[0:00] We're going to resume our public worship of God by singing to his praise from Psalm 98. Psalm 98 and we're going to sing the whole psalm.
[0:17] Psalm 98 from the beginning. Sing a new song to the Lord. For wonders he hath done, his right hand and his holy arm.
[0:28] Him victory hath won. The Lord God, his salvation hath caused to be known. His justice in the heathen sight he openly hath shown.
[0:40] He mindful of his grace and truth to Israel's house hath been. And the salvation of our God all ends of the earth have seen.
[0:52] Let all the earth unto the Lord send forth a joyful noise. Lift up your voice aloud to him. Sing praises and rejoice. With harp and voice of psalms unto Jehovah sing.
[1:08] With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound before the Lord the King. Let seas and all their fullness roar. The world and dwellers there.
[1:19] Let floods clap hands and let the hills together joy declare. Before the Lord, because he comes to judge the earth, comes he. He'll judge the world with righteousness, his folk with equity.
[1:36] The whole of Psalm 98 to God's praise. O sing a new song to the Lord. For wonders he hath done. His right hand and his holy arm.
[2:10] His right hand and his holy arm. In victory he hath won. The Lord God his salvation hath caused it to be known.
[2:36] His justice in the heathen sight. He openly hath shown.
[2:54] He mindful of his grace and truth. To Israel's house hath been.
[3:11] And the salvation of our God. All lands of the earth have seen.
[3:29] Let all the earth have seen. Let all the earth have seen. To the Lord send forth the joyful noise.
[3:47] Lift up your voice aloud to him. Sing praises and rejoice.
[4:04] With heart, with heart and voice of sounds.
[4:15] Unto Jehovah sing. With raptures, corn is gladly sung.
[4:32] Before the Lord the King. Let seas and all their fullness roll.
[4:50] The world undwellers there. Letiz detail,親 voice and Vietnam. Let lift them up and reads.
[5:02] Let's lift them up and read. Let flows clap hands and lead the hills. Together joy declare. joy declare before the Lord because he comes to judge the air comes he he'll judge the world with righteousness he spoke with equity let us join together in prayer O Lord our God as we come before you at this evening hour we give thanks that we do have this opportunity to worship and to meet together freely and with no hindrance to our gathering we give thanks for not only the opportunity but that you have given to us a way of access by which we are able to approach a holy God your holiness is something that we are made aware of in your word and yet our ability to appreciate it for what it is is limited by reason of our own sinfulness and that is no excuse nevertheless that we should to be unaware of the fact that when we come into your presence that we are coming before a God who is holy high and lifted up a God before whom the angels of heaven veil their faces a God who in your manifestation of your glory as you came down from on high unto the mount upon which you were pleased to reveal the moral law there the very earth trembled at your presence and the mountaintop was veiled with fire and with smoke indicative of the very awesome nature of the God who is all glorious our God we are told is an all consuming fire and yet we treat you as if you were no no better than ourselves no greater than an earthly portentate like the various kings and queens that have occupied this world their reign curtailed by reason of their own sinfulness that marks us out as those who will experience by reason of our sin death and yet you are not like them nor like us death will interrupt our experience of this world death is not something that has any hold over you you are the source of life you are the God who created life who sustains
[9:03] life and who will in some mysterious way bring life to the fullness that it once enjoyed you will curtail the experience of life in this world as we have been singing these words speak of events that we believe may yet occur while there may be other interpretations of that psalm that we have been singing we can fully appreciate the fullness of the awesome second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ you have promised to come in him to judge the world and to do so in righteousness we give thanks for the forewarning and for the encouragement to come and be prepared for that day for it is a day that will surely come we pray that your blessing upon us even in anticipation of the second coming of the
[10:11] Lord we pray good blessing upon our gathering this evening upon those who are met together in this place those who are confined to their homes deprived of the opportunity and yet yet heart is here with us those who suffer from the infirmities of old age those who are by reason of illness denied access to the public means of grace those hospitalized those found in their own homes confined to bed those who are being cared for in their dotage by others those who are suffering from various illnesses and diseases for which there is no remedy we would remember them all to you thankful for the care that is shown those who work within our own communities allowing the weak and the infirm to reside within the walls of their own abode we pray that you would bless these ones who have the needs of others before their mind's eye constantly may they be industrious in their endeavors and constantly aware that there is an eye that is upon them just as surely as it is upon us we pray for your blessing upon their neighbors and all who would seek to minister to our physical our mental and particularly our spiritual needs we pray for your blessing upon your word so that those who access it whether it is remotely or here in this place that they would know the blessing of
[11:59] God upon it and that it would create in them the desire and the longing to have a personal knowledge of Christ and to have that knowledge of them which saves we seek good blessing upon the preaching of the world wherever it is to go out this day in the corner of the universe that we are aware of where the word of God is proclaimed whatever we know of this world of ours whatever we know of what lies beyond we know that you have decreed that this world will go out to the far corners of the earth and to that end we give thanks we remember the congregations of our presbytery and what lies beyond we pray for the preachers of the gospel we remember them to you with all their own difficulties we remember your servant who was a minister in the presbytery who was unwell we pray for his recovery we pray for your servant who expects shortly to be installed as a minister of the congregation of
