Old and New Testament Salvation

Q: What does the Bible say about salvation in the Old Testament?

Salvation in the Old Testament is the same as in the New Testament: by faith in Christ, which was revealed through types and prophecies. The Bible teaches that salvation has always been by grace through faith, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. In 1 Peter 1:10-12, it is clear that the prophets of the Old Testament searched and inquired about the grace that was to come, indicating that the gospel message was present even then. Old Testament figures like Moses and Abraham were saved not through legal adherence but through faith in God's promise, which ultimately pointed to Christ, as seen in Acts 10:43 where it states that all the prophets testify about Christ, declaring that through Him, everyone who believes receives forgiveness of sins.

Q: How do we know that salvation in the New Testament is the same as in the Old Testament?

Both Testaments proclaim the same salvation through faith in Christ, revealed progressively over time. The unity of salvation between the Old and New Testaments is affirmed in the consistent message of the Scriptures. In Hebrews 1:1-2, it notes that God spoke at different times through the prophets but has now spoken through His Son. This signifies that while the delivery of the message has changed, the essence remains the same: salvation is through Christ alone. The New Testament authors clarify the Old Testament message, showing that the faith of figures like Abraham and Moses was foundational for the faith taught in the New Testament, as Romans 4 highlights Abraham’s righteousness being credited to him through faith, not works.

Q: Why is grace important for Christians?

Grace is central to salvation, as it signifies unmerited favor from God, not based on our works. Grace is paramount in the Christian faith because it underlies the entire concept of salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our own works. This means that no one can boast about their righteousness or deeds, as it is entirely a gift from God. The importance of understanding grace is that it liberates believers from the burden of trying to earn salvation and allows them to rest in the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work. For all believers, both in the Old Testament and today, the assurance of salvation rests solely on grace, which necessitates a humble reliance on God's mercy rather than human effort.

Q: How did the Old Testament prophets understand their prophecies about Christ?

The prophets understood their prophecies as pointing toward the coming grace and sufferings of Christ. The Old Testament prophets, as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:10-11, diligently sought to understand the revelations they received regarding the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. These prophets were inspired by the Spirit of Christ, who predicted not only the suffering but also the redemptive plan that culminated in Christ. Their testimonies were not merely for their own time but were meant to prepare and direct future generations toward the gospel. This underscores that the message of salvation has always been consistent, centered on the person and work of Christ, revealing God’s plan from the beginning.

Q: What role does faith play in a Christian's salvation?

Faith is the means by which individuals receive salvation and the righteousness of God. Faith is absolutely critical in the Christian doctrine of salvation. Romans 4 exemplifies this by showcasing how Abraham's faith was credited as righteousness. This emphasizes that it is not through personal merit or adherence to the law that one is justified, but through believing in God's promise—that is, faith in Christ's redemptive work. The call to believe is the same across all dispensations; it is the response that God requires from all who seek reconciliation with Him. Therefore, faith is the conduit through which grace is received, securing the believer’s status before God as justified and righteous.

