Grace and Glory (2)

Q: What does the Bible say about God's revelation in creation?

The Bible teaches that God's eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in creation, leaving humanity without excuse (Romans 1:20). The Bible states in Romans 1:20 that the invisible things of God, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen and understood by the things that are made. This means that everyone, regardless of cultural or personal background, can perceive God’s eternal power and divine nature through the world around them. Psalm 19 echoes this sentiment, declaring that the heavens declare the glory of God and that their voice goes out into all the earth. The majesty of creation serves as a constant reminder of God's existence and power, exposing all people to the reality of their Creator without exception.

Q: How do we know God manifests His name?

God manifests His name through Jesus Christ, who reveals His character and will (John 1:18). In John 17:6, Jesus states, 'I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world.' The name of God encompasses His character, will, and relationship with humanity. Throughout Scripture, God has progressively revealed Himself, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:18 emphasizes that no one has seen God, but the only begotten Son has declared Him. In Christ, we learn about God's attributes, love, mercy, and purpose in redemption, making His name known to us in a personal way.

Q: Why is perseverance of the saints important?

Perseverance assures us that those whom God saves will be kept secure in their faith until glory (Philippians 1:6). The doctrine of perseverance of the saints holds that those who are truly saved will persevere in faith and will not ultimately fall away. This belief is foundational to Reformed theology and is supported by Scriptures such as Philippians 1:6, which states, 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.' This assurance not only brings comfort to believers but also emphasizes the faithfulness of God to complete the work He has started in the lives of His elect. It reflects God's sovereignty in salvation, underscoring that our security is rooted in His grace rather than our own efforts.

Q: How does Jesus reveal the character of God?

Jesus reveals the character of God through His teachings and actions, fully embodying God's nature (Hebrews 1:1-3). The revelation of God's character is clearly seen in Jesus Christ, as outlined in Hebrews 1:1-3, which mentions that God spoke through the prophets but now speaks through His Son. Jesus embodies the fullness of God's character, conveying His love, righteousness, mercy, and grace. Every action of Christ, including His interactions with sinners and His fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, discloses the nature of God. Understanding Jesus' life and mission allows us to grasp the depth of God's purpose and how He desires to relate to humanity. Consequently, knowing Christ is essential to knowing God, as He is the exact representation of His being.

Q: What does it mean that Jesus is our peace?

Jesus is our peace, enabling reconciliation between God and humanity through His sacrifice (Colossians 1:20). The title 'Peace' attributed to Jesus emphasizes His role in reconciling believers with God. Colossians 1:20 states, 'And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.' This reconciliation restores our relationship with God, allowing us to experience peace in our hearts amidst a tumultuous world. Jesus provides the ultimate peace, securing our standing before God and assuring us of His love and grace. His blood is the means by which peace is established, marking the end of hostility between God and the sinner who believes. This peace transforms our lives, enabling us to be agents of peace in the world.

