Would you turn with me to the
12th chapter of the Book of John? Donny Bell, pastor of the Lantana
Grace Church in Crossville, Tennessee, is going to be through tonight
and he's going to preach for us. He and I are going to go tomorrow
to visit with Brother Scott Richardson up in Fairmont, West Virginia,
and we're going to come back and Visit with Brother Henry
and Doris and his wife, so we're going to go visit these old retired
preachers, so. I'd like to begin reading in
verse 12. I've entitled this message. The
key. To understanding. The key. to understanding. I want that key, don't you? I
want to be able to understand. Beginning in verse 12. On the next day, much people
that were come to the feast when they heard that Jesus was coming
to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went forth to
meet Him and cried, Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel
that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when He had found
a young ass, sat there on, as it's written, Fear not, daughter
of Zion. Behold, thy King cometh sitting
on an ass's colt." These things understood not his disciples
at first, but when Jesus was glorified, Then
remembered they that these things were written of him. And that
they had done these things. Unto him. Now, when the disciples saw all
this was that was going on. They did not understand at first. They were clueless. They couldn't
figure out why all this stuff was taking place. But after the
Lord was glorified, then they understood. Now this is the Lord's
triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and this is recorded in all four
Gospels, and this was unlike anything that the disciples had
seen up to this point. They had watched the Lord shun
publicity. He didn't seem to want it. How
many times during the Lord's earthly ministry did he do something
and then he'd say, don't tell anybody about it. He'd perform
some kind of miracle and he would say, don't tell anybody about
it. Why, even when he went up on
the Mount of Transfiguration and the scripture said he was
transformed before his disciples, his deity literally burst through
his humanity. And his face shined like the
sun, and his clothing was actually glistening. He said to his disciples,
make sure you tell no man about it. He didn't want publicity. When they tried to make him a
king in John chapter 6, he let them. He did not want public
acclaim. He did not want publicity. He wasn't interested in anything
like that. But now, all of a sudden, he's
accepting the public praise of these people. Look what they
said regarding him in verse 12. On the next day, much people
that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was
coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went forth
to meet Him and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel
that cometh in the name of the Lord. Now this was praise. In
Luke's account, the Pharisees, after hearing the people say
to the Lord, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name
of the King, the Pharisees said, Master, rebuke thy disciples. They shouldn't be saying things
like this. Rebuke thy disciples. But he answered and said unto
them, I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the
stones would immediately cry out. Now these people were happy. Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the king. Now this happened right after
the resurrection of Lazarus. He raised somebody from the dead
who had been dead for four days and he raised him from the dead
and they thought this man has power. This man can get us out
of the mess we're in. He can deliver us from Roman
occupation. He can deliver us from being
under the thumb of the Romans. And He can make us have a much
better life. He's the one we want to be king.
They saw this purely political. They understood not His spiritual
kingdom. All they saw was, let's make
this world a better place. Let's make our situation and
life better. If He can raise somebody from
the dead, He can sure enough be a great, mighty King who can
help us tremendously. This is who we want to run the
show. Hail, King of the Jews! They were happy about this. Our
life is going to be better temporally. This is the King we need. They
had no understanding, really, of what was going on. As a matter
of fact, these same people, four days later, these same people
who were saying, Hosanna! Blessed be the King of Israel
that comes in the name of the Lord! This same bunch would be
crying out, Crucify Him! Put Him to death! We don't want
to have anything to do with this man. Now, this triumphant entry
into Jerusalem, it's recorded by all four gospel narratives
where Christ gets on a donkey and comes into Jerusalem. Now,
this is actually the fulfilling of four different prophecies
from the Old Testament. In Genesis chapter 49, verse
11, we have the prophecy concerning the lion of the tribe of Judah
binding his foal to the vine and his asses culled under the
choice vine. As a matter of fact, in the other
accounts, we read where the Lord told his disciples. You take
this donkey that's tied up and if they say, what are you doing
taking this donkey? You tell them the Lord had need
of him. This was prophesied in the book of Genesis. In Psalm
118, verses 25 and 26, we read, Save now, which is what Hosanna
means. Save now. We beseech thee, O
Lord. Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord. And this is it. In Daniel 9,
this is what was prophesied that would take place at the end of
the 70 weeks of the 490 years. Daniel said this would take place
at this time. Now, from Zechariah 9, this is
the passage of Scripture that's quoted. Zechariah chapter 9.
