Now let's turn in our Bibles
this evening to the book of 1 John. I'm going to begin my reading
with 1 John 4. 1 John 4, and we're going to read beginning
with verse 13, and read through 1 John 5, verse 5. Now here's the subject tonight.
Sounds like a big subject, and I believe it is. Life's two most
critical areas. Life's two most critical areas. Now let's begin with 1 John 4. See if you can pick them out
as we go along. I say that with all of our conflicts and struggles,
inwardly and outwardly, from birth to death, There are two
critical areas, two of the most critical areas, two areas which
need our attention more than any other areas. Two places where
if I'm right with God, then I have no problems. I have peace and
joy and rest and eternal hope. Two areas. First John chapter
4 beginning with verse 13, Hereby know we that we dwell in him
and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify
that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that
Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him and he in God. And we have known and believed
the love that God hath to us. God is love. And he that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love
made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment,
because as he is, so are we in this world. There's no fear in
love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment
He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him because
he first loved us. For man say I love God and hateth
his brother. He's a liar. For he that loveth
not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen? And this commandment have we
from him that he who loveth God love his brother also. Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And everyone
that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of
him. By this we know that we love
the children of God when we love God and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments
and his commandments are not grievous. For whosoever is born
of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh
the world? But he that believeth that Jesus,
that Jesus, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus born of Mary, Jesus crucified,
buried, and risen, that this Jesus, Peter said, God hath made
this same Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Who is
he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus
is the Son of God? Now this life on earth which
we're living is called in the Word of God a sojourn. He said if you call on the Father
or call Him Father, pass the time of your sojourn here in
fear. This is a sojourn. It's also
called in the Word of God a warfare. I read in the book of Isaiah
not long ago about our warfare being accomplished, our battle
being won. This life is a warfare, this
conflict, this trouble, this trial, this suffering. This life
is also called a journey. And David said it's a journey
through a valley of the shadow of death. We so often refer to
that scripture when someone dies, talking about that period of
time that a person is dying or that last moment of that person's
life passing through the valley of the shadow of death, this
whole life is a valley of the shadow of death. You see death
all about you. You see death right there in
the trees and the flowers. We see death in one another.
Death is coming. And this whole life is a valley
of the shadow of death. Now some people have a more difficult
time than others. David talked about that in Psalm
73. Even some of God's people have
a more difficult time than others. There's some of you here tonight
who are quite familiar with trials. There's some of you here tonight
who are quite familiar with temptation and great and heavy conflict.
There's some of you here tonight who are very familiar with loneliness
and with sorrow and with suffering. Well, I will say this to every
believer here this evening. Sooner or later, you will suffer. Sooner or later, you will weep.
Sooner or later, you will know sorrow. It may be great and heavy
sorrow, but God will not suffer you to be tried in a manner more
heavy than you can bear with his grace. But every believer
suffers. Every believer goes through trial.
Listen to these scriptures. Over and over again we read this
in the Word of God. Our Lord said to his disciples,
in this world ye shall have tribulation, trials and sufferings. Again,
Paul wrote, they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer. I know the words persecution,
but they not only suffer persecution, they suffer from within. I said
a few weeks ago, we grieve over our sins. We grieve over our
children. We grieve over our friends. We
grieve over the sin that's around us and the sin that's in us and
the sin that's about us, even the sins that are behind us.
The Scripture says it's given unto you, not only to believe
on Christ, but also to what? Suffer. Suffer. If you be without chastisement,
if you be without God Almighty's discipline, isn't that what that
word is? Discipline. If you be without His discipline,
then you're not sons. So, we're familiar with these
words. Every one of us are familiar
with the words. Some of you are familiar with the experience.
You know what it is to suffer. You know what it is to hurt.
You know what it is to go through deep waters and heavy trials
and carry heavy burdens. But the poet has put it this
way, God hath not promised skies always blue. God hath not promised
flowers thrown pathways all our lives through. We know what it
is to suffer. We know what sorrow is. So looking
at this life as a sojourn, looking at this life as a journey through
a valley of the shadow of death. And I say some of you may be
walking in a more lighter path than others. Some may be walking
in a very dark and dreary place. But sooner or later, every child
of God on this earth is going to know what it is to suffer. and to sorrow, every one of us.
Now, knowing our enemies, both within and without, what would
you say? What would you say are the two most critical areas of
your life? Have you thought about it? When
I was reading that scripture, did you find them? I'm talking
about from birth to death. And I've gave this a lot of thought.