Every time I hear Dan play these
hymns so beautifully, I think about when he and I and
the fellas went to Mexico. Out there in the Pueblos at night
under the stars, all the people gathered from the different villages
to hear the gospel. And Dan on that saxophone and
milton with his guitar and that music would float over those
hills you know and valleys and why am i what a blessing and
one of those mexican brothers said well he said i've heard
a saxophone before but i never did hear one play a hymn And I've heard a saxophone, I've
heard one play a hymn, but I've never heard one play a hymn that
well. We've got the best, haven't we? And I'm thankful for him. John 17. I'm not going to repeat what
I preached this morning or even review it. I'm going to start
right where I left off. Our Lord said in John 17, 4, 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 here's the third, I have. I have manifested
thy name. I have manifested thy name."
Now, God has revealed himself in his creation and in providence
to all of Adam's race. I want you to turn to Psalm 19.
God has revealed himself in creation to all of Adam's race. While
you're turning to Psalm 19, Paul said, For the invisible things of God
from the creation of the world are clearly seen." The invisible things of God from
the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made. Even his eternal power and Godhead,
so that all men are without excuse. Is that right? All men are without
excuse. Man can look at the heavens and
know there's a God. A man can see the things about
him which God has made and know there's a God, leaving without
excuse. That's what Paul said there, without excuse. All right,
look at Psalm 19. The heavens declare the glory
of God, His eternal glory, His power and Godhead. And the firmament
showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech. What does that mean? Night unto
night showeth knowledge, speech. What is this speech? God is speaking
to all of Adam's race, declaring His eternal power in Godhead,
His glory seen in the things He's made. And listen, verse
3, there's no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
How many languages are spoken all over this earth? How many
dialects? How many tribal dialects? Thousands, I guess. But there
isn't a language in which creation doesn't declare the glory of
God. That's what he said. There's no speech nor language
where their voice is not heard. Where the voice of the stars,
the voice of the moon, and the voice of the wind, and the voice
of the trees. I think I shall never see a poem
lovely as a tree. Remember that old poem? A tree
whose hungry mouth is pressed against the earth's sweet flowing
breast. A tree that looks to God all day and lifts its leafy
arms to pray. A tree that may in summer wear
a nest of robins in her hand. Poems are made by fools like
me. Only God can make a tree. Oh,
everything. There's no language where God's
glory, power, and Godhead is not declared by the things that
are made. That's right. His great works,
let's go back to our text, His great works, His great works,
His great works of creation show His wisdom, His glory, His power,
His majesty. They declare the presence of
one too vast and too awesome for human reason to discover.
That's right. Can you by searching find out
God? What's higher than the heavens, what can you know? It's deeper
than hell, what can you tell? Broader than the sea. But what God has made, the things
God has made, declare His power and wisdom and glory. But how
are we going to know the heart of God? How are we going to know the heart
of God? How are we going to know the love of God? How are we going
to know the will of God. How are we going to know the
power of God in redemption and the purpose of God in redemption? How are we going to know? I look
at the stars and I see the glory and greatness and power of God,
but I can't tell a whole lot about Him in relation to me and
my sins and salvation, can I? How am I going to know? Well,
our Lord tells us here how we are going to know. He said, have
manifested by name. I have manifested by name. Well,
what's in a name? Well, sometimes much and sometimes
nothing at all, depending upon who the person is. But a name
distinguishes the person's character. That's what our Lord is telling
us here. I have manifested to these people your character,
the heart of God, the will of God, the name of God. That's what it says. Let me show
you a few verses. Turn to John 1. Look at this,
John 1. It says in John 1, 18, No man
hath seen God at any time. But the only begotten Son, which
is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. The Son
hath declared him. Turn to John 12, and listen to
this. John 12, verse 48 through 50. John 12, 48. Listen, listen to
the word. John 12, verse 48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth
not my words, hath one that judgeth him, the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in that last day. For I have not spoken
of myself, but the Father which sent me. He gave me a commandment,
what I should say, what I should speak, and his commandment is
life everlasting. Whatsoever I speak, therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." I came to tell
you about him, his word. Turn to Matthew 11. Listen to