That's the second to the last book of the Old Testament. Zechariah,
Malachi, and then you'll have Matthew. Zechariah chapter 9. Verse 9. This is why our Lord came into
Jerusalem on this donkey. This was prophesied of Him. Look
in Zechariah chapter 9, verse 9. Rejoice greatly. O daughter of Zion, shout, O
daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto
thee." He is just. And having salvation, my margin
says, saving himself, lowly and riding upon an ass and upon a
colt, the foal. of an ass. Now here is something
to shout for joy and to rejoice about. That's what he says. Shout! And here it is. Here's the content. Thy King
cometh to thee. He comes to thee. Now this is
good news to you when you find out, when you have some understanding
that you can't get to Him. You're so sinful. You're so far
off. You can't even make a move toward
Him. You feel like you can't. You're totally unable. I'm so
sinful. I can't get to Him. I'm helpless. What good news it is to find
out that He comes to you. You know when you come to Him?
When He comes to you. And when He comes to you, you'll
come to Him. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion. Shout for joy. Thy King cometh
to thee. And He is just. He's just. Now, how's that good news? I've
been talking about being sinful. How's it good news for Him to
be just? I mean, I'm sinful. If He's just, that means He'll
send me to hell. Well, understand this. In this King coming, He's
found a way to be just. And to not let sin go unpunished
and yet justify somebody as sinful as me. That's the gospel. That's the mystery of the gospel.
How God can be just and yet justify the ungodly. He is just. And look what it says next. He
is just and having salvation. Well, salvation from what? Salvation
from sin. That's what I need to be saved
from. I need to be saved from my sin. He comes having salvation. And I like what the marginal
reading says. He comes saving Himself. Now what's that all
about? He comes saving Himself. That's
the way that should literally read. Saving Himself. He comes
saving Himself. Because doesn't the Bible say
He saved others? Himself He cannot save? How in
the world does He go about saving Himself? This can only be understood
in light of union with the Lord Jesus Christ. If I'm one with
Him, if I'm united to Him, and all of God's elect are united
to Him, both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are
all of one, if I'm united to Him, when He saved me, He saved
Himself. Isn't that wonderful? I love
that Scripture in 2 Timothy 2 verse 13. If we believe not, He abides
faithful. He cannot deny Himself. You see, If I believe not, I
feel like there's not even faith in me. That's the way I feel. If we believe not, He abides
faithful. He can't deny Himself. If I'm
united to Him, for Him to deny me would be for Him to deny Himself. He comes saving Himself. When He saved me, being united
to Him, He saved Himself. And look what else it says about
this King coming. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion. Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem.
Behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He's just and having salvation
lowly and riding upon an ass. And upon a coat the fold of an
ass, the king of kings is lowly, meek and lowly in heart. That's not the way human kings
are, but this is the way the king of kings is. Meek and lowly
in heart. The high and holy one is the
meek and lowly one. And you'll find rest to your
souls. Turn to Matthew chapter 11. Matthew chapter 11. Verse 28, the Son of God, the Creator of
the universe, the God-man says, Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, burdened by their sin. He says, Come to
me and I'll give you Rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart
and you'll find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and
my burden is light. Now that's the Son of God. You
got a reason to rejoice? Rejoice, O daughter of Zion!
Shout for joy! Thy King cometh to thee, just
and having salvation, lowly, riding on a donkey. That's not
the way human kings come, is it? They come riding on stallions
as mighty victors. He's a mighty victor, but he
comes lowly. He's approachable. You can come
into his presence and you'll be received. He said him that
cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Now, let's go back
to John chapter 12. Let's let's look at the end of
chapter 11. Verse 55. And the Jews Passover. Was not
in hand. And the book of John, this is
the third Passover. On the first Passover, we read
where he took a whip and drove the money changers out of the
temple. I mean, he made a whip and drove them out. This meek
and lowly one is the same one who made this whip and drove
them out. And then on the second Passover,
he fed 5000 men, not counting women, children with Five biscuits
and two sardines. And this is the third Passover.
