Now, you find in your Bible,
one more time, Mark chapter 11. Mark chapter 11. And let me draw
your attention and focus your attention on this verse in the
beginning here, verse 30. Mark 11, verse 30. The Lord asked these predators,
These Pharisees, these religious hucksters, the baptism of John,
was it from heaven or of men? Answer that question. Answer
me. Now the title of the sermon this
morning is in a form of a question. A form of a question. And here's the question that
I use. As it's found in verse 30. And use it to make application
to us. The gospel. The gospel. Is it from heaven? Or is it from
men? The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Is it of God? Of the Lord? Or is it the invention of sinners? Which is it? Which is it? This glorious salvation that
we read about in the Word of God, this marvelous good news
of God saving mercy to the guilty, undeserving sinners, is it of
God? Or is it of men? Now, you who are believers, sitting
here listening to that question. You have, without doubt, in your
heart, before God, you have already answered this question. You know
beyond any doubt in your heart, being saved by God's grace, by
experience, His mercy, His mercy in your life, have tasted of
the Lord that He is gracious. Can't you say in your heart before
God, It's of the Lord. It's of the Lord. And the Lord
adds this sobering thought here. He demanded of them an answer. An answer. We know from reading
the Scriptures that this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
That the Lord Jesus Christ came to save sinners. And I confess
with Paul, I'm the chief offender. I'm the vilest of the vile. Now
let's go back for just a moment, and this introduction is going
to be a little bit lengthy, but I want you to stay with me. And
look at verse 27. They come again. They come again
to Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus Christ about His
Father's business. Now you think about this. About
His Father's business to accomplish our redemption. He's coming here
to Jerusalem to die for our sins according to the Scripture. In the fullness of time, God
sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law to redeem
us by His precious blood. He came again to Jerusalem. The Lord's back in town doing
the Father's business in town. He's back in the temple and he's
teaching and preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
as he was walking in the temple. Now this is God's house. This
was designed by God and purposed by God for the exact, strict
purpose of worshipping God around that blood sacrifice on the day
of atonement. Walking in the temple. And as
he was teaching in the temple, there come to him these chief
priests. You know, these are the self-righteous
Pharisees, who were righteous in themselves, who despised others. And they come with their colleagues,
the scribes, those who were writers and interpreters of the Word,
the scholarly intellect of the Word. And they come with these
elders and they come together like a pack of dogs on the Lord
Jesus Christ. It says in Luke 20 as he taught
the people in the temple and there it says he preached the
gospel to them. You know the Lord Jesus Christ
was a preacher? He is that prophet that God said
that he would raise up from among the brethren. He is that prophet
that God sent to tell the gospel of God saving mercy in Christ
Jesus. Turn back to Mark chapter 1 for
just a minute. Mark chapter 1. Our Lord was
a preacher of the gospel. Started out that way and he ended
up that way. died that way. He said, it is
finished. Mark chapter 1, it says over
here in Mark chapter 1, I believe it is verse 14. Now after John
was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel
of the kingdom and saying, the time is fulfilled. The kingdom
of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.
Look just across the page at verse 38. And he said unto them,
Let us go into the next town, that I may preach there also. For therefore came I forth. The Lord Jesus Christ was a preacher. The gospel of God's grace in
Christ Jesus. Let us as believers, as we meet
together, as we assemble together, each time that we meet together,
let us as believers make much of the preaching of the gospel
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not meet here for entertainment.
Let us not meet here for just mere fellowship and a good time.
Let us meet here to worship God and to preach His gospel, for
that is a very charge of God given unto His church. Paul said,
I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus to preach
the word all the time. Preach the word. That's why we're
here today, to declare His gospel, and God's people rejoice in that.
They rejoice in the preaching of the gospel, and they're determined,
as Paul, to know nothing among sinners, but Jesus Christ in
Him crucified. That's our determination, to
set forth Christ in Him crucified. Now, why the Lord of glory? When He was about teaching and
instructing sinners in the way of salvation, Look what it says
there in verse 27. There come to him these priests,
scribes, and elders. These vultures, I call them. These predators of religion. They descend upon the Lord Jesus
Christ like a pack of wild, hungry, ravening wolves. Not to learn
from him, not to sit at his feet like Mary did, hoping to hear
a word of grace fall from his lips. They didn't come to hear
from him, learn from him, listen to him, but rather they came
to silence him. They came to put an end to his
ministry. They came to put an end to him.
They came to kill him. Look what it says back in verse
17, in Mark 11, verse 17, And he taught, saying unto them,
Is it not written, My house shall be called the house of prayer,
the house of all nations? But you have made it the den
of iniquity. And he drove them out. Described
in the chief priests, they heard that, and sought how they might
destroy him. Oh, that's real love, isn't it?