I look through the book of 1 John and I think, I believe, I found
the very theme. I think the very theme of the
book of 1 John is these two words, these two areas of our lives,
all the way from birth to death, from birth actually to eternity.
I think without hesitation, this is what I say, I reply the two
most critical areas of any person's life is faith and love. That's where all, that's where
the victory is won, right there. Faith and love. Didn't Paul say
in 1 Corinthians 13, let me do some proving here now, in 1 Corinthians
13, the last verse of 1 Corinthians 13, did not Paul say, and now
abideth, and now abideth faith, hope, and love? These three. Isn't that what he said? Now
abideth faith, hope, and love. Years ago, I was asked to speak
to a gathering of people. It wasn't a church gathering.
I don't remember what the occasion was, but I was asked to speak.
And one man suggested that I speak on the three most important parts
of life, the three most important things in life. And I immediately
thought of this verse here, faith, hope, and love. Paul says now
about his faith, hope and love. But is not, can't that be brought
down to two? Is not hope a product of faith?
Is not hope born of faith? So I say that the two most critical
areas in my life, I must not lose either one of them. And
if I have these, I have all that I need, faith and love. Let me show you that from 1 John.
Turn back to 1 John chapter 3. Let's see if we can make good
on this. Back here in 1 John chapter 3, I'm saying, Faith
with a heart right toward God in faith, and a heart right toward
God in love. I have all I need, David. All
I need. In 1 John 3 verse 22, it says,
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments. and do those things that are
pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment.
And this is His commandment. He says in verse 22, And whatsoever
we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments. I know
immediately every one of you thought ten commandments. Well,
you haven't kept those by any means. He says in verse 23, this
is His commandment. This is what we're talking about.
Here's what we're talking about. And these you do keep. That's
right. These you do keep. Because they
are two things that He gives by His grace. What is His commandment? That we should believe on the
name of His Son, Jesus Christ. That's the first one. Faith.
And love one another. That's the second. He gave us
commandment. This is His commandment, that
we believe, that we believe and that we love one another. I say
whatever else you have, if you don't have these two, you're
missing the very essence of living and the hope of eternal life.
Look down at 1 John chapter 4. Turn over there a minute. Now
listen to me. 1 John chapter 4, verse 2 and 3. Listen to this. And hereby know we the Spirit
of God. This is the Spirit of God. Every
spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is
of God. That's believing that Jesus is
the Son of God, that Jesus is the Christ, that Jesus is the
Messiah. Every spirit Now, I know he's talking about, in verse
1, about preachers. In verse 1, he says, Beloved,
don't believe every spirit or every person who preaches or
every teacher that comes your way. Try the spirits, whether
they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out
into the world. And hereby know we the Spirit of God. This is
the Spirit of God. Every teacher that confesses
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. Well, that's
not only true of the teacher, that's true of the pupil. Every
person that confesses that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
That's the Spirit of God. Faith in Christ is the Spirit
of God. And every spirit that confesseth
not that Jesus Christ is coming to the world is not of God. That's
the reason I say this is the area, isn't this the first place
where our Lord dealt with Peter? Peter boasted of his faithfulness
and his loyalty and how he would contend for the truth and how
he would not deny Christ. And our Lord said to him, Simon,
Satan hath desired thee that he might sift thee as wheat.
But I prayed for you. What area have I prayed for you?
Wherein have I prayed for you? That your faith fail not. That
your faith at your faith. That's what he's saying here.
He that believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
Now look at verse 6. Here's the second area. What
I'm talking about, verse 1 John 4, 7. Beloved, let us love one
another, for love is of God. Love is of God. It's born of
God. It comes from God. And everyone that loveth is born
of God, and he knows God. He that loveth not knoweth not
God, for God is love. All right, now down to our text
in 1 John 5. In 1 John 5, verse 1. Whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. and everyone
that loveth him." There's the second area in Peter's life that
the Lord dealt with him. These were times that Christ
just singled in on Peter himself. He seemed to turn from the other
disciples and just zero in on him. And he said, Peter, I prayed
for you that your faith fail not. That your faith fail not. And then sitting down there by
the sea, he called Peter over to the side, away from the other
disciples, and he said, Do you love me? You love me? He said,
Lord, you know I love you. Do you love me more than these?
Lord, you know I love you. Well, feed my sheep. And again,
he asked him the third time, do you love me? He said, Lord,
you know everything. You know I love you. Feed my
sheep. That's it. Faith and love. Those are the most critical areas.