[13:17] North Tolstair we give thanks for ministries that have continued to the end and even beyond with your own hand upon laying liberally to their labors and we pray that that may be true of all of us who have been called to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ keep our feet free from falling our eyes free from tears and that the glory be yours in Christ remember our nation and all who are over us in regard to the affairs of the land our king his family those who govern in his name we pray for mercy and that there would be a sensitivity to the truth of God as something that we will all answer too and we pray that you will remind us to that end pour your spirit out upon us and do not allow us to assume that it is the mere activity of man that will secure blessing because we know that the arm of man is frail and feeble and yet your arm has not been shortened in that you cannot save you hold back from blessing by reason of our sinfulness and we crave forgiveness for that and the spirit of the repent the penitent would be ours that we would repent and turn to
[15:05] God from our sin so hear our prayers on our behalf and on behalf of others who may not pray for themselves remember the war-torn afflicted nations of the earth those that are struggling to survive because of want those who have lack of resources to maintain body and soul remember them we pray remember those who seek to proclaim the truth amongst them those who are responsible for translating the scriptures into tongues that may be alien to us and yet who when they have the word given to them their heart is made glad and like so many here who have access to the truth and yet the truth is not something that they are drawn to we pray Lord that it would be a day coming when the dust would be blown off the covers of the scripture and that we would take these words to heart and that we would reflect upon the truth that it contains and that we would apply it to our lives most diligently so hear our prayers and pardon our sins and go before us in all we do in
[16:28] Jesus name we ask it with forgiveness of sin in him amen we can continue to sing to God's praise this time we're singing from Psalm 119 Psalm 119 we're going to sing the last section of the psalm from verse 169 to verse 176 oh let my earnest prayer and cry come near before thee Lord give understanding unto me according to thy word let my request before they come after thy word me free my lips shall utter praise when thou hast taught thy laws to me my tongue of thy most blessed word shall speak and confess because all thy commandments are perfect righteousness let thy strong hand make help to me thy precepts are my choice
[17:38] I longed for thy salvation Lord and in thy law rejoice O let let my soul live and it shall give praises unto thee and let thy judgments gracious be helpful unto me I like a lost sheep went astray thy servant seek and find for thy commands I suffered not to slip out of my mind we'll sing these words the last section of Psalm 119 O let my earnest prayer and cry come near before thee Lord O let my earnest prayer and cry come near people the Lord give understanding unto me me according to thy word let my request before thee come after thy word be free my lips shall utter this when love has taught thy laws to me my tongue of thy most blessed word shall speak speak and did confess because all thy commandments are perfect righteousness let thy strong hand make hell to me thy presents are my choice
[20:26] I long for thy salvation Lord and in thy law rejoice oh let my soul holy holy valley shall give praises unto thee me and let thy judgment gracious be helpful unto me to me I like a lost sheep when doth slay thy sermons seek and bind bind for thy commence
[21:46] I suffered not to slip out of my mind mind we're going to read from the scriptures of the New Testament on Paul's epistle to the Ephesians and chapter 2 Paul's epistle to the Ephesians chapter 2 you can read the whole chapter and you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins wherein in time past he walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath even as others but God who is rich in mercy for his great love for with he loved us even when we were dead in sins have quickened us together with Christ by grace ye are saved and have raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus for by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them wherefore remember that ye being in time past
[24:02] Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands that at the time that at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross having slain the enmity thereby and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them that were nigh for through him we both have access by one spirit unto the father now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets
[25:32] Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom ye also are built together for an appartation of God through the Spirit Amen and may the Lord add his blessing to this reading of his word to his name be the praise we are going to continue to sing to God's praise this time verses from Psalm 118 Psalm 118 we are singing from verse 20 to the end verse 20 to the end this is the gate of God by it the just shall enter in the evil I praise for thou me heardst and hast my safety been that stone is made head cornerstone which builders did despise this is the doing of the Lord and wondrous in our eyes this is the day God made in it will draw it triumphantly save now I pray thee
[26:52] Lord I praise and now prosperity blessed is he in God's great name that cometh us to save we from the house which to the Lord pertains you blessed have God is the Lord who unto us hath made light to arise bind ye unto the altar's horns with cords the sacrifice thou art my God I'll thee exhort my God I will thee praise give thanks to God for he is good his mercy lasts always let us sing these verses Psalm 118 verse 20 to the end of the psalm this is the gate of God by it the just shall enter in this is the gate of God by it the just shall enter in the just shall enter in the when I praise for thou me hast and hast my safety been that stone is made that cornerstone which the nurse did despise this is the doing of the Lord the Lord and wondrous in the eyes this is the day God made in it we will join the night of and leave save thou I pray thee
[29:16] Lord I pray send thou cross the deity blessed is he in God's great name blessed is he in God's great name that come and thou to save we from the house which to the Lord pertains you blessed have God is the Lord who unto us hath made life to arise find ye unto thee the altar's horns with course the sacrifice thou art my God my God I will be praised my God I will be praised give thanks to God for he is good give thanks to God for he is good his mercy last always can we turn for a short while to
[31:25] Ephesians chapter 2 and we can read again verse 8 Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith it is the gift of God Some people consider these words to be second only to the words that we find in John chapter 3 and verse 16.
