Now, if you will, turn to Romans
chapter 1. The proven, time-tested, God-called, God-blessed servants
of the living God, whoever and wherever they were. were never fond of titles. They never felt the need of human
credentials. They never did. I told the people
somewhere I was preaching recently that, I guess, the prince of
preachers of the past 500 years, Charles Spurgeon of England,
was never ordained, never ordained, never went through an ordination
ceremony, never attended a college class, and never attended a seminary. He began preaching when he was
about 18 years of age. And he said of those who urged
his ordination, It seems a bit harsh, but he
said it anyway. Laying your empty hands on my
empty head will not add one thing to my ministry. And this has really been the
attitude of men whom God has used through the years. They've
never been fond of titles. Look here at verse 1 of chapter
1. Here is the greatest apostle. Here is the man God called to
take the gospel initially to the Gentiles. Here's a man who
at one time visited the third heaven. Here's a man who wrote thirteen
of the twenty-seven books in the New Testament under the inspiration
of the Holy Ghost. And when he writes a letter that
will be preserved by God's providence, under verbal divine inspiration. He starts it off, old Paul. That's all, just Paul. Paul. You see, God's servants not only
are not fond of titles and do not feel the need of credentials,
they do not seek the recognition of men. They don't seek the praise
of men. Actually, this man Paul said,
if I seek to please men, That's a clear indication that I'm not
the servant of Christ. You can bank on it. Now, we don't
want to agitate and irritate people needlessly, uselessly,
but if I seek their applause and their honor, then it's obvious
that I'm not the servant of Christ. And, you know, they asked John
the Baptist. Here was a man, if I could take
a moment, here was a man of whom the Lord said, No greater man
was ever born of woman than John the Baptist. Here was a man who
was supernaturally conceived when his parents were well up
in years. Here's a man filled with the Holy Ghost from his
mother's womb. Here's a man to whom God had given direct divine
revelation of Christ, said, upon whom you see the Spirit of God
descend and remain as the Son of God. And yet, when they came
to him, they said, who are you? Just who are you? He said, I
am a voice in the wilderness, crying to make straight a path
for our God. I'm a voice. Paul Mahan told
me the other day he heard a song, and the title of it was this,
I'm a nobody telling everybody about somebody who can save anybody. And that pretty well sums up
what we are and what our message is. Our Lord said, if any man
would be great among you, let him be your servant. And that's
what Paul is saying here. I'm a servant. He identifies
himself. You want an identification? He
gives it to you in a threefold way. He says, number one, I'm
a bond slave of Jesus Christ. What's the difference in a slave
and a bond slave? Will. will, broken will. The slave is there because he
has to be. The bond slave is there because
he wants to be. The servant, or slave, serves
because he has to. He's required to. He's paid to,
whatever, his broom and board. The bond servant is there serving
out of a loving, willing heart. He's a servant. He's a slave.
And Paul said, I'm a bond slave of Jesus Christ. And secondly,
he said, I'm called to be an apostle. I'm divinely called. I didn't seek this. I didn't
covet this. I didn't volunteer for this.
I didn't appoint myself to this place. And a man didn't appoint
me. And this is one of the, this is one of the, problems in churches today is
a professional ministry. Men who have not been called
of God. He said, now an apostle is one
of the highest offices. An apostle, there was a threefold
requirement. There are no apostles today.
Will you please understand this? An apostle had to be immediately,
personally called by Christ. Like Matthew, Christ said, you
follow me? Now, Christ called him openly
and privately and personally. You see, when he called Paul
on the road to Damascus, he saw the Lord. An apostle had to have
seen the Lord. When they accused him of not
being an apostle, he said, I have too seen the Lord. Secondly,
an apostle had to get his gospel directly from Christ in a verbal
revelation. And that's when Paul said, immediately
I conferred not with flesh and blood, but I went into the desert.
And Christ gave him the gospel. Thirdly, an apostle was one who
was endowed with unusual gifts. Let me show you that in Hebrews
chapter 1. I believe it is Hebrews chapter
2. Hebrews 2 verse 3. What's this? How shall we escape
if we neglect so great salvation which at the first began to be
spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? God also bearing them witness
both with signs and wonders. and with diverse miracles and
gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his will. John said, that
which I have seen, that which I have heard, that which my hands
have handled, declare we unto you, apostle. Well, Paul said
that I was called to be an apostle. I didn't go to school and study
to be an apostle. I didn't volunteer to be an apostle.
