Sermon #37                                                               Series: Mark

 

          Title:           “JESUS ONLY”

          Text:           Mark 9:8

          Readings:  Office: James Jordan Auditorium: Merle Hart

          Subject:     Christ is everything to the believer.

Date:          Sunday Evening - December 14, 1997

          Tape #       U-36

 

          Introduction:

 

          Peter, James, and John were with the Lord Jesus in the mount of transfiguration. They saw him transfigured before their very eyes. I cannot tell you what that vision was like. All I know is this - It was a dazzling display of our Savior’s incomparable glory as God incarnate, the only Mediator between God and men.

 

          After this, Moses and Elijah appeared in the mount with them. They were talking to the Lord Jesus about his death which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. All this was just too much for Bro. Peter. He simply could not contain himself. He blurted out a very zealous, though ignorant suggestion. He asked the Lord for permission to build three tabernacles, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for the Master.

 

          Immediately, Moses and Elijah vanished. The Lord God spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5).  When these disciples saw Christ in his glory and heard this voice from heaven, overwhelmed by the awesome presence of the Lord God almighty, they fell to the ground. They were terrified. That is always what happens when a sinner finds himself manifestly in the presence of God (Job - Manoah - Isaiah - John).

 

Let me once again borrow from Matthew’s account. Then, after they were fallen to the ground in utter consternation, when they realized who and what they were before the holy Lord God, Matthew tells us in chapter seventeen, verse seven…

 

·        “Jesus came.”

·        “And touched them.”

·        “And said unto them, Arise, and be not afraid.”

 

Mark 9:8  "And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves."

 

          Tonight I pray that God the Holy Spirit will graciously grant each of us eyes for Christ. I want us to see Jesus, but more. I want us to see “Jesus Only”. This much I know…

 

·        When the holy law of God is both honored and silence, and you look up to see the One whose obedience has honored it and whose blood has silenced it, you will see no man, save “Jesus only”.

 

·        The visions of the prophets, their predictions and their promises are fulfilled in “Jesus only”.

 

·        This blessed Book has been written to reveal “Jesus only”.

 

          Tonight, we have come together in our great Redeemer’s name to worship him. We have gathered once more around his remembrance table. We have come here with the desire, expectation, and hope of once more seeing, hearing, and worshipping “Jesus only”. I have nothing to preach to you tonight, save “Jesus only”. I want you to think of nothing and no one, save “Jesus only”. I want to honor no one, save “Jesus only.”

 

Proposition:      The Lord Jesus Christ alone is the source of comfort, strength, and hope for his people. We must look to Jesus only!

 

Divisions:          I am not going to do much preaching tonight. I just want, by the Spirit of God, to lead your hearts in meditating upon our all glorious Savior - “JESUS ONLY”. I want to show you once more that Jesus only is…

 

1.   Our God.

2.   Our Savior.

3.   Our Lord.

4.   Our Rule Of Life.

5.   Our Hope Before God.

6.   Our Everlasting Reward.

 

I.      JESUS ONLY IS OUR GOD.

 

          You realize, of course, that I do not mean to deny the other persons of the holy Trinity by that statement. We recognize that the Father and the Spirit are God, as well as the Son (1 John 5:7). All three persons in the Godhead are involved in the salvation of our souls (Eph. 1:3-14).

 

          However, I do mean for you to understand that all the God we shall ever see and know, and the only way we can see him and know him, in this world and in the world to come, is in the blessed person of the God-man, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Looking on him, we say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God” (John 1:1-3, 18).

 

John 1:1-3  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

 

John 1:18  "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

 

          All the fulness of the triune God is in the man Christ Jesus (Col. 2:9). He is God manifest in the flesh.

 

II.   JESUS ONLY IS OUR SAVIOR.

 

Matthew 1:21  "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

 

Acts 4:12  "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

 

          In the matter of salvation the Lord Jesus Christ stands entirely alone. We put no trust in ourselves, in anything we have done, in anything we have felt or experienced, nor in anything done to us in the exercise of religious ceremony. We trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Gal. 5:2, 4).

 

Galatians 5:2  "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."

 

Galatians 5:4  "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

 

A.  Christ alone is our Righteousness.

 

Jeremiah 23:6  "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

 

Jeremiah 33:16  "In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness."

 

Romans 3:24-26  "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

 

Romans 4:25  "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."

