's
meant by reign? Well, if you reign, that means
your will's done. That means you will it and it happens, if
you reign. Now, if you will something that
doesn't happen, you're not reigning. But if you're truly reigning,
this is talking about the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ, His
reign. When He reigns, that means He
wills something and it comes to pass. He must reign. We see His reign in creation
when He willed this creation into existence. We see His reign
in providence where He wills everything that takes place.
Nothing happens outside of His will. He's in control of everything
that takes place. The lot is cast into the lap,
but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. And most especially,
He reigns in salvation. If you're saved, it's because
He willed your salvation. That's why. He reigns in salvation,
and He gets all the glory. That must be. Now, I'm going
to end up with this last, would you turn to Acts chapter 16. The Philippian jailer in verse
twenty nine. Calls for light. and sprang in
and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought
them out and said, sirs. What must I do? To be saved. There's never been a more important
question. What is absolutely necessary for me to do? To be
said. Now I've heard some people say,
well, he was coming on legal grounds. There's nothing you
can do to be saved. No, he wasn't. No, he wasn't. He was saying
exactly what, sirs, what must I do to be saved? Notice, Paul
didn't say, well, there's nothing you can do. He didn't say that
at all, did he? What must I do to be saved? Now
in this thing of salvation, you've heard me talking. I've talked
about how the only people who will be saved are the elect.
Nobody else. Christ only died for the elect.
God never intended to save everybody, only the elect. That's so, isn't
it? It's so, according to the scripture.
Now, you don't need to try and figure out whether or not you're
one of God's elect. You really don't. All you're
called upon to do is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You're
called upon, you're commanded by God. Understand, this isn't
an invitation. He doesn't say you're invited
to believe on Christ. This is a command. Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust Him. But do I have a right
to? You're commanded to. What if
I'm not worthy of life? You're commanded to. That doesn't
make any sense. He only died with the elect.
You're saying he commanded? Yeah. Yeah. I can't make it so
much that that's inconsistent. No, it's not. That's the problem
with us. But this is the command of the gospel. You are commanded
by God to believe on Christ. That means to trust him, to rest
in him, to believe on him. And in doing so, thou shalt be
saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. That's what you must do. That's
what you must do. You must believe on Christ. And I know this. When he calls
your name, you'll come. May God give everybody in this
room the grace to see the one thing necessary. Believing on
Christ and more than just saying it's necessary to do it. To believe
on Christ. Once again, don't try to figure
out your election. Believe on Christ and you believe
on Christ. You'll know the only reason you
did is because you're one of the elect. You'll find that out. I have
no doubt about that. But your business is not to figure out
your election. Your business is not to figure out whether
or not God loves you or whether Christ died for you. Your business
is not even to figure out whether or not you're a Christian. Your
business is to believe on Christ right now. The Ethiopian eunuch said, what
hinders me from being baptized? And Philip said, if you believe
with all your heart, you may. And he said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. He didn't say, I believe I'm
a Christian. He didn't say, I believe I'm one of the elect. He didn't
say, I believe Christ died for my sins. He said, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. You know what? That's called
saving faith. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Let's pray.