I didn't walk down the aisle and agree to go into full-time
service to be an apostle. I was called to be an apostle.
Strangely, supernaturally, mysteriously called. And I urge anyone who
hears this, or is sitting here in this congregation, who entertains
the ministry, the pulpit ministry, all of us in the ministry, this
is the Lord's ministry. And there's not one task above
another. There's not one office more important
than another. There's not one person more important
than another. God's greatest, highest gifts
are not on the top shelf, but on the bottom shelf. And we stoop
to receive them. But we're all in the ministry.
But the pulpit ministry and the teaching ministry is one to which
men are deliberately on purpose called of God. If you turn to
the book of 1 Timothy, let me show you this, 1 Timothy. Chapter
1. Paul said, I'm called to be an
apostle. 1 Timothy Chapter 1. And we pastors are, we're the
greatest offenders in this sort of thing, is pushing or urging
men into the ministry. I wish pastors wouldn't do that.
I wish they'd accept those whom God puts in the ministry and
encourage those whom God puts in the ministry and encourage
those who demonstrate some gifts of the ministry, but it's not
our task to urge men into that holy calling. Paul said in 1
Timothy 1, verse 11, look at this, according to the glorious
gospel of the blessed God, and a better translation is according
to the gospel of the glory of God, which was committed to my
trust. There's a committal. There's
a sacred committal. That's God handing a precious
treasure into the hands of a man. God committed this glorious gospel,
this gospel of His glory, into my hands. Oh, would a fellow
compromise it? Would he abuse it? Would he prostitute
it? Would he use it for unholy purposes? Would he use it for personal
gain? Yeah, they do. Yeah, sadly, unfortunately, they
do. But God committed this holy treasure
to my trust. I've been trusting Becky and
Bob out of town this week preaching. Becky's not preaching, Bob's
preaching. But they've committed to my trust those two children. You see what I'm saying? They've
committed those two. That's their greatest treasure,
and they've committed them to my trust, Doris and I, to take
care of them Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Do you think
I'd dare violate that trust? But that's just a man's covenant. Don't you know I'd shield them,
guard them, guide them with my life? That I'd give my very life
to protect them, not to let anybody mistreat them or abuse them? God has given me the gospel. He's committed that to my trust. He's entrusted me with his heart,
his gospel. Do you think for a minute, for
gain, that I'd compromise that gospel? Do you think I'd sell
one of those children? Do you think for a minute that
I'd let anybody touch one of them or harm one? Do you think
I'd neglect them? My problem is I don't want to
be around them too much. Can't get my studying done. I
want to play games with a kid. But what I'm saying is God has
committed to our trust, the gospel. We can't compromise that. We can't. I'll read on. And I
thank Christ Jesus, our Lord, who has enabled me. He enabled
me. I don't have anything by nature. I have no natural gifts. I'm
not smart. dumb. But he counted me faithful
and he put me in the ministry. Now that's what aggravates me
about today's preachers. That's what aggravates me more
than anything in this world about today's preachers. They are so
flippant and careless and foolish And they treat this sacred calling
and this sacred trust with such levity. Well, it's not even worth
talking about. It's just called to be an apostle. But look at the next line. And
what's it? And I'm separated unto the gospel of God. Once
Paul was separated to the law. Oh, he was a lawman. He was a law fighter. He was
tough. Oh, how tough. He was separated
to the law. Do this and live. To the ceremony. Now, by divine revelation and
divine call, he's married to Christ. Married to Christ. His one mission, his one message,
his one goal, his one objective, he said, is the gospel of God. That's my life. That's my life. the gospel of God. That's my
life. You know, a true test of our
gospel, a true test of our gospel is this question. You want to
know a true test for men who preach, men who preach and teach,
men you watch on television, hear on the radio anywhere, but
men who carry a Bible and who say they preach You know, a true
test of a man's gospel is this question, who gets the glory? When he talks about salvation,
when he talks about blessings, when he talks about spiritual
blessing, when he talks about a new life, when he talks about
a new way, a new walk, when he talks about anything in relation
to God or a relationship with God, who gets the glory? That's
a good question. Who gets the glory? Paul said in 1 Corinthians, he
hath done thus, thus, and thus, that no flesh should glory in
his presence. He hath done thus, thus, and
thus, that he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Again,
he said, he will not share his glory. Whatever we do in word
or deed, we do it all to the glory of God. See, this gospel
of God, to which Paul was separated, gives God the glory. It's his
wisdom, not ours. It's his mercy, not our merit.
