way it's presented is so similar
to his other writings. One of the men suggested to me
the other night that because the Hebrew nation and the Jews
were so against Paul and against his ministry, that it may be
the Lord led him just to leave his name completely out of this
epistle to the Hebrews, that they may not have at least that
objection to raise that Paul wrote it. It really doesn't matter,
it's God's Word, but that may be the reason. But we believe
Paul is the writer of the book of Hebrews. It begins in chapter
13, Verse 1, let brotherly love continue. Now we are to, as much
as possible, as much as possible, that's the way Paul put it in
another scripture, live at peace with all men. We are to, as much
as possible, live at peace with all men. And we are to, as much
as possible, try to love everybody and pity everyone. It's difficult,
it's not easy to love folks out there who hate the gospel, who
hate our Lord, who despise us. But we are to as much as possible,
that's what Paul said, live at peace with all men and love all
men. But he's talking here about a brotherly love, let brotherly
love. We're talking here about love
between believers. People who are easy to love,
because we're the same father, we're the same family. It's not
hard to love God's people. Not hard, because God has already
put this love in our hearts for one another. The love of God
is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So we love
each other because Christ dwells in all of us. We have the same
spirit. We have the same father, we love
the same gospel, we're the same family. So this gives you a little
clue here too. He says, let brotherly love continue. It's already started, so let
it continue. He doesn't say, let brotherly
love start. If you hadn't up to now loved
one another, love now. But he says, I know you already
love one another. If a mini man loves not his brother,
he can't love God. And he that's born of God loveth.
So he says, let brotherly love continue. Let it never fail. Let it grow as we grow in grace
and the knowledge of Christ. Brotherly love, family love,
the family of God. Verse 2, be not forgetful to
entertain strangers. We're talking about strangers
in this brotherhood. It wouldn't be a wise thing today
for you to open your door to every stranger that comes your
way from whencever they come. But he's speaking here, be not
forgetful to entertain and extend hospitality to strangers in this
brotherhood, other believers from other places, because thereby
some have entertained angels unaware. This may refer to Genesis
chapter 18, if you'd like to turn over there. Genesis chapter 18, when Abraham
entertained some men who came to him in the plains of Mamre. Genesis 18, let's read it. And
the Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre. He sat in the
tent door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes. He was sitting there in the tent
door in the middle of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked,
and lo, three men stood by him. And when he saw them, he ran
to meet them from the tent door and bowed himself toward the
ground. He said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy
sight, pass not away, I pray thee from thy servant. Let a
little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet,
and rest yourselves under the tree. I'll fetch a morsel of
bread, and comfort ye your hearts. After that ye shall pass on.
For therefore ye come to your servant." And they said, So do,
as thou hast said. Now, let's see who this turned
out to be. And Abraham hastened into the
tent under Sarah and said, make ready quickly three measures
of fine meal. Knead it, make capes upon the
heart. Abraham ran into the herd and fetched a calf, tender and
good, and gave it unto the young men. The young man, he hastened
to dress it, took butter and milk. The calf which he had dressed
set it before them. He stood by them under the tree,
and they did eat. And then they revealed themselves
to him. They said unto him, where is Sarah your wife? He said,
Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly
return unto thee according to the time of life. And, lo, Saber
thy wife shall have a son. And Saber heard it in the tent
door which was behind him. Now Abraham and Saber were old
and well stricken in age, ceased to be with Saber after the matter
of women. Therefore Saber laughed within herself, saying, After
I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure, my lord, being old
also? The Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore didst thou save a lamb,
saying, Shall I have a surety bear a child which am old? Well,
I read that a few weeks ago, but he entertained. Watch how
he met these people and showed great hospitality unto them.
And that's what Paul is saying. I think he's referring to that
incident when he tells us, Do not neglect, forget, or refuse
hospitality. to those in this brotherhood
because some have entertained angels unknowingly. And then
verse 3, remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. Now this is not so much today
as it was then, but he's talking about those who are in prison
for preaching the gospel. If you turn to 2 Timothy 1, himself
was in prison for preaching the gospel. In 2 Timothy 1, he says
in verse 8, talking to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1.8, he
says, Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner. He was a prisoner in Rome at
this time. He was there a prisoner two or
three years for preaching the gospel. And he says, don't be
ashamed of me, his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God. So remember them. What does it mean, remember them?