I don't care if you're a young person. It doesn't matter if
you're in middle age or if you're an old person waiting for God
to call you home. Those are the two places that
need the most attention in your life and in my life. I care not
if you're a minister of the gospel or if you're a deacon or whatever
you are. Those are the two areas that
need your undivided attention. Do I believe that Jesus is the
Christ? Do I believe, not do we believe.
We do believe. We do believe. We sang while
ago. I do believe. I do believe. I believe that
Jesus is the Christ. I believe that. Do you love one
another? Do you love one another? I have
many infirmities and weaknesses to correct. I have much room
for improvement and growth. But if I can believe that Jesus
is the Christ, If I can believe that and grow in that faith,
if I can love Him with an unfeigned genuine love, and that love grow
not only in me but from me to other people, I have a good reason
to have eternal hope. All right, let's look at the
two of them. Let's look at these two things
separately. First of all, let's take a brief look at faith. Go
back to 1 John 5. Whosoever believeth, whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. Now here I want
to divide that into four parts. First of all, the promise of
faith, and then secondly, the object of faith, and then the
nature of faith, and then the results of this faith. First,
the promise of faith. Now, the promises of faith are
on every page of Scripture. Turn, first of all, to Romans
chapter 3. And while you're turning to Romans
chapter 3, let me quote just several. You know the scripture
says, our Lord gathered his disciples about him and he said, go unto
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He
that believeth, he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
That's a promise. That's a promise from our Lord.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. What's another?
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever believeth on him. should
not perish but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth
on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He that
believeth on the Son hath life. He that believeth not the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Now, look
at Romans 3. In verse 19, we start with what
we are. Now, we know. that what things
soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law,
that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty, guilty, guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of
the law there shall no flesh be justified in God's sight,
for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now, but now the
righteousness of God without the law, without a perfect obedience
on my part, The righteousness of God without the law, the holiness
of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and
the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus
Christ, by the faithfulness of Christ, by the obedience of Christ
unto all and upon all them that what? Believe. Believe. The righteousness of
God is mine by faith. Not by works, but by faith. The
promises of faith. Turn to Romans 4. Now listen
to this. Romans 4. In Romans, the fourth chapter
talks about Abraham in verse 20. It says, he staggered not
at the promise of God through unbelief, but he was strong in
faith, giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what
God had promised, God was able to perform. Therefore, it was
imputed to him for righteousness. He believed. He believed God.
Now, it wasn't written for his sake alone that righteousness
was imputed to him, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed,
if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,
who was delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. When the Philippian jailer, trembling,
came to Paul and Silas and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
Paul replied, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe. That's the promises of faith.
Life, righteousness, eternal glory. Promised if we believe. All right, let's look second
at the object of faith. Turn back to the text. Now all
this is clearly identified in this text. First of all, whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Now what's this?
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ. What are we saying? Saul of Tarsus was on the road
to Damascus in his anger. in his wrath against jesus of
nashville all how he despised jesus of that there's no way
that that man that imposter could be the Christ as he claimed to
be. There's no way that that man
born of Mary and who came out of Nazareth, Nazareth's carpenter
shop and Bethlehem's manger and who was nailed to a cross. Didn't
the scripture say, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree
as Saul of Paris was on the road to Damascus to vent his wrath
against Jesus Christ and all of his followers and his church
and his people in particular. A great light shone in heaven
And he fell to the ground on his face, and he looked up. And he said, who art thou, Lord?
And the voice came back and said, I am the Lord. Well, that wouldn't have impressed
Saul of Tarsus. Well, that's who I thought you
were. But that voice came back and said, I am Jesus of Nazareth. I am the one whom you hate the
most. I am the one whom you've denied. That's who I am. I'm
the one of whom you've said he cannot be the Christ. He is an
impostor. That's who I am. I am the one
born of Mary. I am the one despised and rejected
and hated and spit upon and nailed to a cross. That's who I am.
I am Jesus of Nazareth. And this proud Pharisee, this
proud religionist was brought to the place where he confessed
that that one who walked this earth in human flesh, of whom
it was said nothing good can come out of Nazareth, he's a
wine-dipper and a gluttonous man, a friend of sinners, that
is none other than God Almighty's anointed one. That's the Christ.
