GRACE FOR TODAY
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
“Hope Toward God…” Acts 24:14-16
When
confronted by reprobate religious men, the apostle Paul did not back up an
inch. He knew nothing of cowardice or compromise. Being concerned more for the
souls of men, the glory of God, and the gospel of his grace than for his own
well being, this faithful servant of God stood firm. Pointing to his accusers,
knowing that it might cost him his very life, he said…
“This I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy,
so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in
the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves
also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just
and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void
of offence toward God, and toward men.”
If
you and I would have hope toward God, we must worship the one true and living
God, whom Paul worshipped, and we must worship him as Paul worshipped him.
We
must worship the God of our fathers, “believing all things which are written in
the law and in the prophets.” I bow to the Word of God. There are many
good creeds, confessions, and catechisms written by men, clearly setting forth
the gospel of the grace of God; but I do not pen my faith to the writings of
any man, or any group of men, no matter how much I may admire them. The Word of
God alone is my rule of faith and practice. I bow my will and my reason, my
experience and my feelings, to the Word of God. I do not understand all that is
written in the Scriptures; but I believe it all. I bow to the authority of Holy
Scripture. I do so unreservedly. Let me call it bigotry, ignorance, or whatever
they may, I am not even open to the consideration of any thought, idea, or
evidence which contradicts the Book of God.
Believing
all things written in the Word of God, I
“have hope toward God.” Living in
the prospect of eternity, in the face of eternity, the resurrection of the
dead, and the great white throne judgment, I have hope toward God because, “after the way which they call heresy, so
worship I the God of my fathers…”
1.
As A Sinner. I am convinced of my sin. I
am a sinner by birth, by nature, by choice, and by practice (John 16:8-11; Ps.
51:5; 58:3; Rom. 3:9-19; 5:12).
2.
As A Sinner Chosen Of God (Eph. 1:3-6; Gal. 1:15-16; 2
Thess. 2:13-14).
3.
As A Sinner Redeemed By The
Precious Blood Of Christ (Gal. 2:20-21). The Son of God purchased me, atoned for all my sins,
and made me righteous by his obedience to God as my Representative and
Substitute, obedience even unto death!
4.
As A Sinner Saved By God’s
Irresistible Grace (Ps. 65:4; Eph. 2:1-10). I am saved by the grace of God alone. “By the grace of God I am what I am.” It
was God the Holy Spirit who sought me out when I would not seek him, came to
where I was when I could not come to him, called by almighty grace when I
refused to call to him, raised me from the dead when I had no desire to be
raised from the dead, and loosed me when I loved my bondage.
5.
As A Sinner Sealed And
Preserved By His Grace (John 10:27-30; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 1 Pet. 1:5). Grace put me in the
way. Grace leads me in the way. And grace keeps me in the way. I am kept in the
hands of Christ my covenant Surety and good Shepherd., kept by the seal of God
the Holy Spirit, and kept in the hands of God my Father, kept in the omnipotent
hands of the triune God, and none can pluck me from those hands!
6.
As A Sinner Living In Hope
Of The Resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13-18). I do not know when Christ shall appear; but I do
know that soon my Lord Jesus will come in power and great glory. When he does,
he will raise me up, transform me into his glory, and bring me into his
glorious kingdom in the perfection of beauty which he has put upon me, by which
I am worthy to take possession of the inheritance of the sons of God!
7.
As A Sinner Exercising
Myself To Have A Good Conscience (Acts 24:16). Walking before God, trusting Christ
alone as my Savior, I strive always to have a good conscience before God (Col.
2:6), seeking his will, endeavoring to honor him, serving his people. I also
strive to have a conscience void of offence toward men, living honestly and
showing mercy. Grace makes men both honest and gracious.
I
put before you the same ultimatum that God’s servant Elijah put before Israel
on Mt. Carmel. The issues are exactly the same. “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow
him: but if Baal (the god of your own making), then follow him.” Regardless of what you do I avow with Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”