and to be exposed to some of
the confusion that is in the minds of many people regarding
the Old Testament and the New Testament. I have people say
things like this, I don't understand the God of the Old Testament,
I understand the God of the New Testament. I don't understand why God didn't
send Christ before he did. I don't understand how that God
sends the law to save in the Old Testament and Christ to save
in the New Testament. These are just some of the comments.
And this is one of the reasons for the confusion. It's what
writers have written and preachers have preached. Now, I don't mean
to enter into any kind of controversy, but I'm going to read you the
footnotes of this Bible that I have in my hand. And it may
be the author meant something else, but this is what he said.
It may be you could argue a week or two over his hidden meaning,
but I'm going to read you his revealed meaning. The scripture
says in John 1, 17, the law was given by Moses, but grace and
truth came by Jesus Christ. Now, here's the footnote. Now,
you listen to this. As a dispensation, grace begins
with the death and resurrection of Christ. The point of testing
is no longer legal obedience as a condition of salvation. but acceptance or rejection of
Christ with good works as a fruit of salvation. That's what the
average person believes. As I say, I don't know what the
author means, I don't know his hidden meaning, I know what he's
saying. He's saying that prior to the death of Christ, that
there was another way that God saved sinners. And that is, legal
obedience to the law was a condition of salvation. And if a person
legally fulfill the law or the way that it was interpreted,
then he was saved without Christ Jesus. But now let's look at
the Scripture and see what it says along this line. Now, in
1 Peter 1 again, and you listen to my message now and listen
to what I believe God is saying. In 1 Peter 1, I'm going to I'm
going to refer to these verses I read a few moments ago. But
let me introduce the message by saying this, and you listen
carefully to these comments. There's no new salvation announced
by Christ or the apostles. There's no newer way of salvation
revealed in the New Testament. There's been a change in messengers,
but it's the same message. There's been a change in messengers.
Scripture says in Hebrews 1, God, who at different times and
in different ways spake to our fathers by the prophets, hath
in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. They said the
same thing. They said the same thing. Now,
their message is more clearly understood in the New Testament. Their message is more clearly
understood in these last days, but their message is the same.
We have different messengers, but the same message. We have
different ways of revealing that message, but the same message.
And it's more clearly understood today than it was then, but it's
the same message. Now let me show you that. Turn
to the book of Acts chapter 10. Just hold our passage there in
1 Peter, and we'll go back later, but in Acts the 10th chapter.
Now listen to this. Acts chapter 10, verse 43. Now this is what I'm saying. I want you to clearly understand
that Moses was saved the same way I am. That Abraham was redeemed
the same way I am. That the gospel preached by Moses
is the same gospel I'm preaching. That the gospel preached by Isaiah
is the same gospel I'm preaching. God never has had but one way
of saving sinners. He's had different dispensations
of revelation. He's had different ways of presenting
that message. He's presented it by different
messengers. There's been degrees of light
and understanding. But the same message. Now look
at Acts 10, 43. To Him. Talking about Christ
here. To Him. give all the prophets
witness. Who are the prophets? They're
the Old Testament prophets. To him give all the prophets
witness that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall
receive remission of sin. Not whosoever keepeth the law,
not whosoever followeth the ceremony, it's whosoever believeth. Now, Noah built an ark. That
was proof of his faith. That was not his way of salvation. Rahab put the scarlet lion down
the window. By faith she did that. That was
proof of her faith. Abraham offered Isaac, proof
of his faith. Abraham left home, proof of his
faith. He was redeemed by faith, not
by the works. The works proved he believed
God. When God said something, he did it because he believed
God. He was counted righteous not because he did this thing,
but because he believed God. Look at John chapter 5. And here
our Lord is speaking to the religious leaders, John 5, verse 45. Do not think, he said, do not
think, John 5, verse 45, that I will accuse you to the Father. There's one that accuseth you,
even Moses, in whom you trust. Moses himself? No, Moses' word. Moses' word is going to rise
up in the judgment as a testimony against this day of Christ. Why? Look at verse 46. For had you