this. Matthew chapter 11, verse 27. Matthew 11, 27. All things are delivered unto
me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither
knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever
the Son will reveal him. Oh, I tell you, God makes himself
known, his name, his character, his will, his purpose, his grace,
his love, his mercy, in Christ. In Christ. All of the attributes
of God are revealed in Christ. Would you know God? No Christ. That's right. You see, back in
the Old Testament, let me show you something here. Back in the
Old Testament, Before our Lord came to this earth, the eternal
God revealed himself in this name, Jehovah, Jehovah, Yah,
Jehovah, right? He revealed himself in that name.
But every time some special revelation came about, he added a word to
that name. You're ahead of me, aren't you?
He added a word, Jehovah, Jah. said Kenneth, Jehovah Rea, Jehovah
Shalem, seven of them, wasn't it? Every time when God in a
special revelation says, this is who I am, this is the way
I am, this is how I work, this is what I work, He added a name
to that Jehovah. Let's look at some of them, won't
we? Alright, turn first of all to Genesis 22. Genesis 22. God revealing Himself. Who is
he? What's he like? What will he
do? What does he do? What's he pleased to do? All
right, Genesis 22. Now, God appeared to Abraham. When you get to Genesis 22, look
up there. He appeared to Abraham. He said, Abraham, take thy son,
thine only son, whom thou lovest, to a mountain where I'll show
you, and sacrifice him. as a burnt offering to me. And
Abraham took that boy three days' journey, three days and three
nights. God never spoke to him again. Three days and three nights
he went to that mountain. He took that lad and laid the
wood on his back and handed him the fire. And Abraham took the
nine. And they started up that mountain
and the lad turned to his father and said, Oh, Abraham said to
those men down there waiting on him, he said, now you men
wait here and the lad and I will go up and worship God and we'll
be back. And while they were on their way up, the lad turned
to his father and said, here's the wood and here's the fire,
where's the lamb? And Abraham made this statement,
my son, my son, find it here, verse 8, Genesis 22, my son,
God will provide himself a lamb. for a burnt offering. God will
provide. God will see to it. My son, God
will see to it. God will provide. Isn't that
what he said? God will provide himself the
lamb and himself a lamb. He'll be the lamb and he'll be
the one to whom the lamb is sacrificed. But they went on up. Abraham
believed God. He'd already sacrificed Isaac
in his heart. He'd already seen him raised,
because he knew his seed and blessing was in Isaac. So he
laid him on that altar, and he raised the nine. And God told
him, he said, verse 12, verse 11, And the angel of the Lord
called to him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham, he
said, here, here, here I, M's in italics, here I. And he said,
Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto
him, for now I know thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld
thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his
eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a
thicket by the horn. And Abraham went and took the
ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his
son. And Abraham called the name of
that place Jehovah-Jireh." What does that mean? In your center
reference, the Lord will provide. The Lord will provide. The Lord
will see to it. He called that name Jehovah-Jireh,
as it is said to this day in the mouth of the Lord, it shall
be seen. When Jesus Christ came to this earth, he revealed Jehovah-Jireh. He himself is the Lamb that is
sacrificed in the stead of you and me. Christ is Jehovah John. The Lord will see to it. The
Lord will provide. All right, Exodus. Let me give you these
quickly. Exodus 15. Exodus 15. Now Israel, the people of Israel
out in the wilderness, they were a national people. They were
the Israel of God. They were a picture of the church
in the wilderness. They were a type of spiritual
Israel. And God provided. God will provide,
and God healed them. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me. Bless his holy name, who forgiveth
thy sins, and what? Healeth thy diseases. All right,
look at Exodus 15, verse 26. And said, If thou wilt diligently
hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which
is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments,
keep his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee.
which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord that healeth
thee." That's Jehovah-Raper. I am the Lord that healeth thee.
Now, that was the commandment to Israel. And I'll tell you
this, Jesus Christ came, and he's the one that healeth all
our sicknesses and all our diseases. He's Jehovah-Raper. And they're
not conditional upon our obedience. They're conditional upon faith.
Believe Him and be healed. Believe Him and be healed from
spiritual sicknesses and diseases. Look at Exodus 17. Here's the
next one. Exodus 17. Jehovah-nisa, Jehovah
our banner. In Exodus 17 verse 15. And Moses built an altar and
called the name of that place Jehovah-nisa. For he said, because
the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek
from generation to generation, and look in your center reference,
