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Sermon #1692 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: A God Wrought Salvation
Text: Isaiah 26:12 Subject: Salvation — The Work of God Alone Date: Sunday Evening — July 15, 2007 Tape # Z-32b Readings: Jim Grant and Darvin Pruitt Introduction:
Turn with me to Isaiah 26:12. In the third verse of this chapter we read this blessed word of assurance. — “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Then, in the light of that the prophet says, “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (v. 4). Now, look at our text, Isaiah 26:12.
(Isaiah 26:12) “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.”
We have great reason to trust our great God and Savior. We have been assured, — “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” And we know that in him, in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Lord, Jehovah, there is everlasting strength. Now, add to that what the prophet here declares, — “LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us!” That is a confident hope and expectation, arising from our knowledge of him, our experience of his mercy, and our faith in him. He who is God our Savior, the Lord Jehovah, will “ordain peace for us.” He will ordain it in all the dispositions of his providence, in all the operations of his grace, and throughout the endless ages of eternity, because he has ordained peace for us from everlasting. — “LORD, Thou wilt ordain peace for us!” He will order peace for us. He will give peace to us, today, tomorrow, and forever! He has made peace for us by the blood of his cross. He is our peace. He gives us peace, inward, spiritual, eternal peace by his Spirit. And he disposes us to peace by his grace.
Now, look at the next line. — The prophet expresses absolute confidence regarding this peace, not because of something done by us, but because of that which God our Savior has done in us. — “LORD, Thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou hast wrought all our works in us!”
I want us to camp right here. May God the Holy Spirit, whose Word this is, be our Teacher, as we meditate upon this one statement of holy inspiration. — “Thou also hast wrought all our works in us!” I want to talk to you about a God wrought salvation.
“Thou also hast wrought all our works in us!” — What a humbling confession that is! It ascribes everything to God in the matter of salvation, and nothing to man. Self-sufficiency and self-satisfaction are the tendencies of proud human hearts the world over. We all like to think, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (Revelation 3:17). But we are not! Since God has wrought all our works in us, we have nothing to boast of (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Two things are emphatically asserted here… 1. Salvation is something that is wrought in a person. — “Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.” Do you see that? Salvation is internal, not external. All human religion is external. God’s salvation is internal. — “Ye make clear the outside of the cup and platter, but within are full of extortion and excess” (Matthew 23:25). All carnal, human religion is on the surface. God looks upon the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God deals with the heart (Heb. 10:16). God hears the heart (Romans 10:9-10). 2. This salvation that is wrought in the heart is God’s work alone. — “Thou also hast wrought all our works in us!” I contend that every true believer gladly makes this acknowledgement of grace. — “Thou hast wrought all our works in us.” Every person taught of God is taught what Jonah was taught down in whale-belly seminary — “Salvation is of the Lord!” This is the universal testimony of Holy Scripture (Psalm 37:39; Galatians 1:15-16; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:13; Hebrews 10:16; Hebrews 13:20-21; Romans 9:16; 1 Corinthians 15:10).
(Psalms 37:39) “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”
(Galatians 1:15-16) “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”
(Philippians 1:6) “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
(Philippians 2:13) “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
(Romans 9:16) “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.”
(1 Corinthians 15:10) “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
(Hebrews 10:16) “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.”
(Hebrews 13:20-21) “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (21) Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
It does not matter how you study it, or from what angle you look at it, salvation in the Bible is described as the work of God alone. Whenever salvation is discussed in Bible terms, it is acknowledged that — “Salvation is of the Lord!” It was planned and purposed by God the Father for his elect before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-6). Salvation was earned and purchased for all the chosen by the holy life and vicarious atonement of God the Son (Ephesians 1:7-12). And this salvation is revealed to, performed in, and preserved in every chosen, redeemed sinner by God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). In its planning, in its purchase, in its performance, in its preservation, and in its perfection, “Salvation is of the Lord!”
Proposition: This is the doctrine of our text and the message of the entire Bible — “Salvation is of the Lord!” Ours is a God wrought salvation! — “For thou also hast wrought all our works in us.”
Divisions:
The People
Who are these people in whom God works? Let me answer that question three ways.
God works his grace in His Elect, His Chosen, The People Ordained to Eternal Life before The World Began (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
(2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Grace always travels a predestined road to a foreordained house, and gives life to a chosen sinner. Grace never goes where election and predestination do not send it.
God’s saving grace comes to every sinner for whom there is a High Priest and a Sacrifice in Heaven. Grace comes to all those, and only to those for whom the Lord Jesus Christ was made a sin offering (Isaiah 53:10-12).
(Isaiah 53:10-12) “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Grace comes to those for whom the Lord Jesus obtained eternal redemption (Galatians 3:13-14; Hebrews 9:12), for whom h makes Intercession (John 17:9, 20).
And God’s saving grace always comes to and is wrought in the most unlikely, unexpected and undeserving sinners (1 Samuel 16:12; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
(1 Corinthians 1:26-29) “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
Those who have no claim whatever on God, who are utterly destitute of merit, who are completely unworthy of his favor and altogether deserve his wrath, miserable failures, corrupt sinners, depraved rebels, vile, wretched, undone, condemned, worthless worms, – these are the people to whom God is gracious! Where sin abounds, there grace does much more abound!