No, it's hatred in the heart. You see, the carnal mind is enmity
against God. They sought to destroy Him. They
sought to kill Him. For they feared Him. Because
all the people were astonished at His doctrine. They didn't come to hear from
Him, listen to Him, ask Him a question. They came to end His ministry. Look at verse 28. Here's their
arrogant pride. You imagine flying in the face
of Almighty God and asking Almighty God, by what authority are you
acting? That's ignorance. That is blatant, ungodly ignorance. And they say to Him, Oh, had
they known who they were talking to? They didn't know Him, did
they? Had they known that this is God
in the flesh? Oh, they would fall at His feet
and say, God have mercy on me. But yet in their arrogant pride,
in their self-righteous arrogant pride, they say, well, where's
your authority? What are you doing here, casting
out these friends of ours out of the temple? Just who do you
think you are? Just what do you think you're
doing? You see the arrogance, the arrogance and pride and the
sinful iniquity in their heart. They said to him, by what authority
do you do these things? Who gave you the right to enter
into the temple and to act this way as if you owned the place? He did! His house. His house, because they could
not refute His doctrine, because they could not deny His miracles,
so they sought to find some flaw in His commission. By whose authority
do you come to the temple? Where's your diploma? Where's
your credentials? Where's your papers? Why do you
act the way you do? Here's what they're saying. You
could have no legitimate ministry unless you're under our authority.
We didn't send you. You could have no legitimate
ministry unless you're under our authority, unless you act
by our instruction. Isn't that just the arrogance
of organized religion in this day? You know it is. You remember what they said of
John and Peter? when they stood before that council
in Acts chapter 4 when they, by God's mercy, just healed a
cripple. And they asked, by what authority
do you do these things? And they declared, neither is
there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Do you remember
what they said? Well, these are ignorant and
unlearned men. Where did you get your authority?
Who sent you? We didn't send you. We don't
recognize you. In John chapter 7 we read, "...now
about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple
and taught, and the Jews marveled, and they said, How knoweth this
man letters, having never learned?" He didn't come to our school.
We don't recognize his authority. We don't recognize his teaching.
Oh, the ignorance, the arrogance. Jesus answered and said unto
them, My doctrine is not mine, but it is His that sent me. He
speaks the will of God, the mind of God. Well, look at verse 29.
Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one
question, and you answer me, and you tell me by what, and
I'll tell you by what authority I act. Now the Lord wisely goes
on the attack. He goes on the attack against
them and turns the table around on them and asks them this question,
as He did often, when the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Him all sorts
of questions. You remember as it's recorded
in Matthew 22, they asked Him about taxes. They asked Him about
the resurrection. They asked Him about marriage.
They asked Him about the law. And He stopped all that nonsense
with one powerful question. And here's the question. You
remember the question He asked them? What think ye of Christ? Taxes, marriage, the law, and
these things. Side issues. Here's the question. What think ye of Christ? Verse 30 in our text. The baptism
of John. Here's the question. Was it from
heaven? Or was it of men? You answer me. Answer that one.
The baptism, the message and ministry of John? Is it of God? Or did John put himself in the
ministry? Remember, they had sent a committee.
We read about it just a moment ago in John chapter 1. They had
sent a committee of their own to examine him. John, who are
you? What are you doing? Well then,
what's the result of that examination? You answer me. What did you find
out when you asked John about John's ministry. Had these Jews
acknowledged John's ministry, they must also acknowledge him
as the Christ. For John plainly identified him
as the whole, the Lamb of God. John bear witness of him. John's
own testimony was that he must increase, I must decrease. The bridegroom has the bride.
Now notice verse 31 and verse 32. And they reasoned with themselves,
saying, You know, if we say from heaven, he will say, then why
didn't you believe him? If we say of men, feared the
people, for all men counted John, that he was a prophet, they answered
and said, well, you know, they claim ignorance. Well, you know,
we just don't really know. If we say John's ministry was
from God, then he'll have us. He'll say, why did you own him? Now, turn over here to Luke 7
a moment. Luke chapter 7, verse 29. Luke 7, 29. And all the people
that heard him, Luke 7, 29. Speaking of John the Baptist,
All the people that heard him and the publicans justified God
being baptized with the baptism of John, but the lawyers, the
Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves
being not baptized of him. They didn't own and recognize
the ministry of John. But if we say that it's of men,
the people will turn on us for all the people of Jerusalem consider
John to be And you know what they feared? Turn over to Luke
20. Luke gives us a little more information.
Luke 20, and notice if you will, verse 5. Luke 20 verse 5, They
reasoned with themselves, saying, If we say from heaven, he will
say, Why then believeth ye him not? Why did you believe him?
