Sermon #03                                               Zechariah Series

 

Title:           What does God require of me?

Text:           Zechariah 1:3

Subject:      The Gospel’s Commandment

Date:          Sunday Morning — May 15, 2005

Tape #        Zechariah #3

 

Reading: 1 John 5:1-15

 

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

 

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

 

14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.


 

Introduction

 

A preacher ought to always have a determined purpose in preaching a message. He ought to always preach for a specific reason, hoping to accomplish specific things. I have five goals, five things I greatly desire to accomplish in preaching this message.

 

1.    I want to honor and bring glory to my God.

2.    I want to show you who are yet under the wrath of God the way of life and salvation in Christ.

3.    I want to instruct you all in Gospel truth, in the doctrine of Holy Scripture.

4.    I want to comfort you who trust Christ and give you assurance from the Word of God by which you can face your daily trials.

5.    I want to inspire you who believe to greater love for and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I have, I believe, just the message that is needed to accomplish these five goals, if God the Holy Spirit will speak through these lips of clay to your hearts, for Christ’s sake. The title of my message is What does God require of me? Our text will be Zechariah 1:3.

 

(Zechariah 1:3)  “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

 

I presume that you are here because you have some interest in your immortal soul, some interest in knowing God, some interest in eternal matters, because you have some interest is what the Word of God calls “salvation.” You want to know the answer to this question — “What does God require of me?” Does he require that I…

·       Go to church?

·       Get baptized?

·       Reform my life?

·       Start serving the Lord?

·       Obey the law?

“What does God require of me?” That is the question I hope to answer for you from God’s own Word in this message. Do I have your attention? Are you listening. This is the one thing God requires of you. — “Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts.

 

This word from our God — “Turn ye unto me,” is not merely an offer of mercy, or merely an invitation of grace. It is a command from God to you and me. The verb “Turn” is in the imperative mood, indicating an order or a command.

 

Let me give some parallel passages. As I read these sweet, gracious, gospel calls to you, understand that in every case, the verbs used by our God, by which he sweetly calls sinners to repentance and faith in Christ are, like the word “Turn” in our text, in the imperative mood, indicating an order or a command, an order or command from the triune God to lost, ruined, straying sinners.

 

(Isaiah 45:22)  “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

 

(Isaiah 55:1)  “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

 

(Isaiah 55:6)  “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”

 

(Matthew 11:28)  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

 

(John 7:37)  “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

 

(Revelation 22:17)  “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

 

Now, look at our text again, comparing Zechariah 1:3 with 1 John 3:23, and you will see that the one thing God requires of you and me is that we trust his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(Zechariah 1:3)  “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

 

(1 John 3:23)  “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

 

Proposition: The one thing God requires of every sinner is repentance, that we turn unto him by faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The one issue between fallen man and the holy Lord God is his Son (John 3:18, 36; 6:27-29).

 

(John 3:18)  “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

 

(John 3:36)  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

 

(John 6:27-29)  “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

 

Not a Legal Work

 

Salvation is not a legal work, but a work of grace alone, received by faith alone, in Christ alone. That statement would be redundant, were it not for the fact that many (Indeed, most!) religious people have a foolish and deadly enchantment with the law of God.

 

In many houses of worship the ten commandments are written out in large, bold letters and hung on a wall in some conspicuous place for all to read.

·       There are some churches where every Sunday the congregation mournfully chants, “Lord have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep thy law.”

·       Some are even so foolish as to enter into a covenant for their children and vow before God that “They shall keep God’s holy commandments, and walk in them all the days of their lives.”

 

The pulpit, which should proclaim freedom and liberty in Christ, lays a heavy yoke of bondage upon men, which they cannot bear. Men and women are taught from their youth up to groan under the yoke of the law and to labor after righteousness at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where it can never be found.

 

If I had my way, wherever there is a plague hanging with the ten commandments, I would hang another, larger plague, inscribed with these words: — “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified.”

 

The Law’s Purpose

 

My friends, the law of God, the ten commandments, was never intended by God to produce righteousness of any kind, to justify sinners, or to be a rule of life for God’s people in this world. The law was given to convince us of our sin, to condemn us for sin, and to show us our need of a Substitute. Nothing else!

 

It was never intended to be a means of attaining righteousness. Just the opposite is true. The law was given to convince us of the impossibility of attaining righteousness by our own works. — “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Gal. 3:10).