It means to reach out to them. It means to think of them. It
means to communicate with them. It means to pray for them. So,
go back to the text. Now, remember them that are in
bonds. as bound with them, and them
which suffer adversity, now we know something about this, and
them that suffer afflictions, them who suffer adversity, who
are going through trials, those who have need, and we can identify
with them because it says as being yourselves also in the
body. It's only by the grace of God
that we're spared from the greatest adversity and the greatest afflictions
and the greatest wants. So we can certainly reach out
to them, help them, think of them, pray for them, communicate
with those who suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the
body. And then there are those who to whom we need to reach out
who are in the bonds or adversity of loneliness and old age and
weakness. There's just all types of afflictions
and adversities among the people of God. So he says remember them,
consider them, think on them, pray for them, and reach out
to them. Make contact with them, encourage
them. in these trials. Now in verse 4, he says, marriage
is honorable in all, the bed undefiled. The marriage bed is
undefiled. But whoremongers and adulterers,
those who make a mockery of marriage, God will judge. Now God ordained
marriage. Let's turn to Genesis chapter
2. Marriage is honorable. Marriage
is holy. Marriage is of God. God ordained
marriage. He meant, he said, it's not good
for man to be alone, not good for a woman to be alone. And
he ordained that we should get married. Here in Genesis chapter
2, God himself, our Father, ordained marriage. In fact, actually marriage
was instituted by God before the church, before he ordained
and revealed The fellowship of the church, he ordained the fellowship
and union of marriage between a man and a woman. And he says
here in Genesis chapter 2, verse 18, the Lord God said,
it's not good that man should be alone. I'll make a helpmate
for him. He made a woman. And out of the ground the Lord
God formed every beast of the field, every fowl of the air,
and brought them to Adam to see what he would name them, whatsoever
Adam called every living creature, that was the name. And Adam gave
names to the cattle and the fowl of the air and every beast of
the field. But for Adam there was no helpmate. And here he
is, giving Adam the woman. And the Lord God caused a deep
sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. He took one of his
ribs. and closed up the flesh thereof.
The woman was made from the man. She's called woman because she
came from man. And the rib which God, the Lord,
God had taken from man made he a woman and brought her to the
man. This God ordained these, this
relationship, this union. God ordained it and gave it to
us for our good, for our holiness, for our happiness, to fulfill
his purpose. And Adam said, this is now bone
of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman. She
was taken out of man. That's the reason when Adam fell,
Eve was affected. She came out of him just like
we did. Adam was the first man. Adam was the only man God created,
the only human being God created. Everybody else came out of him,
even the woman. Therefore, verse 24, shall a
man leave his father and mother. It doesn't mean desert them.
It doesn't mean ignore them. It doesn't mean neglect them.
It doesn't mean disown them. It means that he and his wife
are a new family, that they're one, and that he is to love his
wife first. He's not to let his mother and
father rule his wife or rule this home or interfere in this
marriage. That's what he means by that.
We love our parents and respect them. Our parents love us, but
our parents don't interfere with our marriages. And we don't let
our parents divide these homes, because that's what he's saying. leave his father and mother,
and cleave to his wife, and there be one flesh. And they were both
naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. That is,
the marriage bed is holy. Relationship between a man and
woman in marriage is holy. Out of marriage, it's not holy.
It's unholy. And those that make a mockery
of marriage, God's going to judge them. But God ordained marriage. And then our Lord Jesus Christ.
Turn to John 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ. put his
approval upon marriage, of course he did because he and the father
won, but I want to read this in John chapter 2. Our Lord,
he says in John 2 verse 1, the third day there was a marriage
in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. And both
Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage and they went. Our Lord Jesus honored marriage
with his presence. at the marriage feast. And that's
where he performed his first miracle. That's where he manifested
for the first time his great unusual power, supernatural power. It was at this marriage when
he turned the water into wine. They ran out of wine. And you
know the story. And he turned the water into
wine, and the governor of the feast said, you've saved the
best of Our Lord made the best. So that's our Lord condoning
and blessing with His presence and His power marriage. Now let's
turn to Ephesians 5. Let marriage be held in honor.