[32:16] Simply because of the truth that is contained within them. And of course any such opinion is a personal one.
[32:27] And it is entirely subjective. But if you want to know the difference Christ Jesus makes to a person's life, you could do worse than read Ephesians chapter 2.
[32:48] In the opening part of the epistle, the apostle is at pains to describe to us new life as the Christian experienced.
[33:07] New life through Christ Jesus. And he is at pains to emphasise the difference that there is between that new life and the life, if you can call it that, that was previously there.
[33:28] If needs be painful as it is, it is contrasted with the way they lived before they came to know Jesus Christ.
[33:42] John Stork describes the situation that is true of a person before they come to know Christ as the universal human condition.
[34:01] They are lost in trespasses and sin. But Paul describes to us how that changes and some of what these changes are.
[34:19] I want us just for a brief time this evening to look at this most famous of verses in the New Testament.
[34:29] And treat it very simply, I hope. First of all, noting that salvation is necessary.
[34:42] Secondly, faith is necessary. And thirdly, God as the source of salvation and faith is necessary.
[34:59] You cannot experience salvation without God. You cannot possess the grace of faith apart from God.
[35:12] So it is therefore right to say that he is necessary. So these three are the three headings I would like us to consider.
[35:29] Now, when you speak of salvation in this context, it seems to be assumed that salvation is indeed necessary.
[35:43] I know that not everybody believes that. But whether they do or not, I can confidently assert and you can confidently believe with the warrant of Scripture that salvation is indeed necessary.
[36:02] We need to experience salvation. We need to be saved from our sins. We need to be saved from the consequence of our sins.
[36:16] Whatever these consequences are here in this world. And indeed, in the world that is to come. And it is interesting to note that as chapter 1 unfolds, the letter that is written to the saved.
[36:38] Remember, he is writing this letter to a people, a believing constituent. Those who have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. As the letter is written, as it is unfolded, you see how it begins.
[36:53] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints which are at deficits to the faithful in Christ Jesus. That's who the letter is addressed to.
[37:05] People who have previously come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. And when he begins the epistle with these words, we can see that what he is describing to us is an intent on his part that was in his mind before the world was even created.
[37:38] It's an awesome thought that God had pre-planned, had foreordained the salvation of sinners even before these sinners committed this sin.
[37:56] Or even before these sinners were actually created. And that's where Paul begins. That's where he begins to describe to us the purposes of God.
[38:11] It began in the mind of God before the world was. Something, the consequences of which he states will go on even after this world will come to an end.
[38:24] Because if you know the scripture, you know that the world is not to go on as it is now. There's going to be a change wrought by the hand of God where the world will cease to exist.
[38:37] But nevertheless, the purposes of God for the world, for those who are in the world, will go on and they will come to fruition.
[38:49] And that itself is a mystery. But if we want to understand salvation, we need to understand it in terms of what we were and what we have become.
[39:02] If that is true of us, what we were before we were Christians and what we have become as a result of being Christians. What you are as you are today, if you are not a Christian.
[39:16] And what you perhaps will become if you do become a Christian. God willing. In order for us to do that, we need to have some notion of where we are by nature.
[39:34] And where we have been taken by grace. And I think there is no better part of the scripture to describe to you the truly awful condition of man by reason of sin.
[39:51] You hath he quickened to where dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world.
[40:03] According to the prince of the power of the air. The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we had our conversation in times past.
[40:13] In the lusts of our flesh. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. And were by nature the children of wrath even as others. These words are truly, truly incredible words.
[40:30] Because they point to your life, Christ-less. And what needed to take place. In order to transform you from what you were into what he intends you to become.