 

Will men ever learn the difference between the law and the gospel? I doubt it. Preachers make a mixture of the law and the gospel and serve out the deadly poison with such regularity that the people are so stupefied that they do not know the difference. In most places, for every ounce of gospel there is a pound of law! Churches all over the world preach up works, declaring either that you are justified by works, or that you are sanctified by works. Read your newspaper today, and you will see the result. This world of freewill/works religion has spawned a generation of godless, immoral, reprobates who vainly imagine that they have God in their hip-pocket and that eternal salvation is theirs because they have done something for God.

 

If the message of the pulpit is not all gospel, all mercy, all grace, all Christ there is no soundness in it.

 

If God will enable me to preach today, I want to turn you entirely away from yourself, and so lift up Jesus Christ before you in his redemptive, saving glory that you cannot help looking to him alone and trusting him alone to save you.

 

I do not ask you to produce any obedience whatsoever to the law of God. I am calling upon you to trust the obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ, the sinner’s Substitute. I do not set before you the commandments of the law, or the commandment of churches. Rather, I set before you this day the blessed commandment of the gospel, God’s sweet commandment. — “Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of Hosts.” — “This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.” This is the one commandment you must obey. And if you obey this commandment you will live forever, for the Lord of host has sworn, “and I will turn unto you!

 

The one thing God requires of every sinner is faith in his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” That is the one issue that must be settled. — “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?

 

Divisions: I want you to be saved by the grace of God. And I know that the only way you can be saved is by obeying this commandment of God. You must believe on his Son, Jesus Christ. I want you to listen carefully as I tell you six things about faith in Christ. May God the Holy Spirit give you ears to hear.

 

1.    In order to be saved you must believe on the Son of God.

2.    Faith in Christ is a gift of God.

3.    There are no pre-requisites, conditions, or qualifications you must meet before you can trust Christ.

4.    God commands you to trust his Son.

5.    If you, this day, turn to God, trusting his darling Son, the Lord God will turn to you in everlasting mercy.

6.    Through faith in Christ we fulfil the law of God.

 

Trust Christ

 

I.       In order to be saved you must believe on the Son of God. — You must turn to God, trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Spurgeon said, “That faith which saves the soul is believing on a Person, depending upon Jesus Christ for eternal life.” Saving faith is not consent to a proposition, but commitment to a person. We are not saved by believing certain religious dogma, no matter how true and orthodox the dogma is. We are not saved by believing certain facts about the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, no matter how accurately those facts may be perceived. We are saved by believing a Person.

 

(John 17:3)  “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

 

(Hebrews 11:6)  “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

 

Look at 1 John 3:23. Here the Holy Spirit tells us three specific things that we must believe about the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(1 John 3:23)  “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

 

A.   We must believe that Jesus Christ is God the Son. — “This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son.”

 

No one will ever trust Christ as his Lord and Savior until he is convinced in his heart that Christ is God. Those who deny the Godhood of our Savior are infidels. Their religion is blasphemy.

 

·       Jesus Christ our Savior is God (Isa. 9:6; Rom. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:16).

 

(Isaiah 9:6)  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

 

(Romans 9:5)  “Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”

 

(1 Timothy 3:16)  “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

 

·       No one but God himself can forgive us of our sins and save us.

 

B.   We must believe that he who is God the eternal Son is also “Jesus,” the Savior.

 

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became man that he might save men. Because of his great love for sinners, the Son of God came into this world as a real man to save us (2 Cor. 8:9; 1 Tim. 1:15). He who is the sinner’s Substitute must be both God and man in one glorious Person.

 

·       Only man could suffer.

·       Only God could satisfy.

 

C.   Believing that Jesus is both God and man, we must trust him as the Christ.

 

The title “Christ” means “Anointed One.” He is the one ordained, anointed, and sent of the Father into this world on an errand of mercy. God sent his Son into this world, not to make it possible for sinners to save themselves, but that he might save sinners. It is his responsibility as the Christ of God to bring many sons to glory. We must believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having come into this world to save sinners, has fully accomplished his mission.

 

1.    Faith trusts the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 5:19).

 

(Romans 5:19)  “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

 

His obedience to the law as a man fully satisfies the requirements of the law for all his people.

 

2.    Faith trusts the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:12).

 

We heartily rejoice in the doctrine of the atonement. Christ, by dying in the room, place, and stead of sinful men, bore the terror and curse of the law until justice itself was satisfied and demanded no more. Faith sees and relies upon the fact that Christ, by his one great sacrifice for sin, has put away all the sins of his people (Heb. 9:26; 1 John 1:9).

 

(Hebrews 9:26)  “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

 

(1 John 1:9)  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

3.    Faith trusts the intercession of Christ (Heb. 7:25; 1 John 2:1-2).

 

(Hebrews 7:25)  “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

 

(1 John 2:1-2)  “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

 

We rest our souls upon the fact that God our Father will not and cannot refuse the prayer of his Son (John 17:20).