and that Jehovah-nissa is what? The Lord our banner. He's our
banner. Under his banner we are owned,
under his banner we are kept, and the kingdom is the kingdom
of his Son, the Son of his love. We're in that kingdom, and the
Lord Jesus is our commander, and his banner of love flies
over us. He's Jehovah Nissa. And then
Judges, turn to Judges chapter 6. Judges chapter 6, verse 24. This is the name of the Lord.
What's in a name? The very character of God. The
Lord who will provide, he's the Lord that healeth, he's the Lord
our banner. And here in Judges 6, verse 24,
listen. Let me read verse 22. And Gideon perceived that he
was an angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, Alas, O Lord
God, for because I've seen an angel of the Lord face to face,
I'm going to die. Alas, O Lord. And the Lord said
to him, Peace be unto thee. Fear not, thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there
unto the Lord, and he called it Jehovah Shalem. Shalom, Shalim,
Shalem. Which is what? The Lord our peace.
Unto this day, it is yet an altar of the Abizrites, and it's called
Jehovah Shalem, the Lord our peace. Christ came down. And He is our peace. He made
peace through the blood of His cross. My peace I give unto you. We have peace with God. We're
not at war with God because Christ is our peace. Over in Jeremiah
23, here's His name again. Jeremiah chapter 23. Turn over
there. Jeremiah 23 verse 5 and 6. Here is Jehovah Sidkenu, Jehovah
the Lord, our righteousness, in Jeremiah 23, verse 5, Behold,
the days come, saith the Lord, that I raise up unto David a
righteous branch, a king shall reign and prosper, and shall
execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judas
shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely. This is his name. This is his name, whereby he
shall be called. The Lord our righteousness. Look
in your center reference. What does it say? Jehovah Sid
Kimmel. The Lord our righteousness. When
Christ Jesus came into this world, made of a woman, made under the
law, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
He is our righteousness. He's the end of the law for righteousness
for everyone that believes. The end of the law, that is the
consummation of it, the goal of it, and the end of it, the
completion of it. Christ is our righteousness.
In Him we stand holy, unblameable, unreprovable. Alright, Ezekiel
chapter 48. Ezekiel chapter 48. Turn over there. Ezekiel 48, 35. I believe that's the last verse
in the book of Ezekiel. Chapter 48, verse 35. The Lord is there. The Lord is
present. It was round about 18,000 measures,
and the name of the city from that day shall be Jehovah Shema,
S-H-A-M-M-A-H. the Lord is thine. When our Lord
Jesus Christ came to this earth and redeemed us, he said to his
disciples, Lo, I'm with you always, even to the end of the earth.
He is our provider, he is the Lord that healeth us, he is our
banner, he is our peace, he is our righteousness, and he is
ever present. Never leave us, never forsake
us. Now, one other Psalm 23. You don't have to turn there.
The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He's my shepherd. All right, go back to the text.
Back to the text. And our Lord Jesus said, I have
manifested thy name. To whom? Well, the whole world
doesn't know Him. The whole world doesn't love
Him. The whole world doesn't recognize who he is and what
he did and why he did it. But he said, I've manifested
thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. I've
manifested the name of God, the character of God, the nature
of God to these men. You know, those Pharisees came
up to him and they said, well, if you be the Christ, tell us
plainly. He said, I told you and you didn't believe me. You
didn't believe me because you're not of my sheep. My sheep hear
my voice. I know them and they follow me.
All right, back to the text. The third, the fourth I have,
our Lord speaking of what he's done. In verse 8, now listen. For I have given unto them the
words which thou gavest me. Now way back in Deuteronomy 18
is the prophecy concerning this scripture. Turn to Deuteronomy
18. Way back in Deuteronomy 18, Moses prophesied concerning Christ's
coming as our prophet. Now Christ is our king, he's
Lord. Christ is our priest, we talked
about this morning. He's the high priest, represents
his people. Christ is that prophet. You see,
God at sundry times and in diverse manners spake to our fathers
by the prophets. hath in these last days spoken
to us by his Son, by Christ, by the Savior. And here is Moses
talking about that over here in Deuteronomy chapter 18. Listen
to it. Verse 18. Deuteronomy 18, 18. Verse 17, And the Lord said to
me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. For I
will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like
unto thee. I'll put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak
unto them all that I shall command him. All that I shall command,
he shall speak. And it will come to pass that
whosoever will not hearken unto my words, which he shall speak
in my name, I'll require it of him." Christ is that prophet,
and he speaks the words of the Father. Now turn to Hebrews 1.
I want you to look at this with me a moment. Hebrews chapter
1. Hebrews chapter 1. Christ Jesus
speaks the words of God. And all that we need to know