But if we say of men, all the people will stone us. For they be persuaded that John
was a prophet they feared for their life. They said, The people
will turn on us. We'll be out of a job. We'll
be out of business. Notice verse 33 in our text. They answered
and said, you know, we don't really know. We can't tell. They were forced to make a dishonorable
retreat and to pretend that they were ignorant. The Lord replied, well neither
do I tell you about my authority. They didn't deserve to be told.
He justly left them in the dark, nor did He need to tell them,
for the works which He did told them plainly by what authority,
since no mere man could do these miracles unless God be with him." Had they just waited another four days? What happened in another four
days? they'll find out by what authority, by what power, that
the blessed Redeemer acts. What happened in four days? Well,
remember, they condemned Him to death the next morning, the
next day, from this here that we just read about. They condemned
Him to death. They delivered Him to Pilate.
They said, we have no king but Caesar. And they took Him out
there and they crucified Him, nailed Him to a tree, put Him
in the ground, and yet He walks out of the tomb as arisen victorious,
conquering Lord of Lord and King of kings, the judge of all the
earth, with whom these men must bow and confess He is Lord, that
He has all authority. Romans 1.3 declares, He is declared
to be the Son of God with power, with authority, according to
the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. Had
they just waited four days, they would have found out by whose
authority he acts. Matthew 28, the risen Lord and
the victorious Lord declared that all power, all authority
is given to me in heaven and in earth. Revelation 118, declared
I am he that liveth and was dead. The Lord said, behold, I am alive
forevermore. I have the keys. What is that? Authority. Power. Hell and death. Oh yes. Oh yes. I have all authority. All power. The baptism of John. What think ye? Is it from heaven? Amen. Now, let's get down to us. Right where we live. I want to
make a personal application to us by asking you this question.
And I want you to take it personal. Salvation. Redemption. Justification. Righteousness. Sanctification. Regeneration. Is it of men? Or is it of God? The gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Is it of God or of men? Remember what the Lord said down
here? Answer that. Answer that. Answer
that. You see, there's no neutral ground.
Our Lord said, those not with me are against me. He that gathereth
not with me scattereth abroad. This gospel that we preach here,
that we contend is the only gospel that will save sinners. Find
Romans 1. Is it of God? Or is this old
Tom's gospel? Or is it of God? Well, let's
see if we can answer it with the Word of God. Romans 1. 1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, the gospel
which is promised by the prophets in the Holy Scripture, the gospel
of God concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, which was made of the
seed of David, according to flesh, and declared to be the Son of
God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the
resurrection from the dead. The gospel, my friend. Look at
verse 16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ, for it is the power, the authority of God, and the
salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew and to the Gentile.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed, that just shall
live by faith. The gospel is of God, is it not? Find Galatians chapter 1. Galatians
chapter 1. Paul said, But though we or an
angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, which
we have not preached, verse 8, let him be accursed, as we said
before. So say I now again, If any man
preach any other gospel unto you than that which you have
received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade man, or
God? Or do I seek to please man? For
if I yet please man, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Galatians 1 verse 11, But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel
which is preached of me is not after man. I didn't receive it
by man, but was taught by the revelation of the Lord Jesus
Christ. So the gospel Is it from heaven
or is it of men? Well, the Word of God plainly
answers that question, doesn't it? Four things. Number one,
salvation. Salvation. Is it of the Lord
or is it of man? Psalm 37 verse 39, the salvation
of the righteous is of the Lord. Salvation of the righteous is
of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord in its
planning. God planned this. Salvation of the Lord in His
execution. Please the Lord to bruise Him
in our room and in our stead. Salvation of the Lord in His
application. God, who has begun a good work
in you, will perfect it. Salvation of the Lord in His
sustaining power. We're kept by the power of God.
Salvation of the Lord in His ultimate perfection. Predestinated
to be conformed to the image of Christ. Now, do you reason in yourself?
Or are you convinced in your heart before the Lord that salvation
is of Him? Now, which is it? Salvation all of God? Or is it
of man? Well, you know in your heart,
as a believer before God, by the record and testimony of God's
Word, it's God who saved us. It's God who called us, not according
to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. Salvation is of the Lord. That's so. That's so. Secondly, redemption. Redemption
from all sin. Deliverance from all sin. Forgiveness
of sin. Is it from the Lord? Is it of
the Lord through the Lord Jesus Christ? Or is it some way dependent
and determined by what you do? As the other crowd says, you
know, God's done all He can do. Poor God. God's trying to, but
you won't let him. Poor God. That's a penitent God. That's an idle God. That's not
God who is the living and true God. Redemption from all sin
is always determined, dependent, and accomplished by God Almighty
in Christ Jesus. And I'm not interested in the
opinions of men. For there are many. What does
God say? Are you interested? Let's find
out. Turn to Ephesians chapter 1.