It's God-ordained and it's God-honored and it's God-blessed. It's of
the Lord. It's for our happiness, our holiness,
our joy. And here in Ephesians, Paul chooses
it as a symbol of Christ's union with the Church. That's right. Christ's very union with the
Church is, he uses marriage as an example of Christ's union
with the Church. Look at Ephesians 5, verse 22. Wives, submit yourselves to your
own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband's head of the
wife is Christ's head of the Church. He's the Savior of the
body. Therefore, as the church is subject
to Christ, so let wives be to their husbands in everything.
And husband, love your wife. Love your wife as Christ loved
the church. You can't love your wife too
much. Love her like Christ loved the church. Gave himself for
it. Give yourself to her and for her. And he did that that
he might sanctify and cleanse it with a washing of water by
the word that he might present it to himself, a glorious church,
not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. But this should
be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives
as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. No man ever hateth his own flesh, but nourisheth and
cherisheth even as the Lord of the church. For we are members
of his body, of his flesh, of his bosom. For this cause shall
a man leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and
there be one flesh. This is a great mystery, this
marriage business. But I speak concerning Christ
and the church. That's a big mystery. But we're one with Christ. We're one. All right, let's look
at verse 5, Hebrews 13. Let your conversation be without
covetousness. There are four key statements
here in verse 5 and 6. I want to take them one at a
time. What does the word conversation mean here? Your character, your
manner of life, be free from greed and lust for material things. Be without covetousness. When
the Lord reveals Christ to a sinner's heart, I believe that the Lord
puts materialism and worldly possessions in their proper place.
I really do. And that is to be used and not
to be abused, to be controlled and not to control us. And I'll
give you two scriptures. The first one is 1 Corinthians
7. That's your behavior, your conduct,
your character, your manner of life, be free from grief, covetousness,
covetousness. In 1 Corinthians 7, verse 31. And they that use this world,
and we do, we use it every day. We use this world. But not abusing
it. For the fashion of this world
passeth away. You use it. Don't let it use
you. Don't let it control us and overwhelm
us. and take first place in our thoughts
and our lives, materialism, this world. Turn to Colossians. Let's
look at another verse here. Colossians 3, verse 5. Colossians 3, verse 5. He tells us what covetousness
is. Our text said, let your conversation,
your manner of life be without covetousness. And verse 5 says,
mortify therefore your members which are on earth, fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry. Covetousness is idolatry. Christ
is supposed to be first in our lives, in our thoughts, in our
affections, and not materialism. So let your behavior and your
your character be free from greed and covetousness. And look at
the next, here's the second thing. Be content with such things as
you have. Be content, we should be content
with what we have. Our father gave it to us. Paul
said this in second, or first Timothy six, he said, having
food and rain water, therewith to be content. And we have plenty
of that, don't we? Paul said in Philippians 4, I've
learned this, whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Content with what we have. Be,
let your manner of life be without covetousness and greed and just
be content with what you have. Now here's the third thing. For
he had said, our Lord had said, I'll never leave you. I'll never
forsake you. I'll never in any way fail you.
I'll never give you up. I'll never leave you without
support. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not ever want, ever. He's my shepherd. So, and then
the fourth thing, so that we can boldly say, verse 6, Now
let your manner of life be without anxiousness, anxiety for material
things, covetousness. Be content with what we have.
He said, I'll never leave you. I'll never forsake you. I'll
never stop supporting you. I'll never leave you without
help and support. So you can say, the Lord is my helper. The Lord is my shepherd. And
my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches and glory.
I will not fear what man can do unto me." Now verse 7, he
says, remember them which have the rule over you. Remember them,
one translation says, who are your gods, your spiritual gods,
who have authority. Now Christ is our King. Christ
is our Lord. Christ is our master, and we
are to call no man master or lord. Turn to Matthew 23. Matthew chapter 23. Matthew 23
verse 8. He makes this perfectly clear. Matthew chapter 23 verse 8. Christ is our king and our lord. In Matthew 23 verse 8. But be
not ye called master. For one is your master, even
Christ, your brethren, your brethren. And call no man your father upon
the earth. This is condemning the Catholic
practice of father, mother superior, this sort of thing. One is your
father which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters.