of God, he says. All that we need to know of God,
he reveals. And nothing shall be revealed
of God other than what he has said. and what he has revealed. That's right. I told our family
at lunch today that we don't hear God's voice speak. Nobody here has ever heard God
speak. You couldn't tell me whether his voice was high-pitched or
low-pitched or whether God spoke English or whether God spoke
German. God speaks through his Son. That's how God speaks. You know, Isaiah said that. He
said, if they speak not according to the law and the prophets,
it will be caused, and there's no light in them. You hear these fellas
on TV said, God said this to me last night, and God said this
to me last week, and God told me to tell you this. God never
told me to tell you anything that's not in this book. Never,
ever, ever, ever, ever. In fact, Revelation said if you
add to the words of this book, God will add to you the plagues
of this book. And also another warning, you take away from the
words of this book, you take your name from the book of life.
That's right. Now look at it in Hebrews 1.
God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times
past to the fathers but the prophets. I know God spoke to Abraham.
I know God spoke to Moses. The canon wasn't complete. Is
that right? The word wasn't complete. God
spoke to these men. And God spoke to Paul, because
the word wasn't complete. But he hath in these last days
spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom he made the worlds. Who, being the brightness of
his glory, and the express image of his person, upholdeth all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged
our sin, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.
What do you need to know? that Christ hadn't revealed.
Tell me. Now come on, what do you need
to know that Christ hasn't spoken and said? You don't need to know
anything. And he says, I've given them
thy word. Now go back to the text. Verse 8, I have given them
the words which you gave me. Listen, and they have received
them And they have known two things. They have known who I am. I came
from thee. They know who I am. I came from
thee. They know that. Secondly, and
they believe that thou didst send me, they believe the purpose
for which I came. That's right. I have given them
your word. And every one of them are convinced
of two things. They know who I am and why I
came. They know who I am, who sent me, and they know why you
sent me. They've received your way. All right, verse 12 now,
the fourth, fifth I have, verse 12. While I was with them in
the well, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest
me, I have kept. I have kept. I know, and I told
my Sunday school class about it this morning, I know that
people get religion and lose it or leave it or desert it or
whatever. I know that even preachers, through
the years that I've been preaching the gospel, I have had a number
of what we call preacher friends who said they knew Christ and
said they knew the gospel and preached the gospel and loved
the gospel. I've seen them start churches, I've seen them call
people together, and then I've seen them lose interest and go
to something else. I've seen people come in and go out. I've
seen people claim to love Christ and show by their actions and
by their attitude and by their lives that they didn't love Christ
at all. Like John said in 1 John 2, he said, they went out from
us because they were not of us. If they had been of us, they
no doubt would have stayed with us. And I know that. This is
no new thing. It happened in the days of the
apostles. You remember in John 6, it says, from that time many
of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. They
left him. In fact, so many of them left, he turned to the twelve
one day and said, will you also go away? Peter said, to whom
shall we go? Thou hast the words of life.
Paul said, Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present
world. Peter said, they're like dogs that go back to the vomit,
or hogs that go back to the waller. But I'll tell you this, the Scripture
declares that those whom the Lord saves, those, like verse
12, while I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those that
thou gavest me, I kept. I didn't keep those that were
passing through. I didn't keep those that dropped
in. I didn't keep those that got a little excited. I didn't
keep those that followed me for a season. I kept those that you
gave me." Isn't that what he said, John? Those you put in
my hand. I kept every one of them. Whom he foreknew, he predestinated
to be conformed to the image of his Son. Whom he predestinated,
he called. Whom he called, he justified.
Whom he justified, he glorified. That's right. I've kept them.
And I'll never be able to understand why anyone will waste time arguing
or discussing the inability of our Lord to keep his sheep. I
don't understand why anybody would argue that. I told somebody
one time, I said, eternal security and preservation and perseverance
depends on one thing, one thing and one thing alone, who saves
you. That's all it depends on. A person
whom God saved, God will keep. Turn to Philippians 1, let me
show you that. Philippians 1, verse 6. The Apostle Paul, writing to
the church at Philippi, and he says this, I'm being confident