That Jesus of Nazareth is the anointed one. He is the prophet
of whom Moses faith. He is the priest whom Melchizedek
typified. He is the King of kings and Lord
of lords, of whom David is the title. That's who he is. Now,
my friends, I cannot stress too clearly that the object of faith
is the most important aspect of faith. Did you get that? I cannot stress too clearly that
the object of faith is the most important aspect of faith. It's
not how much faith you have. It's in whom you believe. You
see what I'm saying? It's not how long you've had
that faith. It's not how much that faith has grown. The most
important aspect of faith is this. is the object of faith,
Christ the Lord. That's what it says. You look
at it. Whosoever believeth that Jesus, that Jesus, that Jesus
is the Christ, that Jesus is the Christ. That's what I'm saying. Jesus is the Christ. He is the seed of woman. He is
the Passover lamb. He is the manna from heaven.
He is the rock that gave water. He is the one of whom the tabernacle
and the sacrifices and all these things are but pictures. He is
above the angels. He is greater than Moses. He
is greater than the tabernacle. He is greater than the sacrifices. He is greater than Aaron. He
is greater than the sons of Levi. Jesus of Nazareth, whom they
spit upon. whom they ridiculed and mocked
and laughed at as he died, Jesus of Nazareth, this Nazarene, this
carpenter, this winebibber, this gluttonous man, this friend of
sinners, this nobody, this person whom everybody who was anybody
turned thumbs down on, this Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ. Do you believe that? That's what
I'm saying. But he's born of God. There was
an old gentleman sitting reading the Bible one time, a very wealthy
old gentleman. One of the rulers of Europe,
Germany, back many years ago was sitting reading his Bible.
And he came to a verse of scripture. His valet, his butler was busy
about the room. And the old gentleman sat there,
snow white hair and a white beard. He was reading the Bible. And
he said to his butler, he called him by name, and he said, listen
to this. This Jesus of Nazareth said, If you believe not that
I am He, you'll die in your sins. He said, did you ever hear anything
like that? Listen to that again. Jesus of
Nazareth said, if you believe not that I am He, I am the Christ, I am the Messiah,
I am the Redeemer, you'll die in your sins. It doesn't matter
how moral you are, how zealous you are, how enthusiastic you
are, how religious you are, what your heritage or background or
ancestry, whether you're Jew or Gentile, male or female, old
or young, if you believe not that I am He, you die in your
sins. Oh, the object of faith. Let's
look at our text again. The promise of faith. Oh, there's
so many of them. They're vast and great, higher
than the mountains, deeper than the sea. The promises of faith.
The object of faith, Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Christ. He's not just a good man. He's
not just a great man. He's not just a healer. He's
not just a great prophet. He is the Christ for whom they
look and we look for no other. He is the Christ. All right?
Thirdly, the nature of faith. Now read this again. Does it
say, whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ will be born
of God? That's not what it says. Where
does this faith come from? This ability to believe This
ability to believe that this hated Nazarene is God's son,
this ability to believe that this weakling who died in the
flesh, who died a despised, ignominious, hateful death, deserted and alone,
that this is none other than God Almighty, the Ancient of
Days in human flesh. Do you believe that? You believe
that's God in that cart in the shop? You believe that's God
on that tree? You believe that's God in that tomb? You believe
that? The Bible says that to them that
are perishing, that's foolishness, that's nonsense. And to most
people, that is nonsense. But this is what this says. It
says, whosoever can believe that, whosoever does believe that,
is already born of God or he wouldn't believe it. You see
what I'm saying? Now listen to me again. We're
not born of God as a result of faith, but faith is a result
of being born of God. Whosoever believeth, whosoever
has this faith, whosoever believes, whosoever can lay hold upon and
enter into with sincerity, in heart, If thou shalt confess
with thy mouth Jesus to be Lord, and believe in thine heart God
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation. This is a heart work. But a man
who believes that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ is a man who has
been born of God. He has had an operation of God's
grace, an operation of God's Spirit, And he has the ability
to look to Christ as the Israelites of old with an undivided eye. He has the ability to trust Christ
as Job of old, who said, though he slay me, I will trust him.
He has the ability and power to receive Christ as his wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. He has the understanding
that commits everything to Christ as Paul, who said, I know whom
I have believed, and I am persuaded he's able to keep that which
I've committed. I've committed to him against
that day. All right, what about the results
of faith? Look back at our text, 1 John 5. Whosoever believeth,
and this is a heart matter, whosoever believeth that Jesus the despised
and rejected one, that Jesus, the crucified one, that Jesus
is none other than the Christ, the anointed, the sent one, the
redeemer, the one whom God prophesied would come and promised would
come and typified through the Word. Whosoever believes that
is a person who's been born of God. He's been born of God. Now the results, 1 John 5, 4.
