And tragically, many, many people
shall follow their evil ways. During the Great Reformation,
back five, six hundred years ago, God raised up and used some
of the greatest preachers since the apostles. And those preachers
set the tone. for us today, for those of us
who preach the gospel. All of them agreed that three
things, three basic things characterized their ministry and that reformation. Number one, salvation by grace
alone. Plus nothing, minus nothing.
Not by works. The grace of God alone. It's God who saves by his free
and sovereign grace. Secondly, they agreed that their
gospel is Christ alone. Christ Jesus, our righteousness,
our wisdom, our sanctification, our redemption. Everything God
has for a sinner is in Christ. all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily and we're complete in Him, plus nothing, minus nothing.
He's the only Mediator, He's the only Redeemer, Christ alone.
Salvation is Christ. Thirdly, the Scriptures alone,
not the Church traditions or writings or catechisms or confessions
of faith or dogmas. of whatever, the scriptures. The scriptures alone is our only
foundation of faith, our only rule of faith and practice, the
scriptures alone, that's it. Now the false prophets and those
today to whom that charge is leveled, upon whom that charge
is leveled, false preachers, they depart from those three
things. They don't preach grace alone. It's grace plus works. It's your works that activate
God's grace. It's your works that set in motion
Christ's blood. It's mine and your works that
make God's grace available. That's not true. Turn to Romans
11, verse 6. It's not grace plus works. When we preach that, we preach
neither grace nor works. Romans 11 verse 6. Verse 5 says,
even so then at this present time also there's a remnant according
to the election of grace. And if by grace, there's no more
works. Otherwise grace is not grace.
If I make any contribution whatsoever to the redemption of my soul,
it's not grace. To be grace, it has to be grace
alone. Plus nothing, minus nothing.
But if it's of works, it's no more grace. Otherwise, work is
not work. Work is not work. If grace enters
in, grace is not grace if work enters in. Anywhere. So it can't
be a mixture. And that's what these fellas
in Galatia were bringing in. Christ, fine. The blood, fine. Grace, fine. But you've got to
do this to make that effective. And that's not true. Grace is
a gift. Grace is the complete package
in Christ. In Christ, we're made sufficient
for heaven. Fit, qualified. Grace is manifested
in the thief on the cross. This man never worked. He never
washed. He never witnessed. He never
walked a step on this earth in the service
of God. And he sure couldn't wait for
anything to activate God's grace. It was free grace. And our Lord
said, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And that's grace. That's free grace. And that's
why everybody in this building has been saved if we're saved
by the grace of God. Otherwise, grace is not grace.
But work is not work. And then the false preachers,
they do not preach that Christ is all in salvation. There's
something you must do to make his work effective. Either the
law, or keeping a day, or being baptized. Baptism is a beautiful
ordinance. But I'm not saved because I'm
baptized. I'm baptized because I'm saved.
The Lord's table is a precious ordinance, but it's not a sacrament.
The wafer and the wine have nothing to do with the remission of my
sins. It's the blood of Christ. It's the broken body of Christ.
And I take the bread and the wine, discerning his body and
in remembrance of his body. Join the church. I'm not saved
because I'm a member of the church. I'm a member of the church because
I'm saved. I find delight in the company of God's people.
I'm not saved because of prayer. I pray because I'm saved. I'm
not saved because of worship. I worship because I'm saved.
I do not save because we're loved. We're loved because we're saved.
Christ saved us! Just like that thief. Just like
that thief. All Christ. All in it. He's all in it all. And that's
not what they're preaching. I just, I guarantee you that
they can't keep their programs going preaching that. They can't
keep those things going. And I'll tell you the third thing,
and this is where we are tonight. Scriptures alone, false preachers,
in order to present their, their recipes for revival, their plans
of salvation, In order to push works and deeds, they discount
the words of the prophets and apostles. The Holy Scriptures
is not enough. The Bible does not mean what
it says. Yes, it does. It means exactly
what it says. And these false preachers, this
is the reason we're getting so many new translations out. They're
trying to tone down what God says through these men. Now,
I know that The apostle, Paul, was a human being. But he's not
just another man, he's an apostle. Moses was not just another man,
he was a prophet of God. And these men want to humanize
the words and works of these apostles, and that's a fearful
thing. When you humanize too much the
prophets and apostles, And say, well, Paul was just another man.