You don't call some man master and don't let them call you master.
That's what he's saying. Don't you be called master. One
is your master, even Christ. He that's greatest among you
shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself
will be abased. God will take care of that individual. But he that shall humble himself
shall be exalted. So Christ is our King. Let's go back to the text. I
want to show you something here. But pastors and elders are subordinate
leaders. The pastor or elder is an under-shepherd,
and he does have the rule, the authority in the church. He says
it again over here in verse 17. Do you see it's verse 17? Obey
them that have the rule over you and submit yourself. Now
here's four things that a pastor is responsible to do. He has
this authority given him by God, pastors and elders. Number one,
they had to point men to Christ. Point men to Christ. Our Lord
said to his disciples, you go. As my father sent me, I send
you. You go preach the gospel to every Christian. You go point
men to Christ. Behold the Lamb of God. That's
your responsibility. That's your calling. You have
that authority to point men to Christ. They're to teach men
the word of God. They're pastor-teachers. That's
what he said he gave some in the church, apostles, some prophets,
some missionaries, some pastors and teachers. The pastor and
teacher is the same office. Pastor and teacher. He's to teach
men. You have this authority, you're
to point men to Christ, go and make disciples, what's the next
thing he said, and teach them. Teach them to observe all things
I have commanded you. You teach them. That's your authority.
You're the teacher. People are supposed to listen
to you. You point them to Christ and you teach them to observe
all things I have commanded you. And then the third thing, the
posture, is to guide the church in the understanding of the will
of God, the scriptures, and the will of God for that church. The Lord does not, I found this
to be true through the scriptures and through history, he does
not lead people through committees. We learned enough when they talked
Moses into appointing that committee to go down into Promised Land,
Canaan, you know, and the committee came back and said, now this
is what we have to do, stay out of that place. Moses said we're
supposed to go. So God does give his pastor discernment
and understanding if he's patient or wait on God, wait for the
revelation of God and take into consideration the thoughts of
the people, the needs of the people. All things considered,
God will lead the church through him. And they'll discover the
will of God and the way of God together. But there's a leader.
It's like Moses was a leader. Here's the fourth thing. The
pastor is responsible to see that that church continues in
the gospel and continues in the truth and continues in the way
of God. That's his responsibility. It
falls more heavily upon, it's every man's responsibility, but
especially pastors and teachers and elders. It's their responsibility
to see that error does not come into the pulpit. Edward does
not come into the pew. Had a wrong spirit and does not
invade the church. Said there to be always watchful. Watchful. Now he tells us here
to remember them. What does it mean to remember
them? Way back there he said remember them that are in adversity
and affliction and in bondage. Think on them. Reach out to them. Respect them. And so this thing
of, like the thief on the cross, said, Lord, remember me. Think
of me. Regard me. Make a place for me. All right, here's how you can
remember those that have the responsibility of the pastor
and elders and teachers. Remember them one day and listen
to them. Verse 17 says, Obey them that
have the rule over you and submit yourselves. For they watch for
your souls, as they that must give an account. Listen to them
that they may give an account with joy, not with grief. That
would be unprofitable for you. So listen to them. Hear the message. Hear the message. Receive the
message. Secondly, respect them. Honor to whom honors do. Tribute
to whom tributes do. Respect them. Follow their leadership. Pray for them. Pray for them. And provide their needs. Listen
to them, respect them, follow their leadership, pray for them,
and provide their needs. Now over in 1 Corinthians 9,
1 Corinthians chapter 9, you know the scripture tells us those
that preach the gospel are to live with the gospel. That doesn't,
of course it means they're to live in a gospel spirit and a
gospel attitude, but that's not what he's talking about. He's
talking about men who study the word and preach the gospel are
to be supported by those whom he teaches, are to be taken care
of by the church where he's the pastor. Now I have a lot of friends
among primitive Baptists and I love them. This is one of their
great failures and one of the reasons why their churches years
ago started going downhill. A man cannot give himself to
the Word and to study the Word and the preaching of the Gospel
continually, a pastor of church, and stay in the will of God in
preaching and ministering and hold down a full-time job. It
is impossible. Now, I know we've got situations
where men have to do that, where the groups are small here and
there and yonder. But God never ordained that his
ministers, whom he calls out as pastors and ministers, he
ordained they live by the gospel. And that's what Paul is saying
in 1 Corinthians 9. He said in verse 7, who goes
to warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard
and eateth not of the fruit? Who feedeth the flock and eateth
not of the milk of the flock? Say, are these things as a man?