And who is he that overcometh the world? But he that believeth
that Jesus is the Son of God. Let's read verse 4. Whosoever
is born of God overcometh the world. What's this talking about
overcoming the world? Well, let's divide the world
up a little bit. I thought about this. What is this world we're
talking about? World, the world. Whosoever is
born of God overcometh or has the victory over the world. The
world. What are we talking about the
world here? Let's divide it up. There's the religious world.
We're living in a religious world. This is a religious world. This
is a religious country. This is a religious city. There's
religion all around us. And the man who's been born of
God is the man who has overcome this religious craze, this religious
conformity. He knows the difference. He knows
the difference. Now listen to me. We listen to
men preach. We listen to them preach from
the pulpit. We listen to them preach on the television, the
radio. We listen to men talk religion. Are you able to discern
between that which is the voice of God and that which is the
voice of men? Are you able to discern that
which is grace, which gives God all the glory? which gives Christ
all the praise, do you hear me? Are you able to discern between
that and that religion which gives God some of the glory,
some of the praise, but leaves a lot of it for man? Can you
tell the difference? I'll tell you who can. Verse
4, verse 5. Who is he that overcometh the
religious world, who knows the difference, who can discern the
difference, who will not be entrapped He said the Antichrist will come,
they'll rise up, they'll do great and mighty wonders if possible,
deceive even the elect if it were possible. Who is he that
overcometh this religious world? It's that man who believes in
his heart that Jesus is the Son of God. He knows the difference. Everybody doesn't. We get their
literature. Some people are enamored by it.
We listen to their mixture of grace and works, and some people
are swept up by it. We see their signs and wonders
and their great crowds and their much enthusiasm and their entertainment
and all these things, and many people are impressed by it. He
that believeth that Jesus is the Christ is not impressed. That's right. He's overcome that
religious world. That's a real hurdle. He knows
pure grace when he hears it and he knows works when he hears
it. He knows that which exalts and magnifies the name of his
Lord and he knows that which doesn't. He's not swept along with this
popularity of religion. Yes, everybody's going to heaven,
we're just traveling different roads, this works religion, this
Arminian free will religion, this make your decision, this
take Jesus into your life, all of these entertainers and all
of these politicians and all of these fine moral people who
are swept along in this tide of part grace and part works
and part God and part me and the man who does not believe
that Jesus is the Christ is swept right along, he falls into the
tide and he's just swept along with it. That man who knows that
Jesus is the Christ and believes it with a God-given faith, with
a God-regenerated faith, with God-quickened faith, and a God-awakened
faith, he's like Jacob of old, I shall not let thee go. I shall
not. He's overcome that religious
world. He knows the difference. It's
such a temptation. Yeah, but you can't get a church
if you don't go along. You can't have a place to preach
if you don't go along. You're not popular. This is the
way other people are going. Who is he that overcometh the
world? He that believes that Jesus is
the Christ. I'm satisfied. I know who he
is, and I know what he did, and I know why he did it, and I know
where he is. And this religious world, this tide of man's goodness
and man's glory and all these things, I'm not going to be caught
up in it. I've overcome. All right, here's
another world, the material world. I've got an article in the Bulletin
this Sunday, and I want all of you to read
it. It's too much. We've taken up
too much with things. I know, I know. And the material
world, you know what scripture says? It says, having food and
rain but therewith to be content. It says again, be content with
what you have and avoid covetousness. Paul said, I've learned in whatsoever
state I am to be, what, content. Our Lord said, take no thought
for what you shall eat, what you shall drink, what you shall
wear. That is anxious thought. Don't give your time and your
efforts and your anxious care and be consumed with and eaten
up with the desires of this flesh and the plight of life. Don't
be caught up with this materialistic world. It's getting away from
us. It's just getting away from us.
We've got something bigger, something better, and something greater,
and something more impressive, and all of these things. We're
just caught up in that time. Who is the man that can overcome
this lust, this craving for something bigger and better and greater
and more appealing to the flesh? He's the man who believes that
Jesus is the Christ. That's who He is. That's who
He is. When He has Christ, He has everything.
He doesn't need anything else. He has Christ. Christ Jesus is
the Messiah. Jesus is the Christ. He's my
Lord. I have Him. I have everything.