I beg your pardon. He was a man. Christ was too,
but he wasn't just another man. He's the Son of God. And the
Apostle Paul and Peter and James and John and these men who wrote
these words are not just another man or another preacher. I'm
just another preacher, that's all. But they were apostles. They were apostles. They were
prophets of God. And their words written by their
hands, inspired by God's Spirit, is the word of God. And I take
the writings of Paul, what he says here, just as if God himself
was speaking. I will show you what Peter said
about that in 2 Peter 1. And I know there are preachers
on television and other places who want people to be impressed
by their visions. and by their experiences and
by what they say God showed them or taught them or revealed to
them. But I'm going to read here in 2 Peter 1 about an experience
and a vision that the Apostle Peter actually
had. He was one of the three that
went with Christ up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter, James,
and John, Christ took them with him when he went on the Mount
of Transfiguration, there before them, before their very eyes. God Almighty glorified Christ. His garments glistened. The glory of God was manifested
upon, and Moses and Elijah came back from heaven and sat down
beside him. talk to him about his death that
he would accomplish at Jerusalem, and these men were witnesses
of that. Now that's really something, isn't it? But I want you to see
how Peter handled it. He said in verse 16, We have
not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto
you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus. I was an eyewitness
of his majesty. He received, for he received
from God the Father, honor and glory, when there came such a
voice to him from the excellent glory." These men heard God say
these words. This is my beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased. And this voice which came from
heaven, I heard. I saw him glorified. I heard
the voice of God when I was with him in the holy mountain. We have something better than
that. Is there something better than
that? You've got it in your hands. There's something, a more sure
word of prophecy. A more sure word of prophecy.
Where unto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that
shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star
rise in your hearts. What is it? Well, here it is.
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scriptures is of any private
interpretation. It didn't come from man. It didn't
originate with man. It's not of man's translation,
interpretation, or ideas. For the prophecy came in old
time not by the will of men, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. And Paul was one of those men.
He wrote 13 books of the New Testament, 14 count in Hebrew.
Peter, James, and John. If you'll turn to 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3, 16. All scripture, this is all of
it, from Genesis to Revelation, is given by inspiration. You
know what that word is? God-breed. breath of God, God breathed. All scripture is given by God
breathing into these men, and all scripture is profitable for
doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction, and righteousness,
that the man of God may be perfect, mature, holy, freely, freely
furnished. That's all you need is scripture.
I like to read the writings of men. I like to read books. I
like to read my commentaries. I refer to them often. This is the Word of God. And
I'm talking about the writings of Paul, the writings of Peter,
James, and John. Don't humanize them to the point
where you put a question mark on it saying, well, they were
just men. They were men, but they were not just men. They
were apostles. And this is the Word of God.
And it's completed. That was one of the problems
down here in Galatia. They said, Paul's not an apostle.
We don't have to listen to him. Now look at verse 11 in Galatians
1. That's where we start tonight. He says, I certify you, brethren,
that the gospel which is preached of me is not after man. I certify
you. The gospel I preach is not from
man, it's not a human invention, it's not man's gospel, it's the
gospel of God. For I am an apostle. For I neither
received it of man, and I wasn't taught it, but by the revelation
of Jesus Christ. Now then, let me make a couple
of statements here. You and I, that's how we receive
the gospel, through a man. 50 years ago, 1950, I didn't know
the gospel. I was religious, like many of
you, but I didn't know the gospel. But God sent a man, a man's voice,
a man who was God's preacher, and he taught me the gospel. Now, he didn't teach me the gospel
himself or by himself. The Holy Spirit of God gives
us life. The Holy Spirit of God begets
us, he quickens us, he opens our hearts, like God opened Lydia's
heart, but Paul taught her. You see what I mean? Lydia went
down by the riverside with those women, and God opened her heart.
But God didn't teach her the gospel, an angel didn't teach
her the gospel, Christ didn't teach her the gospel, Paul taught
her the gospel. She listened to the words of
Paul. And the Holy Spirit opens the heart, he enlivens the mind,
he illuminates the mind, he reveals the gospel, but God sends the
gospel by man. And that's just so. Turn with
me to Romans 10. And while you're turning to Romans
10, let me quote John 1. There was a man sent from God
whose name was John, the same king. for a witness of the light. He wasn't the light, but he came
as a witness of the light. And if anybody here or out yonder
hears the gospel, they're going to hear it from a man. And the
Holy Spirit will open the heart. The Holy Spirit will illuminate
and enlighten the mind. The Holy Spirit will give hearing
ears and seeing eyes. But you don't see unless there's
light, and you don't hear unless there's a voice. Huh? There's
got to be a voice. Now, here it is in Romans 10,
verse 13. Verse 13, And whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall
they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And pray tell
me, how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except
they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful
are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring
us good tidings, great tidings, glad tidings of good things." Turn to Ephesians 1, Ephesians 1, verse 13. We love this first chapter of
Ephesians. God chose us before the foundation
of the world, God predestinated us to be conformed to the image
of Christ, and God accepted us in the Beloved. And Christ put
away our sins by his blood, and verse 13 says, in whom you trusted
after you heard the word of truth. You trusted him after you heard
the gospel of your salvation. in whom also you believed. After
you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.