of this very thing. That he which hath begun a good
work in you will perform it, will finish it, will complete
unto the day of Jesus Christ, to the day of his return. If
God has begun a work in you, God will perfect it. He'll complete
it. I have kept those that you gave. All right? Verse 18, back to
John 17. Verse 18 is the sixth I have. Now watch this carefully. As
thou hast sent me into the world, But even so have I also sent
them into the world." Them? I've glorified you for them. I've finished the work for them.
I've manifested your name to them. I've given them your words. I've kept them. Now I've sent
them into the world. These same people, he says, I
pray for them. You see verse 9? Boy, those are
four of the greatest words in the Bible. I pray for them. I
pray for them." And here in verse 18 he said, I've sent them into
the world. Now listen to me for a moment.
I know you're weary, but listen. Get a hold of this. The Antichrist,
he has disciples and he has preachers, Satan's ministers. The Bible
talks about him as ministers of righteousness. He turns himself
into an angel of light. The Antichrist sends his disciples
where? Into monasteries, and nunneries,
and communes, and cults, and caves, and seminaries, and isolated
places. God sends his people into the
world. Go ye into all the world. I pray
not that you should take them out of the world. they should keep them. I send
them into the world. Now watch it, listen to me. I've
sent them into the world, a world that John read about that hates
them and hates God. But he sends us into the world.
He doesn't mean for you to get off somewhere by yourself and
put a light under a bushel or salt in the shelf. I've sent
them into the world, and in that world they'll sin. But I'll save
them. In that world, they'll see it.
Well, I'll take my son and daughter, and I'll keep them put up in
a room here. I'll not let them see anybody, or know anybody,
or read any literature, or have any contact with sinners. You
missed the boat, the little sinners in the room where you locked
him up. That's right. Your son is the wrong crowd.
He's not with the wrong crowd. He is the wrong crowd. It's inherited.
I'll put them in a well, and they'll sin, but I'll save them.
Listen. And I'll put them in a well,
and they'll work with the well, and they'll be associated with
sinners, but I'll separate them, and I'll keep them. That's right,
I'll keep them. They'll work with them, and associate
with them, but I'll keep them. And in that well, they'll be
tempted and tried, but I'll give them strength and grace. And
in that world, they'll have sorrow upon sorrow, but I'll comfort
them. And in that world, they'll suffer,
but through that suffering and trial, I will perfect them, mature
them, establish them, strengthen them, and settle them. And I'll
use their suffering as a means to bring them to love me more.
In that world, they'll be my witnesses. And they'll endure
everything they have to endure for the sake of my elect. Turn
to 2 Timothy. And listen to old Paul talk about
that. I've sent them into the world. Oh, listen to him. I pray for them. I pray for them. I've manifested your name to
them. I've given them your words that you gave me. And I sent
them into the world. What did you do that for? I sent
him into the world. All right, listen, 2 Timothy
2, remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised
from the dead according to my gospel where he and I suffered
trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble. He's in jail when he wrote this.
As an evildoer, even under bonds and chains, but the Word of God's
not chained, therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake. that they may also obtain the
salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. I'll
tell you, I'm glad that God took Martin Luther out of a monastery
and put him in the world. I'm glad God took John Calvin
out of Catholicism and put him in the world. I'm glad God took
other preachers out of seminaries and church schools and denominations
and put them in the world. rubbing shoulders with his people,
living with sinners. My Lord associated with sinners.
Those old Pharisees stood there and saw him eating with those
publicans and sinners and they said, why does your master associate
with people like that? And he knew their thoughts. He
said, it's people like that that need me. He said, the world don't
need a doctor. Sick people need doctors. And
I've come not to call the righteous people but sinners to repentance.
You're in the world because He put you there. That's right. You're where you are because
He put you there. Be a good steward of the grace
of God. He'll keep you. He'll keep you. I know you get
tired. I know sometimes you think, what
in the world am I doing in this slimy mess? You're a light in
that darkness. You're salt on that meat. You're
a witness for Christ Jesus. You're a witness to His elect,
wherever you may be. Be a good steward of the grace
of God. That's right, I put them in the Word. Oh, at the last
one, and I'll quit. Verse 22, and the glory which
you gave me, I've given them. Now, I realize we're looking
at something here that is beyond our understanding. It's like
John, the beloved John Chapman said a while ago, and he is beloved
to us. message and ministry and spirit. He said, the Lord Jesus said,