It's his power, not our profession. It's his faithfulness, not ours.
This, you see, he calls this, he said, I'm separated to, I'm
married to. My one objection is to preach
this gospel of God. And it's God's gospel in that
he's the author of it. It originated with God. It's
God's gospel in that He's the executor of it. It pleased God
to bruise him in the fullness of time. God sent His Son, for
God so loved the world, He gave His Son. He's the executor of
it. It's God's gospel in that He's
the actual applyer of it. Paul said, It pleased God to
reveal His Son in me. I sought Him, but He sought me.
I love Him because He loved me. It's God's gospel in that He's
the sustainer of it, for we're kept by the power of God. Even,
my friends, we who have believed take no glory in our continuance
in the faith. Y'all pray that I'll keep on
keeping on. I haven't kept on. He kept me. It's His gospel in that He's
the sum and substance of it. God was in Christ reconciling
the world unto Himself. It's God's gospel. Paul rightly
named it, he said, I am a bond slave of Jesus Christ, I am called
by God to be an apostle, and I am committed to, and I'm separated
to, and I'm in love with, and I'm married to, and my one objection
is the gospel of God. And that's the only man who's
worthy of a hearing. If he's not committed it's certain
God's not committed to him. You can put that down. If a man's
not committed to God, it is dead sure God is not committed to
him. And verse 2 is such an important
verse. I wish that I could make this
as clear as I ought to, as clear as I believe our Lord did to
his disciples when he talked to them after that visit on the
road to Maias. But verse 2, it's in parenthesis,
and it's sort of fitting that it be like this in parenthesis,
because verse 2 brings together the Old and the New Testament.
It just brings them together. It sort of seems like the Old
Testament's over here and the New Testament's here, and they're
brought together right here in this verse. brings together the Old Testament
prophets and the New Testament apostles. He says, I'm separated
to the gospel of God. And he identifies this gospel
saying, which, that gospel which, the gospel of Christ, which he
had promised, prophesied, pictured before by his prophets in the
Holy Scriptures, in the Old Testament. There's no old Bible, new Bible.
There's one Bible. Moses wrote of me, Christ said.
Moses, the earliest writer of all, probably accepting joke. But he wrote of me, Christ said.
He wrote of me. Moses didn't have as many facts
as we've got, but he had the faith. He had Christ. Abraham,
you study our Sunday School lesson this morning, and Martha's printing
these. What we're doing now, going through
the Old Testament, picking up the pictures of Christ in the
Old Testament. We're on number four this morning,
or five. We're on one of them, but they're
available in the office. But Abraham, Christ said, he
rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and he was thrilled.
He was glad, glad, glad, glad to see my day. Gospel of Mount
Moriah. When Isaiah saw his glory, God
said he spake of him, to him give all the prophets witness.
Leave your place there in Romans 1 and turn to Matthew 1. Turn
to Matthew chapter 1. Like I said, you must. You just
must. It's a requirement. You've got
to. You must see the Old Testament
testify of Christ. You've just got to see that.
There's no reason for 18 or 20 verses being given to the sacrifice
of Isaac in the Old Testament except as an apostate to Christ.