 

Note: Faith is something more than simply believing the truthfulness of these things. Faith is acting upon God’s revelation. Faith is trusting Christ, relying upon him.

 

     Illustration:   The Chicago Fire

                             The Brazen Serpent

 

I am calling upon you to believe God, to trust his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

God’s Gift

 

II.    In order to be saved you must believe on the Son of God. But be sure you understand this ¾ Faith in Christ is the gift of God.

 

Faith in Christ is not hereditary. Faith in Christ cannot be produced by human logic or religious atmosphere. Faith in Christ is not the result of providential judgment or even the terror of eternal damnation. Saving faith, true, heart faith in Christ is produced in the hearts of men by the gracious operation of God the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:19; 2:8-9; Col. 2:12).

 

(Ephesians 1:19)  “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

 

(Ephesians 2:8-9)  “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.”

 

(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.”

 

In order for a sinner to trust the Lord Jesus Christ three things have got to happen.

 

1.       You must hear the gospel. — No man will ever trust Christ until he hears the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 10:13-17).

 

(Romans 10:13-17)  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

 

2.    You must be born again. — No man will ever trust the Lord Jesus Christ until he is regenerated, born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3-8).

 

(John 3:3-8)  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? (5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

 

3.    Christ must be revealed in you. — No sinner will ever trust the Son of God until he is revealed in his heart by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 4:6).

 

(2 Corinthians 4:6)  “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

 

(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:”

 

Faith in Christ is produced by the revelation of Christ in the heart. As soon as a man sees Christ he will trust Christ.

 

     Illustration:   Job – “Now mine eye seeth thee”

                             Paul on the Damascus Road

 

No Prerequisites

 

III. You must believe on Christ. Faith in Christ is the gift of God. Third, and perhaps of all that I say today this is the most important thing you will hear ¾ There are no prerequisites, conditions, or qualifications you must meet before you can trust Christ.

 

Self-righteousness is like a pesky mole. Drive it out of one hole, and it will quickly find another. We have perhaps driven it out of the den of good works as a ground of hope before God. But it has found another hiding place. These dens of darkness have many names: “Fitness for Faith,” “Conditions of Conversion,” Suitability for Salvation,” and “Qualifications for Grace.” No matter what name you use, it is the same. The reasoning is this: “Salvation is by grace alone. It is not what you do, but what Christ has done that saves you. But, before you can trust Christ and be saved, you must be terrified with conviction, or you must weep and mourn over your sin, or you must desire holiness, or you must repent, or you must long after Christ, or you must come to see yourself as a lost sinner, or you must see and understand the doctrine of the gospel.”

 

This kind of doctrine may sound good to many, but it is only a round-a-bout way of preaching works salvation and mixing law and grace. Anything that is placed between the sinner and Christ as a condition or qualification for faith is works.

 

The gospel of Christ is addressed to sinners as sinners. “This is his commandment, that we should believe on his Son Jesus Christ.” There are no qualifications or conditions to be met. Christ died for sinners. God saves sinners. The gospel is for sinners ¾ Not awakened sinners ¾ Not sensible sinners ¾ Not convicted sinners ¾ Not lost sinners ¾ Not repentant sinners ¾ Just sinners!

 

Note: The moment a man places any condition or qualification of any kind upon the sinner before he can trust Christ and be saved, he ceases to preach a gospel of pure grace.

 

Perhaps you are asking, “Bro. Fortner, what can be wrong with using whatever means we can to make men know their desperately sinful condition, and thereby making them sense their need of Christ?”

 

Seven Evils

 

Let me show you seven evils of preaching conditional faith.

 

A.   It reverses God’s order.

 

Repentance, conviction of sin, and lamentation over sin are not pre-requisites for coming to Christ and trusting him. These things do not precede faith. They are the results of faith (Zech. 12:10; John 16:7-14).

 

(Zechariah 12:10)  “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

 

(John 16:7-14)  “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) 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.”

 

B.   It makes our experience, rather than the finished work of Christ the basis of our hope before God.

 

Illustration: The Letter — “I know that I am a child of God because 21 years ago, (on a certain day), I came to see that I was a lost sinner, and I trusted Christ.”

 

C.   It keeps men and women from trusting Christ.

 

Conditional faith provides men with a place of refuge short of Christ himself.

 

Illustration: “I am a lost sinner, but I am seeking the Lord.”

 

D.  It gives sinners some ground of boasting before God.

 

Illustration: “God saved me by his grace, but I came to see my lost condition. I repented. I was in great lamentation over my sin.”