The Works
What are the works that the triune God works in his elect? Our text declares, “Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.” Do you see that? Whatever works there are in us that are related in any way to God’s salvation are works that the Lord God has wrought in us. In the Book of God nothing is ascribed to man but sin. Everything relating to salvation is wrought of God. Let’s look into the Book of God and see if this is not so. — Ten Things…
1. Regeneration, the new birth is wrought in the chosen by the sovereign power and irresistible grace of God the Holy Spirit. (John 1:11-13; 3:8; 6:63; James 1:18). 2. Repentance is the gift of God, wrought in his people by grace (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25).
Repentance is an abhorrence of self and sin, caused by a saving view of Christ (Zechariah 12:10). It is a change, a change of mind, a change of masters, a charge of motives. — Whitefield said, “No man has truly repented until he has repented of his sins – his sin – and his righteousnesses.”
3. Conviction, that conviction which precedes and always causes repentance, is the work of God the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8-14).
(John 16:8-14) “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. (12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
Because conviction is a never ending, continual increasing thing, repentance is a never ending, continual increasing thing.
4. Faith in Christ is the gift of and operation of God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:8; Colossians 2:12).
(Ephesians 2:8-10) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
(Colossians 2:12) “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Faith is something we must exercise. And the faith we exercise is our faith. But it is the gift of God! It is something God works in us (Philippians 1:29).
(Philippians 1:29) “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”
5. Spiritual understanding is the gift of God the Holy Spirit, granted to every true believer (1 John 2:20-27; 5:20).
(1 John 2:20-27) “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (21) I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. (22) Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. (23) Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. (24) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (25) And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (26) These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. (27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
(1 John 5:20) “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
Spiritual understanding has nothing to do with I.Q, or mental aptitude, or education. All who are taught of God are well taught and have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:9-14).
6. Good works, which we must be careful to maintain, are the result not of creature effort and diligent reformation, but of God’s purpose and grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 2:11-14).
(Philippians 2:12-13) “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
(Titus 2:11-14) “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
7. All works of service to Christ and his church are the results of God’s purpose and grace and the gifts of his Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:10).
(1 Corinthians 15:10) “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
Illustration: Paul, Apollos, and Peter
8. Inward grace is the fruit of God the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
(Galatians 5:22-23) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
9. Perseverance in faith is the result of our being preserved by God’s grace (Malachi 3:6; 1 Peter 1:5).
10. Even prayer is found in the heart only when God puts it there (2 Samuel 7:27).
Whatever aspect of salvation you look at, if you consider it as it is revealed in this Book, you must confess, “Salvation is of the Lord!” Completely! In its entirety! (1 Corinthians 1:30).
The Reason
Why has the Lord God wrought all our works in us? We should never ask why God does anything, or why he does anything the way he does, unless he has given us the answer. Regarding this question, God has given us three clear answers, as to why he has wrought all our works in us.
1. Had God not wrought all our works in us we never could have been saved (Ephesians 2:1-4).
(Ephesians 2:1-7) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: (2) Wherein in time past ye 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: (3) 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. (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
2. The Lord God has wrought all our works in us so that our salvation might be effectually and securely accomplished. — Were anything left up to us, we would perish. But this is God’s work. It is forever. – “My salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished” (Isaiah 51:6; Ecclesiastes 3:14).
(Ecclesiastes 3:14) “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
3. The Lord God wrought all our works in us so that he alone might have all the praise for all our salvation (1 Corinthians 1:29-31; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:7).
(1 Corinthians 1:31) “That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
(Ephesians 2:7) “That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
A Question
I have been talking to you about a God wrought salvation. Now I have one more question to consider. I hope you will consider it with me. – Is my salvation a God wrought salvation? Is my salvation something I have done, something I have been talked into, something produced by the flesh; or is it a God wrought salvation? This much I know…
1. God wrought salvation puts a new nature in a person. – (“Christ in you” 2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4).
Illustration: The Warfare (Romans 7:14-24).
2. A God wrought salvation produces an increasing abhorrence of self (Job 42:6).
(Job 42:5-6) “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. (6) Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Illustration: The Publican (Luke 18).
Pastor Henry Mahan wrote, — “The first thing the Holy Spirit does when He comes into a person’s heart is this: He finds that person with a very good opinion of himself. And there is nothing which prevents a person coming to Christ like a good opinion of himself. The Holy Spirit must lay bare that heart and let him see the loathsome disease of sin, uncover to him all the evil and defilement of the human heart. — ‘The heart is deceitful above all and desperately wicked; who can know it?’ But it must be known before the sinner will fall at the feet of Christ and cry, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner.’ Actually, the Spirit of God not only reveals the corruptions of our evil deeds, but the corruptions of our best deeds, until the convicted sinner weeps with Wesley and says, ‘Depths of mercy, can there be, Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear, — Me the chief of sinners spare?’”
3. A God wrought salvation renounces all creature confidence and looks to Christ alone (Isaiah 45:22; 1 Corinthians 1:30).
4. And a God wrought salvation causes a person to truly love the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 16:22; 1 John 4:19). — To love Christ is to seek perfect, perpetual — Communion with Him! — Commitment to Him! — Conformity to Him! — And to love Christ is to love his people!
(1 John 3:16) “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
Amen.
Don Fortner
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