There's no reason. Why not just say, well, put the
blood on the door and be done with it? But God tells them,
select the lamb, first thing of the flock, without spot or
blemish, put it up three days, carefully kill it, roast it,
don't get a lamb too big for the house. If it is, put two
houses together, but nothing's to be left over. Why all that? It's Christ. Why did God design
that tabernacle? Every socket, every ball, every
post, every covering, the badger skin, the ram skin, the lamb's
skin dyed red, the sheep, the white linen, the two veils. Why is there seven candles, twelve
loaves of bread, incense burning? Mercy seat covering the broken. Christ, that's what it's all
about. And I've got to help you see
this. Look at Matthew 1, verse 21. And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus, Savior, for he shall save
his people from their sin. Now, all this was done that it
might be fulfilled. That it might be fulfilled. which
was spoken of the Lord by the prophet in the Old Testament,
saying, A virgin shall be with child. That's why. Fulfilled. Look at Matthew 2,
verse 4. And when he had gathered all
the chief priests, scribes of the people together, he demanded
of them where Christ should be born. And they said, Why, in
Bethlehem of Judea, for thus It is written in the prophets,
and thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, art not thou the least
among the prophets of princes of Judah? For out of thee shall
come a governor that shall rule my people. See, that's written
in Micah. Look at Matthew 2, 14. When he
arose, he took the young child, his mother, by night, and departed
to Egypt. Here Joseph is fleeing Bethlehem,
fleeing Judea, going down into Egypt. What for? Verse 15, And
was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled,
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of
Egypt have I called my son." That's Hosea 11, verse 1. Verse
17, Matthew 2, Then was fulfilled that which was written by Jeremy
the prophet, saying, And Ramah, that was their voice, heard lamentation,
weeping. You know when Herod had all the
little children killed? Look at verse 23 of Matthew 2,
would you? And he came and dwelt in a city
called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene. Go back to
my text. Paul, bond slave, supernaturally
called, separated to the gospel of God. Which gospel is no new
gospel. It's not another gospel. It's
not a dispensational gospel. It's one gospel. It's gospel
according to Moses, Isaiah, Abraham. The gospel which he promised
before is one God, one Savior, one salvation, one church, one
kingdom, one people, and all of them praise the name of one
Redeemer, Christ Jesus. Well, look at verse 3. And I
wish that I could tell you what this one statement did for me
30 some odd years ago. I was one of those who had a profession, a vocation,
and God changed it to a calling. The gospel of God, verse 3, concerning
His Son. What's this gospel concern? What's
the subject matter of this gospel of God? And we're talking about
the gospel of God. This is the gospel of Moses,
Abraham, Isaiah, and all the rest of the gospel according
to Paul, James and John, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This gospel,
the subject matter of it, this eternal gospel to which it's
concerning His Son. That's it. This gospel is concerning
His Son. And one day God burned that into
my very soul, into my heart, that the gospel. I used to hear
people talk about gospel quartets, talk about gospel music, talk
about gospel services, gospel revival. Preachers preach something,
call it the gospel. But the gospel is concerning
Christ, the person and work of Christ. The gospel is not about
what you'll do for God. The gospel is what God's done
for you in Christ. The gospel is an announcement.
It's not an invitation. The gospel is a proclamation,
not a proposition. It's a proclamation, a declaration
and a proclamation and an announcement. That's what the gospel is. The
gospel is good news. It doesn't matter whether you'll
hear it or believe it, receive it. Obey it, profess it. It's the gospel, no matter what
you do with it or I do with it. It's an announcement. It's so. It's good tidings, it's good
news, it's glad tidings from a far country. Hey! The gospel
of God hasn't got anything to do with what you do. The gospel
of God is a declaration of what God's done. See what I'm saying? It's concerning his son. It's
not concerning what you'll do with his son, or what you'll
profess, it's concerning his son. The gospel is wrapped up
in Christ. The essence, substance, heart,
me, core, life of the gospel is Jesus Christ. Who he is, what
he did, why he did it, where he is, when he's coming. from beginning to end, and all
in between, it concerns the God-man. That's the reason I'm saying,
and I say again, not many people are preaching the gospel, because
not many people are preaching Christ. I know there are a lot
of people preaching some noble themes, and good government's
a noble theme, but it's got nothing to do with the gospel. Education is a very good, it's
a very excellent work for a person, but it's not
the gospel. That's the reason why churches
get involved in schools. It's not the gospel. We were
called to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Anything that you select may
be a noble thing, but the gospel, listen to me, is concerning his
son. And Paul said, I'm separated
to the gospel. That's what I'm separated to.
And watch this now. Verse 3 says, it's concerning
his son, and let me tell you who he is. Let me identify him.