believed Moses, you would have believed me, he wrote of me. Moses didn't write that salvation
is by law, he wrote salvation is by Christ. That's what Christ
said. But if you believe not his writings,
how shall you believe my words? We are saying the same thing.
If you don't believe what he wrote, you'll never believe what
I'm saying, because I'm saying what he wrote. And if you don't
believe what I'm saying, you're not going to believe what he
wrote, because he's wrote what I'm saying. That's what Christ is saying
here, same thing. Look at John 8, verse 56. John 8, verse 56. Listen to the Master here. He
says, John 8, verse 56, Your father
Abraham, that goes a long ways back. Your father Abraham, that
goes back before Moses, rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and
was glad. He saw the cross. Abraham took
Isaac up there on that mountain to sacrifice him. He was doing
what God told him to do. He was acting on faith. He believed
God. He believed God would provide a way. We believe God has provided
a way. He believed God would send a
Savior. We believe God did send a Savior. The prophets reported,
the prophets foretold and the disciples reported. Same message,
same message. All right, look at Luke 24, Luke
chapter 24. The prophets look forward, the
apostles look backward. In Luke 24 verse 44, listen to
this. He said to them, this is our
Master speaking. He's talking to the disciples, he's already
risen from the grave, and he met them on the road to Emmaus,
and he went and broke bread with them, and they didn't know who
he was until he broke bread, and then they recognized him.
And then he said to them, verse 44, Luke 24, and he said to them,
these are the words, which I spake unto you, while I was yet with
you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written
in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, in the Psalms, concerning me."
And then he opened their understanding that they might understand what? The scriptures. What scriptures?
The New Testament wasn't written. When our Lord spoke these words,
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, all was not written.
It was not even in existence. That was written after he died.
When he spoke these words, he was talking about the writings
of the Old Testament. And he said, these are things
concerning me. He opened their understanding that they might
understand the Scripture. When the Ethiopian eunuch was
on his way from Jerusalem back home, riding in the chariot,
he was reading the Old Testament. Isaiah 61 is what he was reading.
Isaiah 53 is what he was reading, and Philip was brought by the
Holy Spirit alongside the chariot, and the Lord told him to join
himself to the chariot. He listened to the man read,
and he said to him, Do you understand what you're reading? He was reading.
He shall grow up as a tender plant, a root out of dry ground.
He hath no form or comeliness, and no beauty that we should
desire him. He despised and rejected a man,
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Yet we did esteem
him stricken of God, smitten of God, afflicted. He was wounded
for our transgressions." And Philip said, you understand that?
Do you? Well, he sure wasn't talking
about the law, was he? By his stripes we're healed? He wasn't
talking about that bloody lamb on that altar. Philip said, do
you understand what you're reading? He said, how can I? Somebody,
somebody shows me. And Philip got up and sat down
beside him and preached to him the Lord Jesus Christ from Isaiah
61. This is what I'm saying. I'm saying there's no new salvation.
There's no new way of salvation. There's no new condition of salvation.
It's Christ now, it'll be Christ in the millennium, and it was
Christ a thousand years ago, and it was Christ five thousand
years ago. It was Christ in the garden. It was Christ in the garden.
The Old and New Testament are one. They're one. The Old Testament
is the New Testament concealed in picture, in type, in symbol. The New Testament is the Old
Testament revealed, and the Old Testament prophets Every animal
they slew pointed to Calvary. Every type that they set forth
pointed to Calvary. Every message they preached pointed
to Calvary. They look forward, we look backward,
and our eyes meet at the same place, at the cross. That's where
they meet. And as far as I'm concerned,
there's not a scripture in the Bible which more clearly reveals
the unity of the Old Testament and the New Testament message
than 1 Peter, and we'll get back to it now, 1 Peter 1. Here are
four words that I want to talk about. Now let me look at it
a minute, 1 Peter 1, 9, Peter says, Receiving the end of your
faith, even the salvation of your soul. That's what we're
interested in, salvation, salvation of my soul. Salvation of Abraham's
soul, Moses' soul, David's soul, and Isaiah's soul, and John's