Or saith not the law the same thing also? It's written in the
law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that
treads out the corn. Does God take care of the oxen?
Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no
doubt, this is written. That he who plows should plow
in hope. In other words, if a man plows
a field and corn is grown, he ought to eat the corn, some If
he raises a flock, and cares for the flock, and takes care
of the sheep, and shares the sheep, and protects the sheep,
he ought to eat what the sheep provide. That's what he's saying. Verse 10, Or saith he that all
together for our sakes, no doubt this is written, that he that
plows should plow in hope, he that thresheth in hope should
be partaker of his hope. We used to do that during the
Depression. We'd go out, and when I was just a kid, we'd pick
peas in this peas and cotton in this man's field, and we got
part of the peas, lit on the haves, and also got paid for
picking the cotton. Now he says, verse 11, Paul says,
if I've sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if
I shall reap your carnal things? Is that out of the ordinary? And that's how we should remember
these teachers and preachers and elders, is to respect them,
to listen to them, to follow their leadership, to pray for
them, and provide their needs. They might give themselves totally
to the ministry of the Word and to prayer. It'd be absolutely
impossible for me to hold down any kind of business, job, or
anything like that and pastor this church. It's an impossibility.
It cannot be done. It cannot be done. And men are
wrong who advocate that. They're just wrong as they can
be. I'll tell you another thing, too. That man needs a man who's pastoring
and preaching. It's not just a matter of studying.
It's a matter of meditating. It's a matter of staying in touch.
Staying in touch with God's leadership, with His Spirit. And when you're
working out in a plant, in places you all know this, It's not conducive
to meditation. It's not conducive to study.
It's not conducive to talking with God or walking with God.
It's just not supposed to be. And that's what this is saying
here. And let me close with the next verse. This verse, the latter
part of this, remember them that have the rule over you and spoken
to you the word of God, whose faith follow. Now watch this,
and it brings us to our main point. Considering the end of
their conversation, And we go back to that word in verse 5,
conversation, manner of life, occupation. Manner of life, occupation,
character. What is the end or goal of the
preacher's life? Of his conversation, of his manner
of life, of his occupation, what's the end and goal? Here it is
in verse 8, it's Jesus. That's the end and the goal of
the preacher's activities, occupation, manner of life, and character.
That he might know Christ and that you might know Christ. Jesus
Christ. A God-called, God-sent, faithful
pastor has one goal, one object of his life, of his ministry,
of his very existence. And that is, like Paul said,
oh, that I may win Christ and be found in him. that I may know
him and the power of his resurrection, and what he covets for himself,
he covets for those to whom he preaches, that you may know Christ. And the Christ we want you to
know, look at verse 8, he's the same yesterday, today, and forever. That's the Christ, the same yesterday,
today, and forever. Our Lord said, Father, you've
given me authority over all flesh. that I should give eternal life
to as many as you've given me, and this is life eternal, that
they might know Thee, the only true God, and the Jesus Christ
that you sent." So what is the end of their conversation
goal of their lives and their activities? That you may know
Christ. What Christ? The one who's the
same. yesterday, today, and forever.
The true Christ, the true God. It's not that you just reform
or get religion, but know this Christ. Now listen, what does
this mean, the same yesterday, today, and forever? This Jesus
Christ. Well, He's the same in His deity. He's very God of very God. He
said the Son of God had come and given us an understanding
that we might know Him, the true God, the only true God. He's
the same in His deity. He's the same in His power. I
hear these preachers always say, well, He could heal yesterday
and heal today. I know that. I know that. He's the same in
His power. He's a sovereign creator. He's sovereign in all things.