[40:48] Because of sin we all need to be saved. That's the bottom line. Something, if we cannot see that, we need to stand.
[41:02] I was trying to think of what is the best vantage point for any one of us to see what we are by reason of our sinfulness.
[41:14] Is there such a vantage point? Is there such a place where we can stand and see what God sees? If we are incapable of seeing the reality of our existence as it is Christ-less.
[41:30] With the eyes that we possess. With the intellect that is ours. With the ability that we are given to reason, to rationalize, to think logically.
[41:42] If we cannot see what is before us. Where can we stand? And there's no answer to that except one. The only place that we can possibly see what we are needing to see.
[41:55] And that is the vantage point of God's word to us. We come back to that. And God's word does not allow us to gloss over our sin.
[42:09] It doesn't allow us to ignore our sin. It doesn't allow us to belittle our sin. It doesn't allow us to think that sin is something, anything other than it is.
[42:20] Something that will condemn us to our lost eternity if we do not deal with it in the way that God would have us deal with it. And that is in and through the passion of his son Jesus Christ.
[42:35] Because all sin offends God. And all sin exposes us to his eternal displeasure from which we need to be saved.
[42:47] And that's the thing. We need to grasp a hold of this truth. There is a pressing urgency for each one of us if we have not already experienced salvation by God's hand.
[43:05] That we experience it now. That we experience it with God's help and in God's way. Those of you who have been saved know that to be true.
[43:21] But you also know that the knowledge is more than intellectual. When we come to speak of faith, some disparagingly speak of faith as something that is blind.
[43:37] You know, you can put to one side the process of the intellect. The process of using your brain.
[43:49] You know, Christians are brainless, garamless individuals who believe in something that is unbelievable. Something that should not be believed in. Something that is completely out of culture with rational thinking.
[44:05] And that's what Christians are. That's what they believe in. Something that surely should not be believed by any person who possesses a brain of their own.
[44:22] And yet the scripture would beg to differ. Because every person here who is a Christian.
[44:34] They have not come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Without applying their intellect. Without applying their mind to what they have come to do.
[44:47] But it is the intellect responding to the word and the truth of God.
[44:59] And that's what's important. Because when we talk of intelligence. When we talk of the prowess of the mind.
[45:10] When we talk about the ability that some have over and against the lack of it that others have marked with. We would surely imagine that one person.
[45:22] Because of his limited understanding. Could not achieve the level of understanding that others have arrived at.
[45:34] Because of their prowess. And yet universally. Across the board. There are Christians. Of all kinds. Some who are university professors.
[45:47] Some who are physicists. Some who are astronomers. Some who are astronomers. Of all kinds of capability. As far as the prowess of mankind is concerned.
[46:01] They are involved in all kinds of things. But so also do you have the infant. The child who comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ. Incredibly.
[46:15] Or so it seems to us. You know there is a sense in which today. We do not see conversions as much as we used to see them.
[46:28] We do not see as many. In our communities at least. Come to faith. As there used to be. But that is a sign of the times.
[46:39] As it applies to us. But that is not to say that. God is working. God is not working elsewhere. And where he is working.
[46:50] Not only do we have the aged. And the mid years. We have young people. We have children. Preschool children.
[47:00] Coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through the word of God. In the hands of the Holy Spirit. Mightily. Working in them.
[47:11] And persuading them of their need of salvation. Directing them to the person of Jesus Christ. As the alone saviour that they must go to. And it happens.
[47:22] It has happened. It is happening. It will happen. Because God has ordained it so. E.W. Tozer.
[47:33] Is somebody I like reading. Sometimes he is controversial. In what he has to say. But he is talking. On this occasion. About faith.
[47:44] Or the. The way the rational mind. Works with regard to God's word. And he says this.
[47:55] The human mind. Is so constructed. That it must of necessity. Believe. When evidence presented to it. Is convincing.
[48:07] It cannot help itself. He says. When the human mind. Is presented with evidence. Then it is bound. To receive.
[48:18] And accept such evidence. When the evidence fails to convince. No faith is possible. No threats.
[48:29] No punishment. Can compel the mind. To believe. Against clear evidence. So in that situation. What he is talking about.
[48:40] Is the way the mind functions. The need that there is. For evidential. Proof. That convinces. The person. Of what is needed.
[48:52] In order to believe. But. You know. If you left it at that. You would perhaps think. That. Tozer. Is an evidentialist.
[49:04] Which. He is clearly not. God. He does also say. True faith. Rests upon. The character. Of God. It is enough.
[49:15] That God. Has said it. And if. The statement. Contradicts. Every one. Of the five senses. And all the conclusions. Of logic. As well.
