I have two verses of scripture
that I'm going to use as my text today. The first one is found
in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1. The scripture says, for we
are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in good works. The other scripture is from 2
Corinthians 5. Therefore, if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold,
all things are become new. My friends, when a person meets
the Savior, when the Lord Jesus indeed does make that man a new
creature, a new person. What are some of the things that
become new? That's what Paul said, all things
become new. Well, what are some of the things
that become new? Well, I'll tell you this, God
gives us a new heart. He said, take away the stony
heart, I'll give you a new heart. And then we have a new life.
The life which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who gave himself for me. And then we have a new family.
Beloved, now are we sons of God. We are members of God's family,
sons of God. And then, not only a new heart,
a new life, a new family, but we have a new walk. God hath
ordained that we should walk in good works. But basically,
there are many things that are new, but basically there are
two things. that God gives in the new creation,
in the new creature, which affects everything else. He gives him
two vital things. Number one, a new understanding,
a knowledge of God, and then secondly, God gives us a new
will. Let me ask you a question. What
was the first thing in the old creation of the world? The first
thing that God did in creating the world? Well, let me tell
you. Genesis 1 says this, the earth was without form and darkness
was upon the face of the deep. Darkness. And God said, let there
be light. And there was light. That's what
happened when God created the world. The first thing he said
is, let there be light. And I'll tell you this, the first
thing that takes place when a person is brought from death to life,
from darkness to light, is God gives him the light of the gospel. Listen to Paul in 2 Corinthians
4. For God, who commanded the light
to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God in the face of Jesus Christ. The first thing in conversion
is the light of understanding. You know, Paul said this, we
know, we know that the Son of God has come and given us an
understanding, given us knowledge that we may know God, that is
true, and in God, that is true. This is a true God. This is eternal
life. That's right. The first thing
God does in saving a sinner is lighten his understanding. The Apostle Paul literally walked
in ignorance and darkness. He was very religious. But he
walked in ignorance and darkness until the Lord opened his mind
and gave him an understanding and knowledge of who Jesus Christ
really is. You know what Paul said? I know
whom I have believed. I know him. whom I believe, and
I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day." Paul not only knew who Christ is,
but he knew why Christ came into the world. This is what he said,
This is a faithful saying. It's worthy of all acceptation
that Christ Jesus came into the world for what purpose? To save
sinners, of whom I am the chief. The Son of Man is come into the
world to seek and to save that which is lost. Who is Christ? He is Jesus of Nazareth. What
did He come to earth to do? To save sinners. He said, I am
come that you might have life and you might have it more abundant. When God opens a heart, gives
enlightenment and understanding to a man, he knows who Jesus
Christ is. and he knows why the Lord Jesus
came to earth to save sinners. But let me tell you something
else he knows. That man knows that the only way that God can
be just, the only way that a holy God can be just and holy and
save sinful men is for Jesus Christ to die on the cross. to save our sinful souls. Who is Jesus Christ? He's the
Son of God. Why did He come into this world?
To save the lost. How did He save them? By sacrificing
Himself on the cross of Calvary. Let me tell you what the Scripture
says. Jesus died, the just for the unjust, that He might bring
us to God. When we were yet without strength,
in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. God commended His
love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us. In Christ we have redemption,
how? Through His blood, the forgiveness
of sin. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's
Son, cleanseth us from all sin. Are you with me? My friends,
this is the gospel. This is the only gospel. This
is the gospel that saves sinners. When we find out who Jesus Christ,
when God gives us the light of understanding, we find out who
Jesus Christ is. He's the Son of God. He's the
Son of the Almighty God. And why did He come to earth?
He came into this world to seek and to save that which is lost.
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am
the chief. How did He save them? By the
sacrifice of Himself. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's
Son, God's Son cleanseth us from all sin. Now let me ask you a
third, the fourth question. Where is He now? We know who
He is. He's the Son of God. We know
why He came to save sinners. We know how He saved them by
dying on the cross of Calvary. Where is He now? Let me tell
you. This man, Jesus Christ, after
He had offered one sacrifice for sin forever, sat down on
the right hand of Almighty God. That's where Jesus Christ is.
He is exalted to the right hand of the Heavenly Father to make
intercession for us. Listen to what Paul wrote in
Philippians 2. Jesus Christ, being found in
fashion as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross. Wherefore? Wherefore God hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name. that the name of Jesus Christ,
every knee shall bow in heaven, in earth, and under the earth,
and every tongue, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Now my friend, if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creation. He's a new person. All things become new. And basically,
there are two things that God gives in the new creature, and
that is a knowledge of Jesus Christ, a knowledge of the Gospel,
a knowledge of God Almighty, a new understanding of who God
is, and who Christ is and why He came to this world. Now, watch
this. The second new thing that takes
care of everything, and that is a new will. God not only gives
us a new knowledge, new understanding of who God is and who Christ
is and what He came to do and why He came to do it and where
He is now, but God gives us a new will. There can't be a new man
without a new will. Because the will is the ruling
factor. The will commands the whole man. The old will is in bondage to
self and to sin, but the new will, the new will is free to
come to Christ. Our Lord said of the natural
man. You know what he says of all
men? You will not come to me that you might have life. You
know what the Lord Jesus said? No man can come to me except
be given him of God the Father. And this is what the natural
man said at Calvary's cross. You know what they said at the
cross at Calvary? We will not have this man reign over us. We will not. So there's got to
be a new man with a new will. And the will is a ruling factor.
It commands the whole man. The new will is free to come
to Christ. Thank God that as the Lord has
given to us knowledge who Christ is, Who Christ is, what He did,
why He did it, where He is now. God Almighty not only has given
us a knowledge and understanding of the Gospel, He's made us willing,
willing to come to Christ. That's what David wrote in the
Psalms. Thy people thy people shall be
willing in the day of thy power." And Paul said in 2 Corinthians,
there must be, there has to be, there will be a willing mind. I will come to Christ. Those
who hear the gospel and see the Savior, they will come to Christ. They will come willingly. They
will come completely. They will come believing, trusting,
resting in Him. That if thou shalt confess with
thy mouth, Jesus to be Lord, and believe in your heart, God
raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." That's right,
far with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with
the mouth, with a willing mouth, with a willing mouth, confession
is made unto salvation. One of the old writers gave this
glorious, wonderful invitation, come ye sinners, Come, you sinners,
poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Jesus ready stands
to save you, full of pity, love, and power. So I will, I will
arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms,
in the arms of my dear Savior. Oh, there are ten thousand charms
Let not conscience make you linger, nor fitness fondly dream. All the fitness He requires is
to feel your need of Him. I know who He is. God gave me
understanding, and I will. God has given me a new will.
I will arise and go to Jesus. He will embrace me in His arms,
in the arms of my dear Savior. Oh, there are 10,000 charm. I tell you, when God gives a
man these two things, an understanding of who Christ is, he will come
to Christ. Somebody said one time, well,
if you will, God will. No, my friends, you've got it
backwards. If God will, you will. If God will, you will. Join us next Lord's Day for this
program, and until then, I bid you a very pleasant good day.