soul, and Paul's soul, and Martin Luther's, and John Calvin's,
and Charles Spurgeon, and Charles Wesley, and us are ministering
the salvation of our souls in whatever dispensation, or age,
or era. It says in verse 10, of which
salvation? The salvation of our souls. That's
what we're talking about. The prophets. And these prophets,
Frank, are Moses and Abraham, the Old Testament prophets. He's
not talking about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He's talking
about the prophets. These men were apostles, and deacons, and
elders, and bishops. The prophets are those men back
yonder. And they inquired, and they searched diligently, and
they prophesied of the grace that should come to us. In searching water, what manner
of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify
when it testified beforehand, beforehand, the sufferings of
Christ and the glory that should follow." Now, there are four
words, grace, faith, suffering, preaching. And those four words
have existed all the way back to the fall. Grace, faith, suffering,
preaching. First of all, grace. Verse 10,
he says, "...who prophesied the last line of the grace that should
come to you." Noah, listen, Noah found grace in the eyes of the
Lord. Old Moses went out to that tent
of meeting. He had a place out there where
he met and talked to God. He met with and talked to God.
It was called the tent of meeting. And when Moses would go out there
to that tent of meeting during the day, the cloud which followed
them, would settle over that tent, and Moses would go in,
and the scripture says, speak to God as a man speaks to his
friend, face to face. And he went out there on this
particular day, greatly troubled, and he set forth three requests
before the Lord. The first one was this, show
me your way. The second one was this, if you
don't go with me, don't let me go. The third one was this, show
me your glory. But before he set forth those
three requests, you know what he said? He said, Lord, I'm Moses, and
I've been a faithful servant, and I've followed you all the
days of my life, and I've led your people out of Egypt, and
I've kept the law. In fact, I wrote it. At that
time, it wasn't written. But I'm the one who will write.
No, sir, he didn't. You know what he said? He bowed
himself before the Lord, and he said, O Lord, if I have found
grace in thy sight, show me thy way. go with me and show me a
globe. That's the basis on which I pray,
and you pray, if I found grace in thy sight. Every believer
of every age speaks of free grace. He bases any petition, he bases
any request, he bases any hope, on the fact that he's found grace
in the eyes of the Lord. And with Moses, and we're with
Moses when he said, Lord, if I've found grace, show me thy
way. Grace is a charming sound, harmonious to the ear. Prophets
and apostles all resound, and all the earth shall hear grace.
First, purpose the way to save rebellious man. In all the steps
that God displays, grace drew up that wonderful plan. Grace
first inscribed my name in God's eternal book. T'was grace that
gave me to the Lamb who all my sorrows took. Grace led my roaming
feet to walk the heavenly road, and new supplies of grace I meet
while pressing on to God. Grace taught my soul to pray
and made my eyes overflow. T'was grace that kept me to this
day, and grace will not let me go. I hear people say, well,
I'd give anything to know the Lord. I'd give anything to have assurance
of forgiveness of sins. I'd give anything to have peace
in my heart. I'd give anything to know that my life was, my
name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life. That's your whole
problem. That's your whole problem. Now
listen to me. I'd give anything. Salvation is not in giving. in
receiving. You see what I'm saying? That's
the whole problem. Salvation is not based on reward,
it's free grace. It's not on the ground of what
we deserve, it's free grace. It's not on the basis of our
merit or loyalty, but free grace. The wages of sin and death, but
the gift of God is eternal life through Christ our Lord. It all
started way back yonder. There were two boys, way back
yonder. I don't know how long Adam and
Eve had been out of the garden, but these two men, Cain and Abel,
I'm sure they were not lads, I'm sure that they were mature
men. One of them, Cain, was a tiller of the soil, the other, Abel,
was a keeper of the sheep. God had revealed to Adam the
way that men, sinful men, fallen men, should come into his presence.
And that was by an altar and a sacrifice. That was the way
to come into God's presence. Well, this man came, being a
tiller of the soil, he was proud of his corn and beans and tomatoes
and apples and pears and whatever else he had. So he came to God,
he built his altar, he was going to worship. Now, both these men
knew there were centers. Both knew that there was a God.