I'm wealthy beyond expression. I'm wealthy more than all the
men of this world. My God shall supply all my need
according to His riches and glory through Christ Jesus. The most
inconsistent thing on earth is a murmuring, complaining professor
of Christ. And yet we do more of that than
we do praise in God. Overcome this thing. Use what
God gives us. But let's don't give our attention
to it and care little if it's gone. Just let it go. Who is he that overcometh the
world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ? And what
is it that overcomes the world? It's that faith. All right, there's
another part of the world, and that's the social world. Our
Lord Jesus Christ came down deeply here. He said, he that loveth
father, mother more than me, not worthy of me. He that loveth
son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He that
loveth husband, wife more than me is not worthy of me. How in
the world does a person get a victory over these relatives and friends
and kinfolks that have such a claim on us? It's this faith that Jesus
is the Christ. That's how you overcome it. How
in the world can a man turn his back on those that are blood
relatives? Turn his face to Christ, that's
how. That's the man that overcomes the world. That's the result
of faith. I'm telling you, the promises
of faith are immense. They're indescribable. They're
immense, the promises of faith. The object of faith is Christ.
He's the Messiah. He's the Redeemer. And the nature
of faith, that's God-given. That's not produced in this human.
You can't do it. You can't do it. There's no way
that you can turn your back on anything that has an effect upon
this person unless you have a greater power in you than's in this world. But the believer does. He has
Christ. He has Christ. And then the physical
world. Oh my, turn to Philippians 1.
I don't know whether I can die or not. I don't know whether
I have dying grace or not. I just don't know. I don't know
whether I can lie down and close my eyes peacefully or not. I
just don't know. I don't either, my friend. I haven't been there. I'm not
going to say that I can't. I'm not going to stand up here and
make idle boasts. But Paul could. And he said this in verse Philippians
1, 20, according to my earnest expectation and my hope that
in nothing I shall be ashamed. I don't want to be ashamed when
I come to death. But that with all boldness as always, so now
also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether in life or
whether by death. For me to live is Christ. That's
what living is. It's Christ. It's Christ. It's not fame and popularity
and materialism and social world and so forth. It's Christ. It's
not just health and wealth and these things. For me to live
is Christ. And for me to die is gain. But if I live in the
flesh, this is the fruit of my labor, yet what I shall choose,
I know not. I'm in a straight betwixt the
two. I have a desire to depart. I'm taken up with. I'm enamored
with. I'm obsessed with Jesus Christ,
and I have a desire to be with Him. That's what he's saying
there, which is far better. Far better. But there's only
one way. There's only one way. that this
physical world can be overcome, we can gain the victory over
it. And that is if we believe that that one who hung on that
cross, Jesus of Nazareth, is all that God says He is. He's
the Christ. Do you believe that? That's where it is. That's where
it is. My faith looks up to Thee, Thy
Lamb of Calvary, Savior Divine. Hear me when I pray. Take all
my guilt away. That's what you prayed for a
while ago. And let me from this day, let me from this day, whether
in regard to the religious world or the material world or the
social world or this, the clutches of this physical world, let me
from this day be wholly thine. That's the object of my faith.
Now that, my friend, is the number one. I'm going to be a little
longer. what you stay with, but that's the number one area of
this life. If you can lay hold on that, you're saved. Now if
we can go along playing church, my name's in there on that roll
just like some of yours. It don't mean a hill of beans. You know that? I've been down
the aisle several times, as some of you. I've been in the water. I've eaten the bread and the
wine. I've preached 15,000 sermons, at least, over 35 years. I wouldn't give you that for
all of it. It's dung and rubbish that I may win Christ and I can
be found in Him. You either believe what I've
just said, Jesus is the Christ. You believe that? Ray, you believe
that? He's the Christ. That's right.
That's dead serious. You're a dying man. That's dead
serious. You're going to stand before
God someday, and the only plea God will receive is, Jesus Christ
died for my sins. Nothing else. Because some more
folks said, Lord, I preached. You know how many times I preached?
Yeah, I heard every one of them. I heard every one of them. Well,
you know how many souls I won? Do you know how many churches
I built? Do you know how many offerings I get? Do you know
how many things? You know what great and wonderful? I never
knew you. Depart from me. But I tell you, whosoever believeth
that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. God's done something
for that man. God turned him 180 degrees. God's changed his whole pattern
of thinking, his whole principles, his whole foundation, his whole
attitude. God's changed him. He has overcome
this world. Whosoever is born of God overcomes
this world. The world to him is dead. Dead! The religious world, the social
world, the material world, and his own world, dead! His blueprints
had been torn up and cast into the waste can. He died on the
cross when Christ died.