He's almighty. He's the same in His glory. Isaiah
said, I saw the Lord high and lifted up. His train filled the
temple, and the angels, the seraphims cried, holy, holy, holy. He's
holy. He's the same. He's the same. In his deity,
in his power, in his glory. But I'll tell you what this is
talking about. He's the same in his redemptive work. In his
redemptive work. Yesterday, when is this yesterday? We're not talking about April
the 27th. We're talking about both for
the foundation of the world, he was a lamb slain. in his redemptive
work, before the foundation of the world. Yesterday, he's the
same. The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The
Lamb slain for sinners. The Lamb of the covenant. The
Lamb of sovereign mercy. The Lamb to cleanse us and make
us whole. Yesterday? When was yesterday?
When Abraham walked with Isaac up that mountain. He said, God
will provide a Lamb. God will provide a Lamb. Yesterday,
when is yesterday? When Moses, God said, I'm coming
through this town tonight. I'm going to kill the first born
ever home. Now you take a lamb and you slay that lamb and roast
it with fire and eat it and put the blood on the door. I see
the blood, I'll pass over you. Yesterday. Yesterday. Yesterday, when was that? I just
read it a while ago, he met with his disciples to take that Observe
that last Passover. He took the bread, break it,
gave thanks. This is my body. The lamb broken
for you. Took the wine, said this is my
blood shed for you. Yesterday. Today, we meet. Same lamb. I know he's the same
in his power, in his deity, in his spirit, in his purpose, but
I'm talking about his redemptive work. He's the same. Close with this. Turn to Revelation,
chapter 5, verse 6. John, on the Isle of Patmos,
verse 6. And I beheld, and lo, in the
midst of the throne of the four beasts, in the midst of the elders,
stood a lamb, as it had been slain, having
seven horns, almighty, seven eyes, omniscient, seven spirits, omnipresent, sent
forth into all the earth. He came and took the book out
of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he
had taken that book, the four beasts and the four and twenty
elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps
and golden vows full of odors, which are the prayers of the
saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take
the book and to open the seals thereof. for thy was slain, the
Lamb slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. Remember them that
have the rule over you. And remember the very goal and
end of their conversation is the Lamb slain. Same yesterday,
today, and forever. Only way to God. And the hymn
writer put it this way. talking about what we're about
to do. In memory of that Savior's love, we keep this sacred feast
where every humble, believing heart is made a welcome guest. By faith, we take this bread
of life on which our souls are fed, and this cup, a picture
of His blood that was for sinners shed. Under his banner thus we
sing the wonders of his love and thus anticipate by faith
that heavenly feast above. Lord bless you as you take this
table. It said our Lord break the bread
and gave thanks. Our Father, there's no possible
way that we can put into words the gratitude of our hearts for Thy mercies and blessings
to us in our Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks that He came into
this world made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem us who
were under the curse of that law, which demanded perfection,
holiness we couldn't produce. Our Lord was tempted in all points
as we are, yet without sin. And through his blessed obedience,
we have a perfect holiness. We give thanks. In Christ's sanctified
in Christ, holy, without blame, without spot, perfect in Him. We take this bread solemnly and,
Lord, deeply sincere. We look to Christ, not to ourselves
in any way. We have no righteousness. We
claim no righteousness. Even our righteousness is a filthy
rag, but our righteousness is Christ Jesus, His perfect holiness,
and we give thanks in His name. Amen. Our Father, we are united together
as one here tonight. one faith, one voice. I pray, as I pray for myself,
I pray as for your people, this family of believers. We confess
again before thee, before our families, and before one another
that Christ Jesus is our Savior our sufficient Savior and our
only Savior. We believe Your Word. We rest
in Him, trust in Him, know that His blood makes a full and perfect
atonement for our souls. We are not redeemed, our Father,
with corruptible things, silver and gold, from our vain conversation
received by tradition from our fathers. but with the precious
blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as a lamb without blemish or
without spot, washed in the blood, redeemed by the blood, purified,
sanctified, justified by His blood and only by His blood,
our confession, our confidence, our hope. Thank you, Father,
for the blood of Christ