Both knew that God required a sacrifice. Both knew that God required worship. Both of them wanted, I think,
to have some sort of relationship with God. They were just out
of the garden, not many years since Adam had fallen. It was
all fresh and new and knowledge. They were knowledgeable. But
this man Cain brought the things he'd done. He was a hard-working
man. He was a diligent, and don't
think of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel as savages living in
a jungle. Adam was brilliant, sharp, intelligent,
intelligent genius. So were his boys. And this man,
a proud man, knew there was a God and knew he needed that God and
came into the presence of God and he brought the best he had.
You ever heard people say, I'm doing the best I can. I believe
a fellow will make it if he does the best he can. I believe God
will accept a man if he does the best he can. Well, that's
what Cain was doing, Charlie, the best he could. He brought
the best he had, the best he had. And I'm sure it was something.
I bet you you couldn't grow corn like he could, not after all
these 6,000 years of deterioration of soil and everything else.
He's out there, the thorns and thistles came, but there's less
of them then than there are now. There's a bug forever grain of
corn now, but there wasn't then. And he brought the best he had.
God turned it down. This man Abel came over here,
he built an altar. And he brought a lamb, the firstling
of the flock, without spot or blemish. He brought that lamb,
and he cut its throat. And he burnt the carcass and
put the blood on the altar. God accepted it. And right there, right there,
was the division of all religion, of all times, of all ages, of
all generations, of all men. They're just two religions. The
best I can are the blood of Christ. Now, you can divide up into Catholic,
Protestant, and Jew, or you can divide them up into Baptist,
Methodist, Presbyterian, Christian, Pentecostal, Just any name you
want to put on it, you haven't got anything in the world but
a bunch of names. There's just two religions in
this world. Those that, and all men, we know we're men, we know
we're sinners, we know there's a God, we know we want a relationship
with God, we want to come to God, we want Him to accept us,
we want Him to forgive us, alright, how do we come? Do we come Cain's
way, the way of Cain, or the way of Abel? Do we come with
our gifts, and our tithes, and our works, and our dedications,
and our faith, and our loyalty, and our endeavors, and our zeal,
and our keeping the law, or do we come with the blood? That's
the only choice, Jack, that is. There's the two religions. They're
not but two. You can spell it any way you want to. You can
baptize by immersion, or sprinkle, or pour, or christen babies,
or dip old folks, or you can kneel at an altar, or stand up,
shake a preacher's hand, pray through, do anything you want
to. There's two religions. And that is, how does a man come
to God? By works or by faith, by works
or by grace, by works or by blood. There it is, it's right there
outside the garden. And the blood of Christ is grace,
that God giving to me over here on this altar cane is he giving
to God. The blood cleanses, purifies,
atones. The blood speaks of death. The
wages of sin is death. Why did Christ have to die? Because
I was sentenced to die. He took my place. That's why
he had to die. That's why the Lamb died, to
show the death of Christ. All right, quickly, the second
word. Grace is the first word. Faith is the second word, verse
9. Receiving the end or goal or object of your faith. Abel believed God faith Abraham
believed God. Let me show you a scripture turn
to Romans 4 verse 20 and this is what the prophets preached
Romans 4 now listen to this and this will help you if you'll
mark it and go back and study it later and This this is the
thing. I meant I'm interested in your
knowing the Lord I'm interested in you're having a saving relationship
with Christ with the Living God. I'm not interested in defending
a a denominational position. That's a waste of time. They've
all slipped into nothingness, liberalism. But look at Romans
4, verse 20. Talk about Abraham. He staggered not. Romans 4, 20,
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. And therefore it
was imputed, or reckoned, or charged to him for righteousness,
because he believed. Read on that. Now, it was not
written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, or charged
to him, or put on his account, righteousness. He believed God.
And because he believed God, he was counted righteous. The
righteousness of God, which is the righteousness of Christ,
was given to Abraham because he believed God. And it wasn't
written for his sake alone, verse 24, but for us also, to whom
it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our
Lord from the dead. I want what Abraham had. I want
to be the friend of God. I want what Abraham had. I want