[49:25] Still. The believer. Continues. To believe. So. He appears. To contradict himself. At one level. But. He is.
[49:37] Emphasizing. On one. Side. The need. That there is. For you. To engage. Your brain. When you're. Confronted. With the truth. Of God. You need.
[49:47] To believe. The truth. Because it is. God's truth. It is. God's word. It is not. A lie. It is not. Something. That man. Has come up with.
[49:58] It is God's word. It is the truth. Of God. And the truth. Of God. Will always. Prove itself. To be. Exactly. What God is.
[50:09] The God. Of truth. You apply. Your mind. To that. And you believe. That. Or you reject it. And when you reject it. You reject it. At your peril.
[50:23] But. You see. The apostle. Is saying. By grace. Are received. Through faith. And that. Of you. That not. Of yourselves. It is. The gift. Of God. So there is.
[50:36] A need. For us. To understand. Appreciate. Grasp. The truth. Concerning. Salvation. And its need. That comes.
[50:46] To us. From God. And that. Comes. To us. Perhaps. In more than. One way. And I was. Reflecting.
[50:56] On this. I was. Reminded. Of. You know. You're perhaps. Sitting there. As an unbeliever. And you're saying. To yourself. I have a logical.
[51:10] Mind. I have an understanding. Of the truth. And. Still. I have not been. Persuaded. To believe. In. The Lord. Jesus Christ. To the saving.
[51:22] Of my soul. I have believed. Certain parts. Of the truth. I have. I have. I have understood. What the truth. Is saying. But. Clearly. I have not. Allowed myself.
[51:34] To. To. Surrender. My life. To Christ. And I suppose. In many ways. There is a complexity.
[51:44] Surrounding. The way God works. We need to. We need to. Understand. That. Salvation.
[51:54] Is something. While we. Believe. That the scripture. Teaches us. That. To be. As we have argued.
[52:05] Necessary. You. Yourself. Need to be. In the place. Where. You. Feel the need. To be saved. It. You need.
[52:17] The conviction. Of God's word. You need. The conviction. Of the truth. Of God. To be. Something. That you. Wrestle with. Intellectually.
[52:30] But there is. Something. Beyond that. And what I was. Reminded of. Was somebody. Was a wonderful. Preacher. Of the gospel. And he was. Describing.
[52:41] The perilous. Situation. A lost. Sinner. Is in. And I've. Didn't. I've. Just thought of this. From memory. So I can't really. Remember. The detail. But.
[52:52] The preacher. Was so. Graphically. Describing. The perilous. Condition. Of the sinner. That he. Compared. To a. A person. A blind. Person.
[53:03] Stumbling. His way. Towards. The cliff. And as. They stumbled. Their way. The cliff. Was before them. Their blindness.
[53:14] Meant. That they were. Totally. Unaware of. And the preacher. Went to great. Length. To describe. The danger. Describe. This person. And they were.
[53:26] Heading. Headlong. To destruction. Because the cliff. Was before them. And they were. Unaware of it. And he impressed.
[53:37] The thought. So powerfully. On those. Who were in the congregation. That one person. Stood up. And said. For goodness sake. Will you not stop him? They were.
[53:51] Gripped. By the thought. And he just. Stood up. And said. For goodness sake. Will you not. Stop this person. Before they lost.
[54:04] And it was. A very powerful. Thing. But not just. Intellectual. It was. Emotional. And it. On that part. It was.
[54:14] Part. It. It. Moved the person. To cry out. So that the person. Would be saved. It. It. It. It. It. It. But you see.
[54:26] Does it. Mean. That the person. Who was so. Moved. And so. Motivated. By. The power. That was there. In the preaching.
[54:38] Of the word. That they. Were saved. Themselves. Because of the. Emotional. Impact. It. Had upon them. And this is what we're dealing with.
[54:52] When we're dealing with. The word of God. There has to be. An intellectual. Component. Which. Engages the mind. Which makes us think.
[55:03] About the reality. Of our situation. And the. The truth is. What. What feeds into. Our intellect. We need to believe.
[55:14] That God's word. Is telling us plainly. We are lost. We are in need of salvation. God has decreed. Our destruction. If we remain as we are.
[55:26] We need to. Feed that into our intellect. But at the same time. We cannot be remote. From the truth. And. Be unmoved. By it.
[55:36] So that it just. Remains something. Intellectual. It has to be something. That also. Stimulates our emotions. But even there.
[55:53] That's not the last word. Because. What we read. The apostle. Say. Is this. By grace. Are you saved.
[56:04] Through faith. You know. If your wheels. Are grinding. Ever slowly. Good. You're thinking. About these words.