Ephesians chapter 1. What about redemption? Look at
verse 7. In whom we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of his grace. That's pretty definite,
isn't it? Not? We are redeemed with the
precious blood of Christ. We're not redeemed with corruptible
things, the silver and gold, our vain conversation, but with
the precious blood of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ, it says
in Hebrews 9, 12, obtained eternal redemption for us with His own
blood. It's the blood of Christ that
cleanses us from all sin. Redemption? Is it of God? Or is it dependent
upon the sinner? Answer me, God says. Now you know in your heart, as
a believer before God, He cleanses us from all our sin. Justification before Almighty
God. Now we're not talking about being
justified in the eyes of men. We're talking about being justified
before Almighty God. Is it of God? Being cleared of
all guilt? That's what it means to be justified.
Being cleared of all guilt and declared righteous in the courts
of God? Is it of God, through the glorious
righteousness and blood sacrifice of the Redeemer, or is it accomplished
by the works, merits, deeds, and righteousness of the Creator?
Or is it of the Creator? I know this. It can't be both. Answer me. Answer God. He knows your heart. Justification. What does the book say? What
does the Bible teach? And again, I'm not interested
in the opinions of the religious critic. What does God say? Turn back to Romans chapter 3. Justification. Being cleared
of all guilt before God. Romans 3. 19. We know that what things whoever
the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every
mouth may be stopped, all the world may become guilty, guilty
before God. Therefore by the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law
is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of
God, The justification of God without the law is manifest,
being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness
of God, which is by the faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and
upon all them that believe, there is no difference. For all are
sinners, all have come short of the glory of God, being justified
freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus. Turn to the book of Acts, chapter
13. Justification before God Almighty is it of works or is
it of grace? Acts chapter 13 look at verse
38 be it known unto you therefore men and brethren that that through
this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sin, Acts
13 39, and by him all that believe are justified from all things
which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Justification
is all of grace. It's not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. Salvation! Is it of the Lord? Or is it of man? Redemption,
is it of the Lord? Or is it of man? Justification,
is it of the Lord? Or did you play some part in
it? Justified by His blood. Here's
the last one. Regeneration. Regeneration. Being made a new creature in
Christ Jesus. Being brought from the grave
of spiritual death. Being delivered from the bondage
of the law. Having a spiritual nature given
unto us. A sinless nature implanted within
us. Is it from heaven? Is it the
effectually irresistible power of God the Holy Spirit working
in us? Or is it of man? Answer me. Is it something of man? Is it
something we merely learn? Is regeneration just learning
some new facts? Is it merely intellectual knowledge
of doctrinal facts? Is it merely changing the doctrinal
positions? Or is it being born of God, being
made a new creature in Christ Jesus? What does the book say?
Let's find John chapter 3. Here's the book on it. Chapter
and verse. John chapter 3 still stands in
bold letters, verse 3, Verily, verily, I say unto you, verse
3, John 3, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom
of God. And Nicodemus saying to him,
How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter in the second
time into his mother's womb and be born? And the Lord said, Verily
I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit
of God, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which
is born of flesh is just what it is. Flesh, that which is born
of spirit, is spirit. Marvel not that I say unto you,
You must be born of God. This new birth and this regeneration
is of God. It's the work of God in the heart. You have to quicken who were
dead. If any man be in Christ, he is
a new creation. Old things are passed away, behold,
all things have become new. If His own will begat He us with
the word of truth. He has given unto us in that
regeneration, He's given unto us a new nature, divine nature,
the very nature of God implanted within us. That's the work of God, is it
not? Can't be the work of men. Now, I'll send you home with
these words. If you say these things are of
God, then why don't you believe Him? Bow to Him and own Him publicly
before men. Why do I do that? By confessing
Christ in believers' baptisms. Or do you like these religious
ignorant fools say, well, you know, I don't really know. I can't tell. You know. You know whether these things
be so. My friend, it's not well to reason with yourself to see if these
things be so. They are. Believe God. Believe His Word. Believe His
truth. That would be wise to go home and take the book and
read the book and study the book to see that these things are
so. That's what they did in Acts
17. These were more noble than those
in Thessalonica in that they received the word of God with
all readiness of mind and searched the scripture daily whether these
things be so. Search his word and ask God to
give you faith to believe Him. May God bless us to do that very
thing.