 

E.   It forbids any real assurance for God’s elect.

 

If true faith in Christ comes only after repentance, conviction of sin, a great sense of sin, or any other condition, then I must always be plagued with questions like these:

 

·       Have I repented enough?

·       Have I been convicted enough?

·       Did I really sense my sinfulness enough?

·       Did I know enough?

 

F.    It offers no immediate hope to perishing sinners.

 

The gospel says, “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The gospel says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” But these preachers of conditional faith say ¾

 

·       After you feel your sin, believe.

·       After your heart is melted, harden not your heart.

·       If you really know your lost condition and your guilt, you shall be saved.

 

IllustrationsThe Dying Thief

                        The Philippian Jailor

                        “Happy Jack

 

Happy Jack

The Poor Huckster

 

There was once a poor man, a huckster, who used to go round on country villages selling his goods. This poor creature, in going round on his journeys, heard some women singing a little chorus. It went like this…

 

“I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

 

Jack said to himself, “that sure suits me.” So he started to hum the tune to himself, as he walked along. By God’s grace, in time, the words of the little chorus worked their way into the poor huckster’s heart.

 

After some time he was converted, gave up his swearing and drinking, and began to attend church regularly. Finally, he made up his mind to publicly confess his faith in Christ and join the church. So he went to see the pastor. The pastor asked him, “What can you say for yourself?” “Not much,” Jack replied, “only this…

 

‘I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.’”

 

“You must tell me more than that,” the pastor said. — “No, I can’t,” Jack answered, “for that is all I know. That’s my confession of faith.”

 

“Well,” the pastor said, “I cannot refuse you church fellowship, but you will have to come before the elders and deacons. They will have to see you and judge you.”

 

At the appointed time the poor huckster met with the elders and deacons. They wanted to see if they could find some fault with him. Being asked to stand and state his experience, Jack simply said…

 

“I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

 

One of the old men said, “Is that all you have to say?” — “Yes, that’s all,” he answered. The pastor said, “You may ask him some questions, if you wish.” So another man spoke up. “Brother Jack, Do you have many doubts and fears?”

 

“No,” Jack answered, “I can never doubt that I am a poor sinner and nothing at all, for I know that I am. And I can never doubt that Jesus Christ is my all in all, for he says he is. How can I doubt that?”

 

Then another man said, “But sometimes I lose my evidences and my graces, and then I get very sad.” — “Oh,” Jack said, “I can never lose anything, for, in the first place, I am a poor sinner and nothing at all. No one can rob me if I am nothing. And in the second place, Jesus Christ is my all in all. And who can rob him? He is in heaven. I never get richer or poorer, for I am always nothing, but I always have everything.”

 

Then another asked, “But, my dear friend, Jack, Don’t you sometimes doubt whether you are a child of God?” — “Well, “ he said, “I don’t quite understand your question. But I can tell you I never doubt but that I am a poor sinner and nothing at all and that Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

 

They were astonished at Jack’s simple, constant composure. They had a world of doubts and fears When they asked him why he never doubted, he just said, “I can’t doubt but that I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all, for I know that, and feel it every day. And why should I doubt that Jesus Christ is my all in all? for he says he is.” “Oh!” said one, “I have my ups and downs.” “I don’t,” said Jack; “I can never go up, for in myself I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all; and I cannot go down, for Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

 

They admitted Jack into the church, and he continued all the days of his life with this simple confession….

 

“I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all,

But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”

 

That was all his all his experience, and you could not get him beyond it. “Why,” said one brother, “I sometimes feel so full of grace, I feel so advanced in sanctification, that I begin to be very happy.” “I never do,” said Jack; “I am a poor sinner, and nothing at all.” “But then,” said the other, “I go down again, and think I am not saved, because I am not as sanctified as I used to be.” “But I never doubt my salvation,” said Jack, “because Jesus Christ is my all in all, and He never alters.” Ever after, the poor huckster was called. “Happy Jack,” because of his happiness in faith. Happy Jack’s simple story is beautifully instructive. It sets forth a picture of plain simple, clear faith in a Christ. It exemplifies adherence to Paul’s admonition in Colossians 2:6. — “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.

 

G.  The teaching of conditional faith promotes an arrogant and judgmental attitude toward the people of God.

 

If believers must meet certain standards and prerequisites in order for their faith to be true faith, we must make our acceptance of a brother dependent upon his experience, rather than upon his faith in Christ. And the only standard by which we may judge another man’s experience is our own.