Now one more verse, one more prescription. 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. And
this, I love this verse 13. Spurgeon said if he didn't have
but one verse to teach election, he'd teach this verse. 2 Thessalonians
2 verse 13. Paul said, But we are bound to
give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the
Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.
How do you hear it? Through sanctification of the
Spirit and belief of the truth, whereunto he called you by our
gospel to the obtaining of the glory of Jesus Christ. So I heard the gospel from a
man. But Paul said he didn't. Now God dealt with Paul, God
dealt with Paul as a man when Ananias came to him. But God
dealt with Paul as an apostle when he took him into Arabia.
And God taught him to God. But you and I hear from my man.
But Paul said he didn't. I never, verse 12, I never received
it of a man. I wasn't taught it by man, but
by the revelation of Jesus Christ. All right, let's look at verse
13. You have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jewish religion. Brother Ronnie read that to us
from Philippians 3. If anybody has confidence in
the flesh, Paul said, I'm old. I was a Jew, a Hebrew of Hebrews,
brought up in a rigid Jewish home. He said, concerning the
law I was blameless. I exceeded many my equals. Concerning
the law, without blame, a Pharisee. And I persecuted the church of
God and wasted it. And I profited in the Jewish
religion above many my equals in my own nation, being far more
exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my Father. That's what he
was. And here's what happened. Here's
how God saved him. Look at verse 15. But when it
pleased God. When will a man or woman be saved?
When will they hear the gospel? When will they be released from
captivity? When will their eyes be opened?
When will their ears be opened? When will the gospel bring forth
fruit? When it pleased God. Paul was
over 40 years of age. when God Almighty was pleased
to call him, when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother's womb. Paul belonged to God. Paul belonged
to Christ. Christ died for Paul. Paul was
chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. He separated me.
He sanctified me from my mother's womb. I belonged to God. I was chosen, one of their legs.
All the time that he was in Jewish religion, seeking salvation by
works, persecuting the church, he belonged to Christ. He separated
me from my mother's womb. But then he called me by his
grace. He called me. He was pleased
to call me. And then what did he do? He revealed
his Son in me. You see, salvation, election's
not salvation. Election's on to salvation. God
will save his elect, but election's not salvation. Salvation is when
God reveals his Son in us. That's right. It pleased God,
now watch this, it pleased God, God the Holy Spirit, to reveal
his Son, who he is, what he did, Why he did it, where he is now,
his son, in me. Christ is revealed in us, not
just to us. I know who he is, but the demons
said they knew who he was. When our Lord came to that man
possessed with demons, the demons spoke out and said, we know who
you are. We know who you are. You're the Holy One of God. Have
you come to torment us before our time? Well, God revealed
his son in us. Christ is formed in us. His nature,
his love, his truth, his grace is implanted and imparted and
imputed. And as he is in this world, as
he was, or he is in this world, so are we. God, when he pleased
God, who separated me from my mother's womb, called me by his
grace, he revealed his Son in me, that I might preach him among
the heathen. And immediately I conferred not
with flesh and blood." But I'll tell you what Paul knew right
here. Paul didn't need circumcision
to make his salvation complete. He had Christ. He didn't need
Sabbath days to make his salvation complete. He was in Christ, and
Christ in him. He didn't need works to make
him live spiritually. He lived in Christ. He didn't
need works to make him a whole spiritual person. He was complete
in Christ. God revealed his Son in me. And nothing can be added to that.
That's salvation. So I didn't confer with flesh
and blood. Now let me show you something.
Turn to Acts 9. This will be interesting to you.