the mercy and blessings of God. I want what Abraham had. I want
the righteousness of God. All right? Abraham believed God,
and it was all imputed to him, put on his account, charged to
him, reckoned to him. And that was written not for
his sake alone back then, but for yours also, to whom it shall
be imputed if you believe. Not if you join the Baptist church,
if you believe. Not if you work and do your best,
if you believe! Not if you're a little better
than your neighbor, but if you believe! That's clear as a bell. Same thing. What would you have? What would you have for a condition
of salvation? Just what would you... Here I
am, I'm a sinner, all right? You be the preacher. You be the
preacher. I'll be the... I'll be the hearer, all right?
Tell me how to be saved. Tell me on what condition that
a holy God will receive me. I'm a needy creature. I admit,
I'm fallen, I've sinned against God, I'm a traitor, I'm a rebel,
I'm a son of Adam, I'm a fallen creature, I'm deserving of hell.
Tell me how God will receive me. By my righteousness, I happen
to know in here and read in here that my righteousness is filthy
rags. So that won't get it. You'll
have to tell me another way. I got sense enough to know that
you're deceiving me. If you come to me and tell me
to do the best I can, that the best I can is far short of the
glory of God, and God'll look at my filthy rags and send me
to hell, and you'd deceive me. Now, don't you come with that
righteousness bit. It's not so. Somebody else said,
well, preacher, work for God. Serve the Lord. How many works?
How will I know when I have enough works? How will I know when I've
served enough? Now take this man, Saul of Tarsus. He worked for God his whole life,
40 years. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees,
a Hebrew of Hebrews, born of the tribe of Benjamin. He was
a Jew. He was a top man of his day. He was a top Orthodox theologian. Concerning the law, he said,
he was blameless. He couldn't make it. What do
you expect me to do? He couldn't make it that way.
God told him, he's lost. He didn't know God. The high
priest of that day didn't know God. And you talk about, I don't
have much time as they got. Those men worked and served.
They lived in the temple. And they went about the business
of the scriptures and prayed on the street corners and read
these long prayers and went around giving alms and fasted. They
fasted twice a week. How many times a week do you
fast? Well, none. Well, you don't even have their
righteousness. And Christ said, if your righteousness doesn't
exceed theirs, you're not going to see the kingdom of God. So
you have to give me another way. I can't make it that way. Can't
make it. Okay, preacher, keep the law.
Keep the law. Adam couldn't keep that one.
He was perfect, John. And you want me to keep it? Huh? You come and tell me that
I can be saved if I keep the law of Cecil, and Adam was creating
an image of God, righteous and upright, and he couldn't keep
it, and you want me to keep it? I'm glad you ain't my pastor. Why not? Let me ask you, why
not the way God has prescribed faith? Why not? Why do you want
another way? when this is the way God has
prescribed. Why do you want another way when this is the only way
open to a sinner? Why do you want to put us under
a bondage and in a prison from which we cannot escape? Why do
you want to do that? I guess because misery loves
company and because the devil is a deceiver of men and he uses
men to deceive men. That's the only thing I can think
of. I don't know why you can't look at this poor sinner and
tell him what Moses told Israel, look and live. Look and live. Believe! Why don't you tell me what Paul
told that poor, struggling, trembling, scared, terrified Philippian
jailer. Believe! on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and I shall say, why do you want to run me through a body of water
and sprinkle water in my face and my baby's face and say a
lot of, stand up there in your silly looking robes and say a
lot of silly words over my baby's face? And bring me down and beat
me on the back at an altar or hold out your list of things
I can do and can't do and be a member of your church and all
that Tommy rock Why don't you tell me the truth and say believe? on the Lord Jesus Christ Well,
we want to protect the gospel you ain't learned it yet, how
can you protect it? Well, we want to make sure that
the Church's reputation is kept intact. I'll tell you this, sons
of God will behave like sons of God. And they'll do it on
their daddy's orders and not on yours. That's right. You're not going to keep my children
in line, and you're not going to keep
God's children in line. That's his business. That's his business. You leave him alone. They're
God's children. He'll handle his children. All
right, the third word. The third word in 1 Peter 1,
the third word is suffering. Grace, faith, this Old Testament