In the book of John and on this Passover, he comes as the Lamb
of God. The Lamb of God's providing. Verse 55 in the Jews, Passover
was nigh at hand and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem
before the Passover to purify themselves. Then sought they
for Jesus. and spank among themselves. You
see, he had just raised Lazarus from the dead. So can you imagine
the buzz that was going on? And they knew that the Pharisees
had took in a counsel to kill him. And they thought, you reckon
he'll come? I mean, here he is, he's so miraculous, these miracles
he's able to do. I mean, look what he did. And
yet the Pharisees want to kill him. You reckon he'll be obedient
and go up to the Passover like all Jews are supposed to do?
They sought for Jesus. He was the subject of gossip.
They sought for Jesus as they spake among themselves as they
stood in the temple. Why thank ye that he will not
come to the feast to save his skin? Now, both the chief priests
and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he
were, he should show it that they might take him. And remember,
they'd already made a council to put him to death. They wanted
to get rid of him. So let's pick up now in chapter
12, verse 12. On the next day, Much people that were come to
the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
took branches of palm trees and went forth to meet Him and cried,
Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the
name of the Lord. Now, remember this same crowd,
the exact same people four days later would be shouting crucify,
but now they cry Hosanna. Blessed is he that cometh in
the name of the Lord. Now, why did they do this? Why
were they praising him like this? Well, I know the answer to that
question, and they thought at the time that he was here to
make their life better now. They looked at this purely as
a political kingdom. This is It's kind of like right
now, there's all kinds of excitement. Who's going to be elected? Is
he going to make our life better? Is he going to make our financial
situation better? I mean, this fella can even raise
the dead. He can heal the sick. He's who we need as king. He's
going to be such a great king. That's why they were so excited
about him. He'll make our life better in the here and now. We'll
have prosperity now. That's why they were doing this.
Why did they praise him like this, though? I can give you
the answer to that question. The Lord moved him to. Now, he
had been shunning publicity, but all of a sudden he moved
these people to praise him like this. You see, the Lord has control
over men's minds. You know He's got control over
your mind right now? He controls what you think. You
say, I don't believe that. He controls that too. He surely
does. He hardens men's hearts. He softens
men's hearts. If you believe the Gospel, if
you rejoice, He taught you to do that. If you reject the Gospel,
all He's got to do is leave you alone. He has control over men's
minds. And He moved these people to
begin to praise Him in answer to this prophecy. They were praising
Him in answer to... The Bible said this was going
to happen. Everything that happened to the Lord happened because
the Scripture said it would take place. Look what they said in
verse 13 of John chapter 12. They took branches of palm trees
and went forth to meet Him and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the
King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. Now that
word Hosanna means save now, send prosperity. Let's turn back
to Psalm 118. This is a quotation from Psalm 118. Verse 25. Save
now. I beseech thee, O Lord, I beseech
thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in
the name of the Lord. We blessed you out of the house
of the Lord. You see, they were quoting Psalm 118, verses 25-26. Save right now. And when they
said send prosperity, you know what they meant? They meant send
temporal prosperity. Send temporal prosperity. Make
my life better. Make it so I have more to eat
and more to drink. Make my life better. Make it
so I'm healthy and wealthy and wise. Make things better for
me. Send prosperity. Everybody wants prosperity. I
want to be happy, don't you? You want to be happy? Sure you do.
I want to be happy. I don't want to be miserable. I don't want
to be sad. I want all my bills to be paid. I want to have prosperity
in this life. He says, send prosperity now.
And that's what they meant. Hosea, they thought, we've got
it made. This fellow is coming. He's going to be king of Israel.
He's going to deliver us from Roman rule. That's why they were
praising him. It wasn't because they understood who he was. It
was an ignorance, but they were answering this prophecy. Blessed
is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Sin prosperity now.
You know, when a child of God prays this prayer, he means something
different. When he says sin and prosperity,
he means when he says save now, he means save me from my sin.
