Sermon #1438 Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: Grace and Glory

Text: Psalm 84:11

Subject: Grace and Glory Gifts of God

Date: Sunday Morning - November 26, 2000

Tape # W-11b

Reading: Psalm 84:1-12

Introduction:

When I received word early yesterday morning that the Lord took Linda home to glory, many, many things came to my mind. – The pain of her family. -- Many fond memories. – The last song we heard her sing. -- Her last words to me. – And numerous texts of Scripture.

(Jeremiah 12:5) "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

(John 11:25-26) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

(John 11:40) "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"

(2 Corinthians 5:1-8) "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [5] Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. [6] Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: [7] (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

(Psalms 116:15) "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."

(Revelation 7:9-17) "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; [10] And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. [11] And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, [12] Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. [13] And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? [14] And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [15] Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. [16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. [17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

(Revelation 14:13) "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

(Revelation 20:6) "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

(Revelation 21:4) "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."

(Revelation 22:1-5) "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. [2] In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. [3] And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: [4] And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. [5] And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

These and many other passages of Holy Scripture have been on my mind since I learned of Linda’s death – LIFE! But the one text which kept coming back to me again and again is Psalm 84:11. I want us to look at that text this morning.

(Psalms 84:11) "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."

The title of my message today is Grace and Glory. Our text declares, “The LORD will give grace and glory.” At the outset the Psalmist takes our minds away from ourselves and calls our attention to “The LORD,” Jehovah, our God and Savior. We must not look to ourselves in any measure for either grace here are glory hereafter. The Source of grace and glory is the Lord our God. The Security of grace and glory is the Lord God himself. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation. To him alone we must look for grace and glory.

“The LORD will give grace and glory.” That word “give” declares that neither grace nor glory can be earned, merited, or purchased by man in anyway. Our text puts us upon the footing of grace. God cannot be obliged by man to bestow his grace. And he cannot be obliged by man to bestow glory. Both grace and glory are the free gifts of God. And where he gives one he is sure to give the other.

Proposition: Grace and glory are inseparable gifts of God.

Grace and glory are the same thing. Grace is glory in the seed. Glory is grace in full bloom. Glory begins in grace. And grace is completed in glory. “Grace is glory begun, and glory is grace consummated. Grace is glory in the bud, and glory is grace in the fruits. Grace is the lowest degree of glory, and glory is the highest degree of grace” (Francis Burbitt).

Here are two great and marvelous gifts which God bestows upon fallen men in Christ, grace and glory. the first thing he gives is grace. The last thing he gives is glory.

I. FIRST OUR TEXT DECLARES THAT “THE LORD WILL GIVE GRACE.”

How we love that word “grace.” Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. In the life, experience and hope of the believer everything is of grace, from the beginning to the end. Every believer gladly confesses, “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

“Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.”

Read this promise in the boldest letters imaginable and rejoice. “The LORD will give grace!” The promise comes from God the Lord. The LORD God Almighty, the great Jehovah, the triune God will most certainly, by his own irresistible power, according to his own sovereign will, give, freely and irreversibly, grace.

A. To whom will the Lord give grace?

We know that he will give grace. It is asserted plainly. Someone is going to get grace from God. But who?

1. The Lord will give grace to his own elect (Rom. 9:15-16).

Grace belongs to God. It is his sovereign prerogative to give it to whom he will. And there are some among the fallen sons of men whom God has chosen to be the recipients of his grace (John 15:16; Matt. 11:25-27). And there is not one chosen in electing love before the foundation of the world to be a vessel of mercy who shall fail to receive that grace before passing out of this world.

2. The Lord will give grace to every sinner he redeemed by Christ’s precious blood.

Every sinner redeemed and purchased by Christ shall be his and shall obtain grace. Christ did not die for nothing! All whom he redeemed by blood shall have the grace of forgiveness (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). All whom he purchased shall have the grace of reconciliation (Col. 1:20). All for whom Christ was made a curse shall have the grace of free justification (Rom. 8:34; Gal. 3:13). All for whom Christ was made to be sin shall have the grace of righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). All for whom Christ died shall have the grace of eternal life (John 10:8, 27).

The redemption which Christ accomplished is an effectual redemption, which infallibly secures grace for all his redeemed ones. Not one of those whom Christ has redeemed from among men shall perish. Not one of his blood bought sheep shall be lost. Not one member of his body shall be ruined. Not one part of his bride, the church, shall be destroyed. Those whom Christ has redeemed shall most assuredly obtain grace (Eph. 5:25-27; John 10:16).

NOTE: God’s sovereign election and Christ’s effectual redemption inspire us to preach the gospel fervently to every creature, because we know that “the LORD will give grace” to his chosen, blood bought people (Isa. 53:9-11).

Illustration: Farmer -- Fisherman.