Acts chapter 9. A man did come to him. A man
called Ananias. We're talking about Paul the
man now. Paul the man. Paul the sinner. Paul the sinner
whom God is going to save. A man came to him. Over here
in Acts 9. I want to read verse 6. And Paul, trembling and astonished,
said, Lord, what would you have me to do? Here he is on the road
to Damascus, and God smitten him, broke him down. Who are
you? Jesus, whom thou persecuted. What would you have me do? And
the Lord said to him, Arise and go into a city. It will be told
thee what thou must do. Now turn over to verse 17. So
Ananias Verse 17, Acts 9, Went his way, entered into the house,
and put his hands on Saul. And he said, Brother Saul, the
Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way, that thou
camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and
be filled with the Holy Ghost. And then he told him to arise
and be baptized. And immediately there fell from
his eyes, as there had been scales, he received sight, for with,
arose, and was baptized. And when he received meat, he
was strengthened. And then Saul, certain days,
was with, this is not the twelve disciples now, the believers.
Saul was with the believers in Damascus. On the road to Damascus,
God smote him. And he fell down. What must I
do? Go to Damascus, and it will be
told you that God sent him a man, a man called Ananias. And Ananias
laid hands on him, and said, I will receive your sight. He
was baptized. He went to Damascus, he was there,
and he visited with the believers there. Now, keep that Acts 9,
and turn to Galatians. Back to my text. I want you to
hold those two passages open before you. Galatians 1, I want to read something
here and I'll go back to Acts 9. Verse 16, he revealed his son
in me that I might preach him among the heathen. Immediately
I conferred not with flesh and blood. Now he was there in Damascus.
He didn't stay there very long. Neither went I to Jerusalem,
for there were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia. When
God gave him his sight down in Damascus, he stayed a few days,
and then he went to Arabia. Now then, how long he stayed
in Arabia, no one knows. But that's where God, that's
where Christ taught the apostle. Ananias taught Paul the man what
God gave him the teaching. But Paul the preacher, Paul the
apostle, was taught of Christ. supernaturally taught of Christ.
Now what did he do then? He came back to Damascus. Acts
9, verse 19. When Ananias laid hands on him,
he received his sight. Then he, verse 19, said he was
certain days with the believers in Damascus, just a few days.
Then he went to Arabia and he came back, and verse 20 picks
up where he came back. He came back a preacher. He came
back, verse 20, straightway he preached Christ in the synagogue
at Damascus, that he is the Son of God. And all that heard him
were amazed, and they said, Is not this he that destroyed them,
that called on his name, this name in Jerusalem? And is not
this he that came hither for that intent, that he might bring
them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in
strength. and confounded the Jews. This
was a man who had been taught of Christ now, talking. This
wasn't a novice, this wasn't a beginner, this wasn't a fella
just had his eyes open, this was a fella been in Arabia with
Christ, an apostle, and he confounded them. He confounded the Jews
that dwelt at Damascus, proving this is the very Christ. But
now wait a minute, Then after many days were fulfilled, the
Jews took counsel to kill him. Down there in Damascus, he's
still in Damascus. And there lying awake was known of Saul,
and they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then these
believers, the word disciples is used not just meaning the
twelve, but believers. The believers took him by night
and led him down by the wall in a basket. That's when he went
to Jerusalem. So when he was come to Jerusalem,
this is three years. Go back to my text. In Galatians 1, Acts 9 now, when
he was first, when God revealed Christ to him, verse 17, neither
went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me.
I went to Arabia, and then I returned to Damascus. Then after three
years, I went to Jerusalem. Three years. And Acts 9, let's
go back to Acts 9 now. Verse 26, so when Paul has come
to Jerusalem, he has failed to join himself to the disciples,
and they were afraid of him. And believe not, he was a disciple.