Not just from the consequences of sin, but save me from the
being of sin. I want to be saved from my sin. And let's go on reading verse
14. And Jesus. When he found the
young ass. Set there on as it is written
now, we know from the other accounts that the Lord had told his disciples
to go after this donkey and he had Previously prepared the heart
of the owner of the donkey. He says, if he asks you, what
are you doing taking my donkey? Say, the Lord has need of him.
And you see, he had control over that. And he caused that man
to give up his donkey in order for the Lord to ride into town
on that. But remember this, everything the Lord did, he did because
it was written. Everything. It was all prophesied in Scripture.
Now, verse 15, as it's written, Fear not, daughter of Zion, behold,
thy king cometh today. sitting on an ass's coat. Now
these things, here's what I want to dwell on. These things understood
not his disciples at the first. They didn't know what was going
on. I mean, here he'd been shunning publicity and now all of a sudden
he accepts their praise. They didn't understand why this
was happening. Hosannas of the Son of David, they didn't understand
why he was riding on a donkey. I bet they were thinking, why
did he pick out a donkey? I mean, if it seems like you get a big
scallion or something where you can really look strong and powerful,
if you're going to come as the king of Israel, why don't you?
They didn't understand these things at first. But verse 16. When Jesus was glorified. Then remember day that these
things were written of him and that they'd done these things
unto him, when he was glorified, they understood." Now what's
that all about? When he was glorified, they understood. Look back in John chapter 7.
Verse 39, But this spake he of the spirit,
which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy
Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified. And what's this all about? He's
not yet glorified, he's the son of God, he's the God man, not
yet glorified, and yet there's the time coming when he will
be glorified. What's this thing of him being
glorified all about? This is talking about the glory
that he would achieve as the successful Savior. He wasn't
glorified yet because he had not yet finished the work the
Father gave him to do. But he would be glorified. And
the only way I'm going to have any understanding of anything,
any true spiritual understanding, is in light of him being glorified. May God give us grace to understand
what that means, because we're totally dependent upon Him to
be our teacher in this thing. What does this mean about Jesus
being glorified? He wouldn't get glorified, but
He would be glorified. Well, turn over to John chapter
17. The glory that's being spoken of is His glory as the successful
Savior, Him achieving what the Father gave Him to do. Now look
in John chapter 17. Verse 1, these words spake Jesus and lifted
up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy son. The hour has come, the hour of
his death. How many times did he say his hour don't yet come? But now it's here. The hour of
His death, His purpose for coming, the Lamb slain from the foundation
of the world, is now coming for this very hour to die. Father,
the hour has come. Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son
also may glorify Thee, as Thou hast given Him power over all
flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast
given Him. And this is life eternal, that
they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the
earth. I have finished the work which
Thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou
me with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee
before the world was." Now you think about what the Lord said.
He said, I finished the work. that thou gavest me to do." Now
what was the work that the Father gave him to do? He said, I finished
the work that thou gavest me to do. I finished it. Whatever that work was, that
word means I have completed it. I have accomplished it. I have consummated it. I perfected
it. Whatever the Father gave Him
to do, He did it. He left nothing undone. Let me
show you how this word is translated in the Scriptures. Turn to Hebrews
chapter 10. I finished the work Thou gavest Me to do. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 14. For by one offering, that's talking
about His death on the cross, For by one offering he hath,
see that next word? That's the word translated finished. Same word. He hath perfected
forever them that are sanctified. Now, whatever the work the Father
gave him to do, he perfected it completely. He did it. Now,
what did the Father give him to do? Turn to Matthew chapter
one. This is the announcement of his
birth. The angel speaking to Joseph. Verse 20, But while he
thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived
in her is of the Holy Ghost. Now, can you imagine how mystified
Joseph was? His wife is pregnant, or his
fiancée is pregnant, and she tells him, I've never known a
man. You know it wasn't... You reckon
he believed her? I mean, he'd have a hard time
with that, I'm sure. But then an angel appears to him. Don't
fear, Joseph. That which is conceived in her
is of the Holy Ghost, the virgin-born Son of God. Verse 21, And she
shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus,
Savior, for He shall save His people from their sins. What did He come to do? He came
to save His people from their sins. Now, the first question
that comes into my mind is, who are these folks who are called
His people? Now, most preachers, most religions, they think, well,
Jesus Christ came to save everybody. He died for everybody. He wants
to save everybody. He's made salvation available
for everybody. But it's up to you. Now, there's not a drop
of gospel in that message. He didn't come to save everybody.