as you've loved me, I love them. That's hard to handle, isn't
it? Boy, that's hard to get a hold of. He loves me like he loved
his only beloved Son, only begotten Son. Well, here he said, the
glory which you gave me, I give unto them. Now, I've got to teach that,
and I just don't know hardly how to do it. We're looking at
something here that's beyond our understanding, but let's
start with what we know. This can't be his essential glory,
as God, because I'll never be God. Like that woman said to
her little baby, now you'd be good and you'd be an angel someday.
No, Dale, you're not going to be an angel. You're going to
be irony angels, but you're not going to be an angel. You're
a son of God and you're going to be a son of God. You're going
to have the glory of Christ, but it's not his essential glory.
You're not ever going to be Christ. And I'm not ever going to be
God and Christ. But I'm going to have the glory
that the Father gave him. What is this glory? I'll tell
you what it is. It's his glory as the Redeemer. It's his glory as the head of
the church. It's his glory as our Mediator. The glory of the head belongs
to the body. Isn't that right? That's what
he's talking about, Bob. The glory of the head belongs
to the body. Because you can't, where the
head is, the body can't be far behind, can it? It's all one. We're one with Christ in redemption. And that's what he's saying,
who he justified, he glorified. That's what he's saying, that
he might make known unto us the riches of his glory on these
vessels of mercy. The riches of his glory. It flows
from the head to the body. The Lord will give grace and
glory. No glory without grace, and no
grace without glory. Peter said he had called us to
glory. And it's the glory of the Redeemer. I want you to look at Romans
8, Romans chapter 8, verse 16. Romans 8, 16. Well, Romans 8, 16 says this, The Spirit himself beareth witness
with our spirit that we are children of God. And if we are children,
then we are heirs. Heirs of God and joint heirs
with Christ in redemption, in redemptive glory. Joint heirs
with Christ. If so be that we suffer with
him, that we may be glorified together. As the head is glorified,
the church will be glorified. As the Redeemer is glorified,
the redeemed will be glorified. That's right. For I reckon that
the suffering of this present time The sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us. One other scripture, and we'll
close. 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians 15, beginning with
verse 40. There are also celestial bodies
embodies terrestrial, but the glory of the celestial is one
and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There's one glory
of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory
of the stars, but one star differs from another in glory, so also
is the resurrection of the dead. We're sown in corruption, we're
raised in incorruption. We're sown in dishonor, we'll
be raised in glory. We're sown in weakness, He'll
be raised in power. He's sown a natural body. He'll
be raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body. There
is a spiritual body. As it is written, the first man
Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which
is natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual. And the first
man is of the earth earthy, and the second man is the Lord from
heaven. Now listen. As is the earthy, such are they
that are earthy. As is the heavenly, such are
they also that are heavenly. As we have borne the image of
the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now
this I say, brethren, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom
of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold,
I show you a mystery. We won't all sleep. We're not
all going to die. Some of us are going to be here
when our Lord comes. But we're all going to have to be changed.
We'll all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling
of an eye, at the last trump of the trumpet of sound, and
the dead in Christ shall be raised incorruptible, and we'll be changed. For this corruptible must put
on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, And only then shall be brought
to pass the saying, death is swallowed up in victory. O death,
where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ. I want you to sing for closing
hymn tonight, number 505. 505, that will be glory for me when all my labors and
trials are over and I'm safe on that beautiful shore, just
to be near the dear Lord I adore, will through the ages. That will
be my glory, glory for me. Let's stand while we sing.

Grace and Glory (2)

What does the Bible say about God's revelation in creation?

How do we know God manifests His name?

Why is perseverance of the saints important?

How does Jesus reveal the character of God?

What does it mean that Jesus is our peace?

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Grace and Glory (2)

What does the Bible say about God's revelation in creation?

How do we know God manifests His name?

Why is perseverance of the saints important?

How does Jesus reveal the character of God?

What does it mean that Jesus is our peace?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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