preaching, suffering. Verse 11, "...searching water,
what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did
signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ." That's
what Moses talked about, the sufferings of Christ. That's
what Isaiah talked about. He was wounded for our transgressions,
the sufferings of Christ. Let me show you something. Turn
to Luke 9. This is interesting. Luke chapter
9, verse 30 and 31. Let's turn over there. Luke 9,
30 and 31. Now, our Lord here took Peter, James, and John and
went to a mountain to pray. And while he prayed, they fell
asleep. But his face and countenance shone. Even his clothes radiated
the glory of God. And then two men appeared with
him, Moses and Elijah. Moses represented the law, Elijah
the prophets. The law and the prophets met
with Christ. What do you suppose they talked
about? Tells you right here exactly what they talked about. They
talked about what they'd been preaching. They talked about
what they had believed. They talked about what they had
testified. They talked about what they had prophesied. They
talked about what they'd typified. They talked about what they'd
thought about for all those centuries. Look at Luke 9.30. And behold,
there talked with him two men, Moses and Elijah, who appeared
in glory, and spake of his death, which he should accomplish at
Jerusalem. That's what they talked about.
Moses sat there, and I'll have to be careful here, but he sat
there and talked with our Vesta, and he talked about what he had
preached, and what he had taught the people, and what he had believed.
God will raise up a prophet, him you shall hear. God will
raise up a lamb, in him you shall believe. God will send a Messiah
who shall accomplish all that we need. Elijah talked. And Elijah talked to him about
his death, about what he should suffer. Suffer. This is the story
that Abel told. This is the story that Isaac
told. This is the story the prophets told. He suffered. He suffered
the wages of sin, and they talked about the glory. Look here, 1
Peter 3 again says they testified of the sufferings of Christ and
the glory that should follow his sufferings, that should come
as a result of his sufferings. He made himself of no reputation,
took upon him the form of a servant, was obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross. Wherefore, God hath highly exalted
him. given him a name above every
name. That's the glory that should follow. A man died, the man Christ
Jesus, and a man's been glorified. And all the men who suffered
in him, died in him, are seated in him. That's the glory that
follows in Christ. The last word is preach. 1 Peter
3, verse 12, unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves
but unto us they did minister these things. We're going to
have them in sight and reality. John said our hands have handled
and touched and our eyes have seen and our ears have heard.
Moses didn't have that, but he talked about us having it And
these things are now reported unto you by them that have preached
the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost. We preach the gospel. This is the gospel of peace,
the gospel of grace, the gospel of God's glory, the gospel of
satisfaction. And when we preach the gospel,
you receive it, you believe it, in which you stand, by which
you are saved. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and his righteousness. His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives
way, he then is all my hope and stay." Two reasons why the believer
goes to Christ. You want to know what they are? One day he was talking to a multitude,
5,000, 10,000 multitude of people. These people got angry because
of what he'd preached. And they began to leave. And
12 men were left standing there facing him after all the thousands
had gone. He turned to those 12, and he
said, will you also go away? And the spokesman for the group
spoke up and said two things. Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life. That's the reason a believer goes to Christ. He has the words
of eternal life. He has the words of eternal life.
My peace I give unto you, my rest, forgiveness, atonement,
righteousness. These are the words of eternal
life, and they come from him. Grace flows from his lips. We
go to Christ because he has the words. To whom shall we go? To
the law? To the church? To the minister? We go to Christ. He has the words
of eternal life. He has the words my soul needs
to hear. Second. And, thou hast the words of eternal
life, and we believe that thou art the Christ. That's the reason
we go to Christ. Two reasons. He has the words
of life, and we believe he's the Christ, the Son of the living
God. And a man's not coming to Christ if he believes those two
things. Nowhere else to turn but to Christ. He has the words
of life, and he is the life. He's the Son of God. Let me tell