[56:15] You're reflecting. On these words. You're going to carry. These words. Home with you. They make sense. To you. You want them. To. To be something. You believe.
[56:27] Perhaps. You're going to take. With you. The thought of. Perilously. Edging. Closer. To a cliff. And you're going to. Plummet. Over the edge. And you're going to. Enter into.
[56:38] A lost eternity. You're moved. By it. But there needs. To be more. And what is the more. That Paul.
[56:50] Points us to. He says. We need to. Exercise. Faith. In Jesus Christ. Faith. Is necessary.
[57:02] For salvation. To be possible. When we speak. About faith. We speak. About faith. In the passion.
[57:13] Of the Lord. Jesus Christ. We speak. About faith. In God. Through the passion. Of the Lord. Jesus Christ. We believe. In him. What do we believe.
[57:26] Concerning Christ. We believe. That he is God. That he is. The triune God. We believe. That he is. The only redeemer. Of God's elect. We believe. That he was born. Into this world. That he became man.
[57:37] That he lived. His life. In this world. Till. He entered. Into the experience. Of death. Willingly. That the cross. Was the means. By which sin. Was dealt with. All of these truths.
[57:48] Are before us. In God's word. But we need. To put our trust. In what the word.
[57:59] Says to us. About that Christ. And what he has done. In order for salvation. To be possible. We need the knowledge.
[58:12] That we need to be saved. We need the knowledge. To understand. How that salvation. Is carried out. By God. Martin Luther.
[58:26] In one of his sermons. Speaks of faith. Laying hold of. Nothing else. But Christ. And nothing.
[58:38] Less. Than Christ. Christ. And the scripture. Reinforces. What Luther says. It is the. The very source.
[58:48] Of what he has to say. With the heart. Man believes. Unto righteousness. If you confess. With your mouth. The Lord Jesus. And believe. In your heart. That God has raised him.
[58:59] From the dead. Then you shall be saved. If you believe. If you believe. If you have faith. In God. Then. You will be saved. But what do we mean.
[59:12] What do we mean. When we talk about. The grace of faith. What is meant. By it. How am I. Going to be persuaded. That what I have.
[59:23] Is genuine. That what I have. Is of the Lord. That what I have. Is not something. That has been passed down. Through my genes. Through the blood. Through the. The influence.
[59:35] Of others. What I need. Is something. For myself. What I need. Is something. That God. Has given to me. What I need. Is something. That will allow me. To receive Christ.
[59:45] To rest upon Christ. To trust in Christ. I've always said to you.
[59:56] What I've heard. When. I was a young Christian. Faith is made up. Of three components. There's belief. There's a sense.
[60:07] A sense. And there's trust. Belief. A sense. And trust. James Montgomery. Boyce. Has probably. Much the same.
[60:18] Knowledge. Heart. Response. And commitment. Our knowledge. Of Christ. Is necessary. We need to know. Who he is.
[60:28] We need to know. What he has come to do. We need to know. What he has done. We need to know. What he is doing. Even now. We need to have. An appreciation of it. We need to know. What he has yet to do.
[60:39] Because he has promised. To do it. And if his promises. Are found false. Then why should we. Believe in him. Actions.
[60:51] On our part. Confirm. That we do believe. What God's word. Says to us. Concern him. And that we need to trust. In him.
[61:01] Who has come to do. What he has come to do. And done it. Perfectly. When we think about this.
[61:12] Some people. It's always. Always easy. To. To miss the point. You know. Some people. Say that. Well.
[61:24] There's a whole host. Of different. Sort of. Things. That you may. Come. Very close. To. Thinking. That you've accomplished. What faith is all about.
[61:37] There are actions. That arose. By reason. Of what we believe. But the actions. Are not what save us. Our doing.
[61:48] Is what. Doesn't save us. Our working. Does not save us. Our faith. Is what. Promotes. And what. Stimulates. And what. Causes. The actions.
[61:59] But it is not. That which saves us. So what's the third thing. Well. Faith.
[62:11] Salvation. Is necessary. Faith. Is necessary. God. Is necessary. In order. For faith. To be. In our experience. We are saved.
[62:23] By grace. Through faith. He tells us. By grace. Are you saved. Through faith. And that. Not of yourselves.
[62:34] It is. The gift. Of God. The unsearchable. Riches. Of. His grace.
[62:44] Mercy. Love. Kindness. Many. If not all. The reformed. Writers. Would insist.
[62:55] Would want to highlight. A particular. Truth. And that is. This grace. This. Unmerited. Favor. Of God.
[63:06] You. Cannot. Get. God. To save you. You. You cannot. Get. God. To save you. By.
[63:18] Anything. Outside. Of. Himself. By. Anything. Outside. Of. Himself. So. When you. Recognize.