 

Romans 5:1-4  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:"

 

Hebrews 12:14  "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"

 

B.  Christ alone is our Redemption.

 

Galatians 3:13  "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

 

1 Peter 1:18-21  "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."

 

1 Peter 3:15  "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

 

C. Christ alone is our Sanctification.

 

Hebrews 10:10-14  "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

 

D. Christ alone is our Preservation.

 

2 Timothy 1:12  "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

 

Jude 1:24-25  "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen."

 

E.  Christ alone shall be our Glorification.

 

Psalms 16:9-11  "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. (10) For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (11) Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

 

          In this affair of salvation, “Christ is All”. There is no room for the flesh to boast or glory before God in any way.

 

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

 

III. JESUS ONLY IS OUR LORD AND MASTER.

 

2 Peter 1:2  "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,"

 

          That man who died for us at Calvary is now seated upon the throne of the universe as the sovereign Monarch over all creation.

 

John 17:1-4  "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (4) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

 

2 Peter 2:1  "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

 

          He is the Ruler, the sovereign Despot of the universe, in whose hands are all things. Yet, this great Monarch is the Lord of all believers, the great, gracious, and good King before whom we gladly bow.

 

A.  True faith voluntarily surrenders all things to the dominion of Christ  (Luke 14:25-33; Mk. 8:34-38).

 

B.  True faith bows to and trusts Christ’s providential rule. We bow to him as he bowed to the Father and say, “Thy will be done”.

 

C. True faith is obedient to Christ.

 

·        Obedient to His Word.

·        Obedient to His Ordinances.

·        Obedient to His Spirit.

·        Obedient to His Will.

 

IV. JESUS ONLY IS OUR RULE OF LIFE.

 

          Believers are not slaves under the dominion of the law. Read the Book of Galatians one more time, and understand that the children of God are not, in any sense, to any degree, for any reason under the law. The law was our school master to bring us to Christ.

 

          We are the children of God. We walk in the path of our Elder Brother because we love him and seek to honor him. Believers follow his example, as he told us we should.

 

John 13:15  "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you."

 

          Our rule of life is twofold. It involves only two motivating forces by which we are governed in all things. And these two motivating forces are the two most powerful forces known to man.

 

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.  The believer’s rule of life is faith in Christ.

 

B.  The believer’s rule of life is the love of Christ.

 

·        His Love For Us.

·        Our Love For Him.

·        Both are reflected in our love for one another.

 

V.  JESUS ONLY IS OUR HOPE BEFORE GOD.

 

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay!

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand!”

 

A.  Christ alone is my assurance and peace. - “Happy Jack!”

 

B.  Christ alone is my plea before God.

 

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."

 

C. Christ alone can and shall present me faultless before the presence of his glory in the day of judgment.

 

Colossians 1:21-23  "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled (22) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"

 

                   Illustration: Rowland Hill’s Dream

 

Bold shall I stand in that great day,

For who aught to my charge shall lay,

While through thy blood absolved I am

From sin’s tremendous guilt and blame?”

 

VI. JESUS ONLY IS AND SHALL FOREVER BE OUR REWARD IN HEAVEN.

 

Psalms 73:25-26  "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

 

          In heaven’s eternal glory I want nothing and hope for nothing but Christ himself. He alone is the crown sought and the everlasting beauty I desire before God.

 

Isaiah 28:5  "In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people."

 

A.  Soon, we shall see his face!

 

Revelation 22:4  "And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."

 

B.  When we see him, we shall be like him.

 

1 John 3:1-2  "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

 

C. When we see him and are conformed to him, we shall be perfectly and fully satisfied with him.

 

Revelation 21:1-4  "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. (4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

 

          Yet, there is more. This last thing I have to say is the most astounding thing in the world.

 

D. Our most glorious Christ is going to be fully satisfied with us!

 

Isaiah 53:11  "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."

 

·        Satisfied With His Purchase.

·        Satisfied With Our Love.

·        Satisfied With Our Praise.

·        Satisfied With Our Presence!

 

Application:

 

Colossians 3:1-3  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

 

Philippians 3:8-14  "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

 

          I pray that God the Holy Spirit will grant to you eyes of faith with which to behold “JESUS ONLY” as…

 

·        Your God.

·        Your Savior.

·        Your Lord.

·        Your Rule of Life.

·        Your Hope before God.

·        Your Reward in Heaven.

 

                                                          AMEN.