you a story, and I'll quit. I preached too long, but Charles
Spurgeon was sick. He was a very sickly man. He
was sick about 20 years off and on, out of his pulpit for months
at a time. And you know, this is the thing
I think about when I hear these divine healers on the radio and
television. God wants you to be well. It's
your own fault if you're sick. God wants you to be well. Some
of God's greatest servants were men who suffered greatly in the
body. Augustus Topley, who wrote Rock
of Ages, died when he was 38 years old. You know that? One
of the great preachers. John Calvin was a man who was
sick all of his life. Robert Murray McShane died and
he's 29 years old. He preached 7 years. One of the
greatest preachers. He left only 300 written messages. That's all. I've preached 14,000
sermons in 31 years. He preached 300. I couldn't touch the hem of his
garment, but God took him. David Brainerd, the first missionary
to the Indians over here. One of the greatest servants
God ever let live. Died and he's 29. Charles Spurgeon was sick
so many years. Out of his pulpit, that great
metropolitan tabernacle pulpit, has seating thousands of people,
an orphanage with a thousand young people, a preacher's school.
He's laid on the shelf for months at a time. God sends his trials
the way he will. for his glory and our good. But
Spurgeon was in his sick room one day and he saw a little bird
come to the, had a ledge out there on the window, saw a little
bird out there and he called his wife. Susanna was her name.
I told him to bring him some crumbs, breadcrumbs. He went over to the window, and
he, the little bird flew away, and he just put the crumbs out
there, shut the window, came back and sat in his chair, and
sat there and watched, and after a while the little bird came
back and he ate, and he had a little friend, he said, I had me a friend,
he said I'd put, while I was confined to my room, he said
I'd put crumbs out there every day, and he'd come and eat them.
He said I'd put the crumbs out there one day and I was sitting
in the chair reading I looked up and Joey bought him a friend
and that little Robin Red-breasted Robin and that little Robin he
didn't peck on the wind and say mr. Spurgeon is this for me,
too No, sir. He had a need he had a hunger.
There was food he came in a He came in a and I say that to you
God has supplied the need. It's Christ. The crumbs have
fallen, not just crumbs, but bread from the Master's table.
And I'm going to eat it. I'm going to eat it. And I'll
tell you the same thing. I don't think you should sit
around and say, well, am I one of the elect? Or am I one of
the ones for whom Christ died? Or am I this? Or am I that? Am
I a child of God? Would God accept me? Is the bread
there? Yes, sir. Are you hungry? Yes,
sir. Eat it. I've never known the Lord turn
one away yet. Can't you imagine that great Mr. Spurgeon walking
over and saying, get out of here Robin, that's just for that boy
right there. No sir, if you have a need, the
bread's there. You come for all things are ready.
Lean upon Christ. He's sufficient. He's able to
save all who come to God by him. And that all by God's grace is
going to be this center right here. And I hope it's you too. Our Father blessed the word.
Give thanks, we give thanks. Oh, how we give thanks for the
precious promises of this book. How grateful we are that redemption
is by faith, not by works. For our works and righteousness
are so far short of Thy glory, so full of sin, such filthy,
dirty rags, so full of self. God, I thank Thee that my acceptance
is in Christ and not in myself. And I have this good news to
preach, these glad tidings to all who will come, all who will
believe, all who need help and mercy. And apply it to the heart. Thou art the only one who can
reveal the need and make us willing for Christ's sake. Amen.

Old and New Testament Salvation

What does the Bible say about salvation in the Old Testament?

How do we know that salvation in the New Testament is the same as in the Old Testament?

Why is grace important for Christians?

How did the Old Testament prophets understand their prophecies about Christ?

What role does faith play in a Christian's salvation?

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Articles

Featured Authors

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Recent Comments

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Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

Old and New Testament Salvation

What does the Bible say about salvation in the Old Testament?

How do we know that salvation in the New Testament is the same as in the Old Testament?

Why is grace important for Christians?

How did the Old Testament prophets understand their prophecies about Christ?

What role does faith play in a Christian's salvation?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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