[63:29] Your need. Of. Salvation. When you. Recognize. The source. Of. That. Salvation. You. Recognize. The means.
[63:41] By. Which. That source. Avails. You. Of. Your. Need. Deals. With. Your. Burning. Necessity. To. Experience.
[63:52] Salvation. At. His. Hand. How. Many. Christians. Here. Came. To. God. Not.
[64:03] With. An. Empty. Hand. But. A. Hand. A. Hand. That. Had. Something. In. It. They. Came. With. Something. They.
[64:14] Came. With. Something. They. Thought. With. This. God. Will. Surely. Accept. Me. With. This. God. Will. Surely. Receive. Me. With. This. God. Will. Surely.
[64:24] Take. Me. To. Be. His. Own. But. The. Problem. Is. If. You. Have. Something. In. Your. Hand. You. Cannot. Receive.
[64:35] From. God. What. Is. In. His. You. Got. To. Let. Go. What. Is. In. Your. Hand. It. Reminded.
[64:45] Of. Of. An. Experiment. That. I. Saw. Conducted. Many. Years. Ago. Using. A. Chimpancy. And.
[64:56] It. Was. Demonstrating. I. Don't. Know. What. Was. Demonstrating. I. Can't. Remember. But. It. Placed. A. Bit. Of. Food. Inside. A. Glass. Cage. And.
[65:07] Was. Showing. The. Power. Of. Reasoning. That. The. Chimpancy. Had. And. All. A. Chimpancy. Had. To. Do. Was. Put. His. Hand. Through. An.
[65:17] An. An. Opening. In. The. Glass. Case. And. Get. The. Piece. Of. Food. So. If. He. Put. His. Hand. In. Like. That. He.
[65:28] Could. Access. The. Case. But. The. Moment. He. Grasped. The. Bit. Of. Food. He. Clenched. His. Fist. And. When. He. Clenched. His. Fist. He. Couldn't. Pull. His. Hand.
[65:38] Back. Out. Because. It. Was. Full. And. He. Was. There. With. His. Hand. Caught. Couldn't. Take. It. Out. Because.
[65:48] The. Food. Was. In. His. Hand. And. He. Was. Determined. To. Take. The. Food. He. Didn't. Want. To. Leave. The. Food. Behind. What's. That.
[65:59] Got. To. Do. With. Us. Well. In. A. Sense. If. You. Work. It. The. Other. Way. Round. We. Want. To. Take. To. God. Something. We. Want.
[66:09] To. Take. To. God. Our. Obedience. We. Want. To. Take. To. God. Reading.
[66:22] Or. Whatever. We. Take. That. To. God. In. Our. Hand. And. We. Say. Here. You. Are. God. But. What. God. Has. To. Offer. Us. We. Can't.
[66:32] Take. As. Long. As. We. Have. Something. In. Our. Hands. So. Not. A. Him. That. Goes. Nothing. In. My. Hands. I. Bring. Simply. To. Thy. Cross. I.
[66:43] Clean. But. God's. Grace. Is. Such. That. What. Is. Necessary. He.
[66:53] Provides. And. You. Have. All. That. Is. Necessary. In. His. Hand. All. That. You. Are. Asked. To. Do. Is. To. Receive. It. By.
[67:04] Faith. Trusting. That. All. That. You. Need. Is. In. Christ. Those.
[67:15] Who. Accept. Christ. Are. Given. We. Are. Told. Power. To. Be. The. Sons. Of. God. Saved. From. Sin. Saved. For. Glory. Saved.
[67:26] From. Their. Sins. In. Order. To. Live. Their. Life. To. The. Glory. Of. God. Charles. Hodge. Who. Says. Salvation. Is. In.
[67:36] No. Sense. And. In. No. Degree. Of. Works. For. To. Him. That. Works. The. Reward. Is. A. Matter. Of. Dead. But. Salvation. Is. Of.
[67:46] Grace. And. Therefore. Not. Of. Works. Lest. Any. Man. Should. Post. And. That's. What. The. Bible. Says. So. Christian. Today.
[67:58] You. Are. A. Christian. Because. You. You. You. Believed. In. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. To. The. Saving. Of. Your. You.
[68:11] You. Accepted. The. Provision. Of. Christ. Jesus. As. God's. Provision. You. Are. A. Sinner. And. You. Need. To. Be. Saved. And. You. Know.
[68:21] That. Salvation. Is. Of. God. That's. What. Differentiates. You. From. Those. Who. Are. Yet. To. Be. Saved. You. Have. Learned. What.
[68:32] It. Is. That. Your. Sin. Requires. Salvation. Sinfulness. Requires. You.