He came to save who? Who? His people. Thou hast given Him power over
all flesh that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou
hast given Him." He came to save His elect. He came to save those
the Father gave Him. He said in John 17, I pray for
them. I pray not for the world, but
for them which Thou hast given Me, for they are Thine. He came
to save His people. Now here's the question. Did
He do it? Was He successful? Did He actually accomplish their
salvation? when he bowed his mighty head
and said, it is what? Finished. What was finished? Does it just mean my suffering
is over and now I've got to get up into heaven and start praying
that something else will happen? No. The salvation of everybody
he died for was accomplished. By one offering, he half perfected
forever, them that are sanctified. That means when Jesus Christ
died and said, it is finished, God said regarding everybody
he died for, they're perfect. They're without sin. I put away
their sin. Does this tell you how much salvation
doesn't have anything to do with your works? It surely does. Christ accomplished salvation
for everybody he died for by one offering. He had perfected
for everything that are sanctified. And remember, he said, I finished.
I've glorified beyond the earth. I finished the work that gave
us me to do. That's what he did. He finished
the work. He finished by salvation. You don't have any and I don't
have any understanding of salvation. until we see that salvation was
accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ. He glorified the Father. He finished the work the Father
gave him to do. And because he glorified God
in saving the people God gave him to do, he is glorified. He is glorified. You know, when
he walked out of the tomb, he went in there with something
He went in there with the sins of His people. But He walked
out without something. You see, He came to save His
people from their sins, and that's what He did. He saved His people
from their sins. By His death on the cross, every
one of His people were justified. I mean, my sin was wiped away. It was paid for. His very righteousness
is given to me. I was justified. I was sanctified. God said I'm holy. He declared
that regarding all His people. I'm glorified according to the
Scriptures. Already glorified in the person of my representative.
He saved His people from their sins. And when He walked out
of that tomb, He walked out of that tomb glorified, having finished
the work the Father gave Him to do. Now here's the key to
understanding. Understanding the fact that He
is glorified. Now you think of the glory he
gets in salvation. The salvation of his people.
Every aspect of salvation. I mean, if you talk about God's
salvation, where do you got to begin? You got to begin with
God's purpose. You got to begin with election.
His choice of his people before the foundation of the world.
And I love the glory Jesus Christ gets from election. According
as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.
All the glory. You know why God chose me? Was
it because He foresaw I would believe? Or because He foresaw
I'd be better than somebody else? Or He foresaw I'd be a preacher?
Or He foresaw I could do something to help Him out in His kingdom?
That's foolishness. He chose me in His Son. All the
glory of election goes to the Lord Jesus Christ. What is election
without Jesus Christ? It's scary. It's kind of harsh. You don't know what to think
about it. But oh, when you see that it's in the Lord Jesus Christ.
You talk about justification. God's people are justified. They're
perfect before God. They have no sin. Who gets the
glory in that? I'm justified by His righteousness.
You talk about redemption. The fact that He redeemed us. His redemption redeemed. He gets
all the glory and His blood actually washed away my sin. I have no
sin. He gets the glory. He's glorified.
You talk about the new birth. How come you have the new birth?
How come you have faith? How come you have repentance?
How come you love God? It's because Christ died for you. And He gave
you these things. He gets the glory in all things.
You think of His glory in intercession. The fact that He represents His
people as a priest. There's a man in glory right
now representing me. And he's gone up there and said,
oh, please let him get by with this one. Forgive him this time. I know he did it again, but please
forgive him. No, it's not like that at all. He stands before
the Father as the high priest of his people, and his people
are, because of their great high priest, not guilty. That's how I stand before God.