 

          Illustration: Barnard and Shelton’s Secretary

 

M’Cheyne said, “We must not close with Christ because we feel him, but because God has said it, and we must take God’s Word even in the dark.”

 

Spurgeon wrote, “All that is of nature’s spinning must be unraveled, and everything that getteth into Christ’s place, however dear to thee, and however precious in itself, must be broken in pieces, and like the dust of the golden calf, must be scattered upon the water, and thou wilt be made to sorrowfully drink of it, because thou madest it thy trust.”

 

God’s Command

 

IV.           Fourth, I want you to see f that God commands us to trust his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ ¾ “Turn ye unto me!” “Look unto me!” — “Come unto me!” — “This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son.”

 

The basis, the motive, and the reason for faith is not our deep conviction of sin, our great remorse over guilt, or our fear of eternal ruin. Stop looking for those things, and look to Christ. You must believe because God said, “Believe.”

 

A.   If God commands me to do something, I am responsible to do it.

 

·       An invitation may be accepted or rejected without fear of offending.

·       A command must be obeyed.

 

B.   If God commands you to do something, you can be assured that you have the right and privilege of doing it.

 

Illustration: It was right for Israel to borrow the jewels of the Egyptians, because God commanded it.

 

You may come to Christ. You may trust Christ. You may believe on the Lord Jesus Christ ¾ because God himself commands you to do so.

 

C.   The greatest evil you can commit in this world is to disobey the commandment of the gospel.

 

If you refuse to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, you spit in God’s face and call him a liar! (1 John 5:10). You are saying, “God almighty is a liar.”…

·       “I do not need a Savior.’

·       “The blood of Christ cannot wash away sin.”

·       “God will not save sinners.”

How foolish, how absurd it is to turn the good news of free grace salvation in Christ into a message of everlasting condemnation to your soul!

 

(1 John 5:10)  “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”

 

God’s Promise

 

V.  Fifth, I want so very much for you to understand this blessed fact that our great, gracious God declares. — If, this day, you turn to God, trusting his darling Son, the Lord God will turn to you in everlasting mercy. That is God’s promise in the gospel.

 

(Zechariah 1:3)  “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

 

(Isaiah 45:22)  “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

 

(Isaiah 55:1-3)  “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (2) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. (3) Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

 

(Isaiah 55:6-7)  “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

 

(Matthew 11:28-30)  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

(John 6:37)  “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

 

(John 7:37-38)  “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

 

(1 John 5:10-15)  “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (14) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (15) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

 

Fulfill the Law

 

VI.           Sixth, the Scriptures plainly tell us that, through faith in Christ we fulfil the law of God. Indeed, it is only by faith in Christ that we can and do fulfill the law.

 

A.   The whole purpose of God’s law is to drive sinners to Christ. When we trust Christ, we fulfil the law’s purpose (Gal. 3:24-25).

 

(Galatians 3:24-25)  “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

 

B.   The whole requirement of the law is fulfilled in that sinner who trusts Christ’s blood and righteousness (Rom. 3:31; 8:4; John 6:29).

 

(Romans 3:31)  “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

 

(Romans 8:1-4)  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

 

(Romans 10:3-4)  “They being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

 

(John 6:29)  “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

 

C.   The law requires righteousness.

 

D.  The law requires satisfaction (Ex. 13:2, 13; 2 Cor. 5:21).

 

(Exodus 13:2)  “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.”

 

(Exodus 13:13)  “And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.”

 

(2 Corinthians 5:21)  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

 

Application: Turn now to God, trusting his darling Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; and the Lord God will turn to you. Like the publican of whom our Lord speaks, cry out to him, “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” and, like that publican, you will go down to your house today justified!

 

(Isaiah 45:22)  “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

 

(Zechariah 1:3)  “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”

 

Come humble sinner, in whose breast

A thousand thoughts revolve;

Come with your guilt and fear oppressed,

And make this last resolve.

 

“I’ll go to Jesus, though my sins

Like mountains round me close;

I know his courts, I’ll enter in,

Whatever may oppose.

 

“Prostrate I’ll lie before his throne,

And there my guilt confess;

I’ll tell him I’m a wretch undone

Without his sovereign grace.”

 

I’ll to the gracious King approach,

Whose scepter pardon gives;

Perhaps He may command my touch,

And then the suppliant lives!

 

Perhaps He will admit my plea,

Perhaps will hear my prayer;

But if I perish, I will pray,

And perish only there.

 

I can but perish if I go,

I am resolved to try;

For if I stay away, I know,

I must forever die.

 

But if I die with mercy sought,

When I the King have tried,

This were to die (Delightful thought!) —

As sinner never died!”

 

Illustration: The Artist and the Beggar