[68:42] To. Be. Saved. You. Have. Examined. The. Scriptures. And. God. Has. Impressed. Them. Upon. Your. Heart. And. You. Are. Convinced. By. The. Truth. That. He. Says. To. You. Sinner.
[68:54] Put. Your. Trust. In. Christ. And. So. You. Have. Done. And. As. He. Works. In. Your. Heart. And. Mind. Opening. The. Truth. To. You. You.
[69:04] Know. That. You. Have. Done. The. Right. Thing. You. Know. That. Without. Him. You. Could. Do. Nothing. You. Learned. What. It. Is. That. Your. Actions. You. Doing.
[69:14] Your. Whatever. It. Is. You. Not. Doing. Is. Never. Going. To. Be. The. Security. That. Would. Ensure. Your. Salvation. You. Are. Convinced. Of. By.
[69:35] Grace. Salvation. Is. Possible. Through. Christ. Jesus. And. Him. Alone. Salvation. Is. Possible. This.
[69:45] Is. God's. Doing. This. Is. God's. Provision. This. Is. God's. Encouragement. To. You. All. To. Every. One. Of. Us. To. Trust. In. Him. And. Look. At. What.
[69:55] He. Says. We. Are. His. Workmanship. Created. In. Christ. Jesus. And. To. Good. Works. Which. God. Hath. Before. Ordained. That.
[70:06] We. Should. Walk. In. Them. God's. Work. Is. A. Great. Work. The. Salvation. Is. Nothing.
[70:17] Short. Of. Miraculous. And. It. Is. A. Miracle. It. Is. A. Miracle. And. It. Is. His. Doing. Well. May. You.
[70:27] Know. The. Benefits. Of. It. May. You. Know. The. The. The. The. Experience. Of. It. May. You. Never. Stop. Short. Until. You. Have. It.
[70:37] As. You. Own. By. Putting. Your. Trust. In. Him. Let. Us. Pray. Oh. Lord. Our. God. Help. Us. To. Appreciate. That. We.
[70:48] Are. Sinners. In. Need. Of. Salvation. If. We. Have. Not. Been. Convinced. Of. That. Fact. We. Pray. For. Mercy. That.
[70:58] The. Power. Of. Your. Holy. Spirit. Would. Immerse. Us. In. The. Truth. So. That. We. Would. Not. Be. Left. In. Any. Dirt. That. From. The.
[71:08] Crown. Of. Our. Head. To. The. Souls. Of. Our. Heat. We. Are. Nothing. But. A. Morass. Of. Putrefy. Sores. Direct. Us. To. The. Physician.
[71:19] That. We. May. Receive. Healing. At. His. Hand. By. Your. Grace. Open. Arise. That. We. May. Marvel. At. The. Wonder. Of. His. Doing.
[71:30] And. Draw. Us. Ever. Closer. To. Him. By. Means. Of. Your. Word. Forgive. Us. In. Jesus. Name. Amen. Our.
[71:42] Closing. Psalm. Is. Psalm. 107. Psalm. 107. And. At. Verse. 10. Such.
[71:58] As. Shut up. In. Darkness. Deep. And. In. Death. Shade. Abide. Whom. Strongly. Hath. Affliction. Bound. And. Irons. Fast.
[72:08] Have. Tide. Because. Against. The. Words. Of. God. They. Wrought. Rebelliously. And. They. The. Council. Did. Condem. Of. Him. That. Is. Most.
[72:18] High. Their. Heart. He. Did. Bring. Down. With. Grief. They. Fell. No. Help. Could. Have. In. Trouble. Then. They. Cry. To. God.
[72:29] He. Them. From. Straits. Did. Save. He. Out. Darkness. Did. Them. Bring. And. From. Death. Shade. Them. Take. These. Bands. Wherewith.
[72:39] They. Had. Been. Bound. As. Sundered. Quite. He. Break. These. Four. Stanzas. Psalm 107. At verse 10. Such as shut up. In darkness deep.
[72:52] Such as shut up. In darkness deep. Are.
[73:04] Like. In darkness deep.看 해�0w tith. Haze. Whom. Strongly. Half. Affliction.
[73:16] Bound. And. I. Rounds. Must. Have. Tied. Because.
[73:27] Against. Against the words of God they wrote rebelliously.
[73:39] And they the counsel did condemn on him that is most high.
[73:56] Their heart he did bring down with grief. They fell no help could have.
[74:13] And trouble then they cried to God. He them from sin's death save.
[74:30] He out of darkness did them bring. And from death's ship them take.
[74:45] These bands wherewith they have been bound. Asunder quite he break.
[75:01] May grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, Son of the Holy Spirit rest and abide with you all now and always.
[75:12] Amen.