Now watch it. Twofold. It's his son which was
made. He wasn't made God's son. He
was made a man. He was made of the seed of woman. He who made the world was made
a man who lived in the world. He who made woman was made of
woman. God, who is Spirit, actually
dwelt in human flesh. The Word was made flesh. Well,
the Word was made flesh. And he was made of the seed of
David. It goes back, see, through the Old Testament prophecies.
There's the David, the family of Jesse, the tribe of Judah,
of whom Jacob said, the scepter shall not leave Judah. On right
back yonder to Isaac. In Isaac shalt thy seed be called.
And this Messiah was made purposely, deliberately, by the hand of
God, to be a man, but a man from a certain people, tribe, nation,
and kindred, Jew, Israel. That's a not through Ishmael,
Isaac. It's deliberate. He was made
of the seed of David according to the flesh. All right, look
at the next word, verse. and declared. He wasn't made
the Son of God. He is the Son of God. He wasn't
made God. He is God. He was simply declared
to be the Son of God. This gospel is concerning a person,
Jesus man, Christ his office, anointed, ordained Messiah, the
Lord God himself. And he was made of the seed of
David, family of David according to the flesh. He was a man. John
said, we touched him, we handled him, we hurt him, we saw him.
He was in this world. A representative man, the federal
head of a people, the king of a kingdom who came to conquer
who came to destroy the enemy, who came to set his captives
free, who came to deliver his sheep, who came to recover sight
to the blind, and life to the dead, and freedom to the captive,
and gospel to the poor. And to set those people free,
he came and fought their enemies, and defeated them, and shook
the gates of hell, and put his people in a righteousness, and
as their surety took them to glory. But he was made flesh,
and he was declared to be the Son of God in a threefold way. Watch it. First of all, the Son
of God with power, unlimited power. God giveth not the Holy
Ghost by measure to him. John sent and said, Hey, are
you the Messiah? He said, You go back and tell
John, I'm doing things man can't do. I'm doing things man can't
do. Power. Oh, not only power, But
according to the spirit of holiness, that's the Holy Ghost, God giveth
not the spirit by measure to Christ. And then thirdly, by
the resurrection of the dead, he's the only one who by his
own powers come out of the grave. You're going to come out someday,
but it'll be by his power. He came out not by your power,
his power. His power, his spirit. He's God. He says God raised him. Well,
who is he? He's God. He walked out of the
grave and became the firstfruits of every creature raised by his
own power. He's God. Do you have any qualms
about that at all? Do you have any uncertainty about
it at all? Do you have any hesitancy at all about who is Jesus Christ? This gospel, and I appreciate
what Cecil said in his prayer, this church, this congregation,
this preacher, this assembly goes on record unashamedly, openly,
positively, privately, publicly declaring that our hope is in
Christ and His blood and His righteousness and His substitution. We don't back up or hedge or
beat around the bush. We believe God's on the throne.
That God has a covenant, a people, a purpose. He elected a people. Christ redeemed them. There's
no if and but, perhaps, that may be about that. That's what
we stand for, see. That's what we've stood for,
and by God's grace, we're going to die believing it. That's right. That's right. This gospel's not
for compromise. It's not for sale. Don't touch
my committal. Don't touch my trust. I'll fight
you over it. I'll defend them with my life,
they're my trust. And we dare not, for any, for
the sake of any human being, or any human being's desires,
any human being's merchandise, we're not for sale. This gospel
of God, this gospel of God concerning His Son, which has always been
His gospel, is the gospel of one who was made flesh to secure
for us a redemption, to pay for us a price, to redeem a people
for the glory of God. And how can he do that? Because
he was declared to be the Son of God with unlimited power,
with unmeasured strength, who walked out of the grave when
he got done what he came to do. Walked out. Walked out. He wasn't waiting on a resurrection
day. He walked out. He walked down. Christ is God. Christ is God incarnate. Christ
is our righteousness. Christ is crucified. Our justifier,
Christ is risen. Christ is enthroned. Christ is
our one mediator. Christ is our intercessor. You
do what you will, but it's for me and my house. will serve that
Christ and that Lord. Hark, the glad sound, the Savior
comes, the Savior promised long before. Let every heart prepare
a throne, and every voice a song. The true Messiah now appears,
the types are all withdrawn. So fly the shadows and the stars
before the rising sun. He took our mortal flesh to show
the wonders of His love. For us, He lived His life below
and praised for us above. Beyond our amazing sight I see
the incarnate Son of God dying, dying on that fatal tree, shedding
His precious blood. But to His finish, said His dying
breath, He conquered when He fell. It's finished in his glorious
death, he shook the gates of hell. His cross, a sure foundation
laid for glory and renown, for from the regions of the dead
he arose to claim his crown. And we're seated here. And Paul
says in verse 16, I'm not ashamed of that gospel. I'm not ashamed of that gospel.