You can imagine. But Barnabas, this is when Barnabas
comes in. Barnabas took him and brought
him to the apostles. Now go back to Galatians 1, just
a minute. I hate to go back and forth,
but you must do this. Verse 19, but other apostles
saw I none save James the Lord's brother. I saw Peter. Then after three years I went
to Jerusalem to see Peter. Verse 20, Now the things which
I write to you, behold, before God I lie not. Afterwards I came
to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. I was unknown by face unto the
churches of Jerusalem, Judea, which were in Christ, but they
heard only. that he which persecuted us in
times past now preaches the faith once it is destroyed. Now back
to Acts 9. Verse 27, Barnabas took him and
brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he
had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him,
and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus,
and he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And
he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against
the Grecians. But they were going to kill him
again. They went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew,
they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him forth to Tarsus. That was his hometown. They sent
him to Tarsus. And then had the churches rest
throughout all Judea. Saul of Tarsus was out of business. and the church had rest for a
while and Samaria was edified walking in the fear of the Lord
and the comfort of the Holy Ghost was multiplied and Paul stayed
in Tarsus now give me a few more minutes let me show you something
he was down in Tarsus how long I do not know but turn to Acts
11 Acts 11 verse 19 He's down in Tarsus, Acts 11,
19. Now they which were scattered
abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled
as far as Phineis and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word
to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of
Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they would come to Antioch, spake
unto the Grecians. The others had been preaching
to the Jews, these men preached to the Greeks, preaching the
Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great
number believed and turned to the Lord. Now watch this. Then
tidings of these things came to the ear of the church at Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas, here's that man again, that he should
go as far as Antioch. who when he came and saw the
grace of God and was glad and exhorted them all, that with
purpose of heart they would claim unto the Lord. For he was a good
man, Barnabas was, full of the Holy Ghost and faith, much people
added to the Lord, but he wanted Paul with him. So what's this?
Saul. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus
to find Saul. He'd been there. Now, this man
Saul of Tarsus is not called Paul yet. He's still Saul. And Barnabas, who introduced
him to the apostle, who loved him and knew him, who would be
his comrade in his first missionary trip, went down to Tarsus, seeking
power. This is Saul, listen, verse 26.
When he found him, he brought him to Antioch, where the revival
was going on, where men, Greeks and Jews were hearing the gospel.
He brought Saul to Antioch, and he came to Tarsus, that a whole
year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much
people and the disciples. And the disciples were called
Christians, first at Antioch. Oh, God's hand on this man, Christians
at Antioch. They stayed there a year, Paul
and Barnabas, preaching the gospel. One more scripture, Acts 13.
You can later just read these 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and see God's
hand on this man. Acts 13, verse 1. Now they were in the church at
Antioch. That's where he is now, he's in Antioch. God saved him,
went to Arabia, came back to Damascus. After three years,
went to Jerusalem. They were going to kill him,
so they sent him to Tarsus. Barnabas went down there and
got him and took him to Antioch where God was blessing. Stayed
there a year preaching the gospel. And there in the church at Antioch
were certain prophets and teachers as Barnabas, Simeon, that was
called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manon, which had been brought
up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. They ministered to the
Lord and fasted. And the Holy Ghost said, separate
me Paul and Barnabas. Separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work where I've called them. Saul of Tarsus prepared
how many years? Well, I can count three. I can
count some more and then four. And here, almost five years later,
the Holy Spirit said separate calling Barnabas for the work
whereunto I called them. And when they had fasted and
prayed, they laid hands on them, and sent them away. And verse
9, Then Saul, who is also called Paul, and that's the first mention,
Acts 13, of that word from thereon, he's Paul, filled with the Holy
Ghost, set his eyes on him. All right, Galatians 1, and I'll
quit. My purpose in all of this day
is to declare these three things. Grace alone, all of grace, Christ
alone, Christ is all in the Scriptures. This is the Word of God. And
God chose certain men. There were 40 of these men over
a period of 1,500 years. From the first entry into the
Bible, Moses, the first five books, to John on the Isle of
Patmos, 1,500 years, 40 men of God, 40 different men wrote. And this is the Word of God.
Don't you ever, ever let that slip out of your grasp. a man,
but a man of God, an apostle, speaking for God. And the last
verse said, they glorified God in me. They glorified God for the
wonderful grace, mercy, and gifts the Lord had put in him. They
glorified God that the persecutor had become a preacher of grace. They ascribed all of that to
the grace of God. They were thankful and glorified
and blessed God who sent Paul to them with the word of life. And I glorify God for these wonderful
apostles and prophets to whom I'm so greatly indebted, aren't
you, for his word. Let me read you what Toplady
wrote. A debtor to grace alone, Of covenant
mercy I sing, Nor fear with Christ's righteousness own My person and
worship to bring. The terrors of law and of God
With me have nothing to do. My Savior's obedience and blood
Hide all my transgressions from view. nor things that are now, nor
things below or above, will make his promise forego, nor separate
me from his love. My name from the palm of his
hands eternity will never erase. Written on his heart my name
remains in marks of indelible grace. Yes, by Christ's blood
I to the end shall endure. As sure as the word is given,
more happy, more happy but not more secure are those already
in heaven. They're more happy than us, but
they're not more secure than you are. They are there because
they're in Christ, and you'll be there because you're in Christ.
And they're more happier than we are, but they're not more
secure by his grace.