ÒThese Things I will that Thou Affirm ConstantlyÓ (Titus 3:8)

 

Here are six facts plainly revealed in the Gospel of God that I am determined to preach relentlessly as long as God gives me breath to preach. These six things I urge every Gospel preacher to affirm constantly. And when the Lord has graciously laid my body in the dust, Òthese things I will that thou affirm constantly.Ó

 

1. All men and women by nature, since the fall of our father Adam, are sinners, alienated from God. — ÒAll have sinned and come short of the glory of GodÓ (Romans 3:23). As sinners, we are alienated from the life of God and have become enemies unto God. The wages of our sin and enmity to God is death. Every transgression must receive its just recompense of reward (Hebrews 2:2). All sin must be punished, either in the sinner, or in the sinnerÕs Substitute. The law, being broken, accuses of sin, condemns the sinner, and demands death. Unless satisfaction is made, the sentence of the law must be executed. The sanction of the law is death. It can never be abrogated, changed, altered, or abated. God will never relax his justice. — ÒThe soul that sinneth, it shall die!Ó (Ezekiel 18:2). — ButÉ

 

2. It is the will of God to save sinners. — ÒHe delighteth in mercy!Ó God has decreed the salvation of some. Christ came to save some. There are some people in this world who must and shall be saved, because it is the will of God to save them; and GodÕs will cannot be frustrated (John 10:16). Every chosen sinner (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14), every predestined son (Romans 8:29-30), every heir of the covenant (Ephesians 1:3-7), everyone whose name was written in the LambÕs Book of Life, from the foundation of the world, must be saved (Revelation 13:8). There is no possibility that even one of GodÕs elect will perish! — HoweverÉ

 

3. It is impossible for a holy and just God to save any sinner apart from the satisfaction of justice (Hebrews 9:22). He declares, ÒI will by no means clear the guiltyÓ (Exodus 34:7). I know that God is omnipotent, almighty, and sovereign. He does what He will! But God cannot do that which is contrary to His nature and character. We do not rob God of His sovereignty when we repeat the declaration of Scripture and say, ÒGod cannot lie.Ó He who is the Truth cannot lie! Neither do we rob God of His sovereignty when we assert this truth of Holy Scripture: — God cannot forgive sin without the satisfaction of justice. The just, holy, and true God must punish sin.

 

4. The only way the justice of God could ever be satisfied is by the substitutionary sacrifice of His Own dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Job 34:23; Romans 3:24-26). God could not die, and man could not satisfy; but the God-man both died and satisfied. Two facts demonstrate clearly that there was no other way for justice to be satisfied. 1st The love of God the Father for his Son proves it. Would God almighty slay His darling Son, if there were any other way consistent with His justice to save His people? And, 2nd The prayer of Christ in Gethsemane proves it (Matthew 26:39). If the salvation of His people could be accomplished by any means other than His death upon the cross, would not God the Father have granted His tormented Son the desire of his soul?

 

5. It is impossible for God in His holiness to punish any sinner for whose sins justice has been satisfied by the blood of Christ (Isaiah 53:11; Romans 7:4).  The law has no claim upon an executed felon! ÒPayment God cannot twice demand, first at my bleeding SuretyÕs hand, and then again at mine!Ó

 

6. Every sinner who trusts the Lord Jesus Christ has been chosen, redeemed, and called, and must be forever saved. It is written in the Book of God, ÒBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be savedÓ (Acts 16:31). May God the Holy Spirit now enable you by His sovereign grace to trust the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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