You know, I like for that thing to do that once in a while, because
every head looks up. Every eye opens wide. What's
he doing? It's a good way to get your attention,
isn't it? I may put a buzzer on that, remind me. I'm not, here's what Paul's saying,
I'm not embarrassed. I'm not reluctant. to speak,
I'm not ashamed of this gospel, nor am I ashamed to boldly declare
to Greeks and Jews, barbarians, wise and unwise, that I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Now, there are some who are ashamed
because some of them flatly deny this gospel. Some of them try
to mix a little bit of works with it, you know. Some preach
it with words that can't be understood. Paul said they make void the
cross of Christ. Words, words. Some hold it in
private, but not in public. Some prostitute it for personal
gain and applause. He's a great preacher. No, he's
got a great gospel. That's what distinguishes God's
preachers. Not his greatness, it's the greatness of his gospel.
I'm not ashamed of the plain, naked, open, offensive, sovereign
gospel of Jesus Christ. Why? Two reasons. I'll let you
go home. Do you see them? Far. I'll tell
you why I'm not ashamed. Far. It's the power of God. The power of God on desalination. It's the power to enable God
to be justifier and just. It's the power that enables the
holy law to be fully honored. It's the power that enables the
justice of God to be fully satisfied. It's the power that can give
a new heart and new nature to an old ungodly sinner. It's the
power that can bring a man from hell to heaven, from the dunghill
to the throne, out of the grave and to the likeness of Jesus
Christ. That takes power. And that's where the power is
in the gospel. And the second reason why I'm not ashamed of
it is because in that gospel is the very righteousness of
God revealed. The holiness of God. Not only
His personal holiness, but the holiness He demands, and the
holiness He must have, and the holiness He provides for us in
Christ. It's in the gospel. That comes
down to this. Here's what comes down to it,
from that wall to this wall, from this pulpit or that curtain
to the back. Paul, you're sitting back there.
Taking the tapes, and I'm up here preaching the gospel. But
it's the same. Do you believe the gospel I preach?
I believe it. And that's where it comes down.
Abraham believed. That's what I'm going to get on tonight.
Abraham believed this gospel. And God gave him that righteousness
in this gospel. Imputed it to him as his. You're
not doing what you're doing to be saved, are you? I'm not doing
what I'm doing to be saved. Lot of you gave gifts this morning
for the missionaries, the television, the tape minister, the book minister,
to help other churches. What did you do that for? Well,
I hope the recording angel took note. No, you didn't do that.
You wouldn't dare do that. You know better. You did it because
you love this gospel. I believe it. And that's where
it is. That's where the whole thing
is. And it's not bowing your head and closing your eyes and
singing softly and bringing you to a critical place, make a decision,
make your profession. I just believe this gospel. Under
God I believe this gospel. I don't know when I started believing
it, but I believe it. I believe it. You either do or
you don't. You either do or you don't now.
You either believe this gospel or you don't believe it. You
either believe Christ or you don't. You either believe it,
love it, take it up with it, You're confident in it, built
on it, laid on the foundation, established on it. You're challenged
heaven, earth and hell with it. Or you don't. You've got a mixture. If you've got a mixture, you
ain't got no gospel. I believe it. I want to go on rector before
God and hell and me. I believe Christ Jesus. Don't
you? Do you? That's where it is. And
it's settled between you and God. That's where it's settled.
Coming down here ain't going to help a bit. It's not going
to change anything. It's not going to make you feel
a little better, but feelings come and feelings go and feelings
are deceiving. I don't know the rest of that.
I wish I did. But it's good. Somebody look it up. But Christ,
He redeemed.