You think of the fact that he's preserved me. The fact that I
haven't fallen away, there's only one reason for that. That's
my Lord Jesus Christ. He gives the glory in my preservation. I'll tell you what, think about
standing before God in judgment. Who's going to get the glory
of my salvation when I stand before God in judgment? My name
will be called and He'll answer for me, present and accounted
for. Who gets the glory? What glory he gets in the simple
faith of his people. I trust him. To save me. And he gets how much of the glory? All the glory. Now I understand. I understand. Listen to me real
carefully. I understand. I've got some understanding.
I've got some God-given understanding. I've got some inside information.
I don't have any inside information that any of the rest of God's
people don't have. We all have this inside information.
God's taught us something. I understand. I understand what
this book is all about that we call the Bible. Would you turn
with me to Luke, Chapter 24? Luke, Chapter 24. Verse 25, Then said He unto them, those
disciples on the road to Emmaus, they were depressed. They didn't
understand what Christ was doing on the cross. They just thought
He was dead. He was defeated. We were hoping
He would have saved Israel. Then He said unto them, O fools,
and slow of heart to believe, all that the prophets have spoken,
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into
His glory? And beginning at Moses, did you
catch that? Ought not Christ to have suffered
these things, and to enter into His glory? Having finished the
work the Father gave Him to do, and beginning at Moses, and all
the prophets, He expanded unto them in all the Scriptures. the
things concerning Himself." Look down 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 which were written in the law of Moses and in the
prophecy and in the Psalms concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding
that they might understand the Scriptures. And he said unto
them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoove Christ to suffer
and to rise from the third day, that repentance and remission
of sin should be preached in his name according to all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem. I understand what this book is
all about. I understand every scripture
in here. That's a bold statement, but I do. I might not know what
they all mean, but I know what they all point to. The glory
of the Lord Jesus Christ. that he is glorified. I understand
every one of them. I understand what this book is
all about. I understand the reason behind
everything. Got some inside information.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. Look
back to John 11. Verse 3, this is the beginning
of the story of Lazarus. Therefore, his sister sent unto
him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. And
he was sick. I mean, he ended up dying. But
look what the Lord said when Jesus heard that. He said this
sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the
Son of God might be glorified thereby. That is the reason behind
everything that happens. God's glory. It doesn't matter
what it is. I don't care if it's a dust particle
flying through the air. Whatever it is, it's all working
together for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. I understand
the reason behind all things. And that means everything. And
we know that all things work together. Okay, I understand
what the Bible is all about. I understand the reason behind
everything, good and bad. I understand the reason behind
it. And I understand how God can save me. I understand how
God can love me. I understand how God can accept
me. I understand how God can say
to me, well done, thou good and faithful servant. Now how in
the world is he going to say something like that to me? Because
Christ finished the world. He made me, by His work on the
cross, a good and a faithful servant. He made me exactly like
Himself. I understand how God can be justifying
me. Do you understand that? I don't
want that to just be some kind of religious catchword and phrase.
Do you understand how God can be just and yet receive you even
though in yourself you're nothing but unjust? You are just. You understand that how God can
be just and justify the ungodly. I understand that through the
finished work, the glorified work of the Lord Jesus Christ,
him finishing salvation. And here's what else I understand.
I understand what this book is all about. I understand the reason
behind everything. I understand how God can save
somebody like me through the Lord Jesus Christ finishing his
work. And I understand the reason why I am to do whatever it is
I'm called to do. His glory. I do what I'm called
to do, whatever it might be. Not to earn a higher reward in
heaven. Not in order to save myself. Not in order to avoid
punishment. I do what I do for Christ's sake. For His glory. Whatsoever you do, All to the
glory of God. You know, that makes nothing
mundane. You know, some of you are going
to a job tomorrow that you don't like. You can work there for the glory
of God, can't you? For the honor of the Lord Jesus
Christ. You can be whatever you're called upon to be for one reason.
For the glory of Jesus Christ. For Christ's sake. And have power
with you. You'll do what you're called
on to do simply for Christ's sake. For His glory. I understand. Him being glorified is the key to understanding. And the only way we'll understand
this key, as simple as it is, is if He gives us that understanding. May He enable us to enter in to the
fact that Jesus is now glorified. And because He is glorified,
all of His people are glorified. Let's pray together.