3. The Lord will give grace to every believing sinner.

We do not know who God’s elect are, or who Christ has redeemed, except as they believe the gospel. But we are assured by God that every believer is both elect and redeemed, because God promises grace to all who believe (Mk. 16:16; John 1:12-13; 3:14, 15, 36; Rom. 10:9-13).

The long and short of the gospel is this: If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, if you trust his precious blood alone for your salvation and eternal acceptance with God, he will give you grace. – Indeed, if you believe, he has already given you grace!

NOTE: I know that you cannot believe unless you have grace. But I also know that you cannot have grace unless you believe. And I know that if you believe “the Lord will give grace.”

B. What is this grace which God promises to give?

The text does not say, “The Lord will give some grace,” or “graces,” or “a grace.” But “the Lord will give grace.” The implication that wherever the Lord gives any grace he gives all grace. “The Lord will give...”

1. Regenerating Grace (Eph. 2:1-5).

2. Justifying Grace (Rom. 5:1-9).

3. Sanctifying Grace (Heb. 10:10-14).

4. Preserving Grace (Phil. 1:6).

5. Instructing Grace (John 16:13).

6. Directing Grace (Pro. 3:5-6).

7. Comforting Grace (John 16:7; Lam. 3:24-25).

(Lamentations 3:24-25) "The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. [25] The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."

8. Reviving Grace (Isa. 57:15).

(Isaiah 57:15) "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

9. Sufficient Grace (2 Cor. 12:9).

(2 Corinthians 12:9) "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

“He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.”

C. How does the Lord give us his grace?

1. God gives his grace to sinners mediatorially.

a. He gives his grace to us through Christ our Mediator.

b. He gives his grace to us through the use of means.

· Prayer.

· His Word.

· The ordinances.

2. God gives us his grace seasonably.

3. God gives us his grace readily.

4. God gives us his grace constantly.

“At home, or abroad, on the land and the sea,

As thy days shall demand shall thy strength ever be!”

Read this promise as broadly as you will. It is to you, child of God, in every condition and circumstance of life, “The Lord will give grace”...

· To Serve Him.

· To Suffer For Him.

· To Die In Him.

D. Who is it that will give grace?

How I want us all to see this. “The Lord will give grace!” Grace is the gift of God alone. You will not get grace...

· from yourself.

· from the church.

· from the priest.

· from the preacher.

· from the law.

If you would get grace you must get it from God alone. And the only way God gives grace is through Christ (John 1:16-17).

(John 1:14-17) "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [15] John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. [16] And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. [17] For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Look to Christ! Trust Christ! Believe Christ! Cling to Christ! Christ, “the Lord, will give grace!”

II. Secondly, our text promises, “THE LORD WILL GIVE GLORY.”

The text reads, “The Lord will give grace and glory.” That little, connecting word, “and,” is more precious than gold. It is an indestructible rivet, forever uniting grace and glory. There are many who seem determined to take the rivet out; but they cannot. The text does not say, “The Lord will give grace and perdition,” or “grace and purgatory,” but “The LORD will give grace and glory.” And the text does not promise glory without grace. You can no more have glory without grace than you can have grace without glory. The two are riveted together. And what God has joined together let no man put asunder.

If we have grace, we shall have glory too. God will not give one without the other. Grace is the bud. Glory is the flower. Grace is the fountain. Glory is the river. Grace is the firstfruit. Glory is the full harvest. If we have grace, we shall never perish, we shall have glory. But those who do not have grace here shall never have glory hereafter. It is not possible for any to be glorified who have not first been justified. You cannot reign with Christ in glory if Christ does not reign in you by grace. Grace and glory are inseparable gifts of God. “The LORD will give grace and glory.”

What is the glory that he shall give? I am fully aware that no puny, earthly brain can comprehend it. And certainly no heavy tongue of flesh can proclaim it (1 Cor. 2:9). But God has revealed something of the glory that awaits us, that our hearts may be drawn to it (1 Cor. 2:10).

(1 Corinthians 2:9-10) "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [10] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

Spirit of God, be our Teacher now, that we might learn what God has prepared for us in glory. Open our eyes, that we might see the glory that awaits us.

A. The glory we are to receive is the glory of heaven.

Having said that, I have said more than I comprehend. Whatever heaven is, God will give. It is a place of indescribable beauty. It is a state of indescribable bliss. Whatever may be meant by the figurative language that describes it, (the streets of pure gold, the gates of pearl, the walls of jasper, the crowns, the palms, the harps, the songs, the river of the water of life, the trees bearing fruit, the tree of life, all that these things describe, all that heaven is), all of heaven shall be ours forever! The Lord will give the perfection of glory without measure to all to whom he has given grace without measure. You and I who trust Christ shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the throne of Christ the Lamb in the kingdom of God.

B. The glory God will give is the glory of eternity.

Eternity! Who can define it? No one on earth can fathom the meaning of the word “eternity.” We always confound eternity with time. We speak of the “endless ages of eternity.” But there are no ages in eternity. Eternity will never pause, decline, or draw near to a conclusion. We will never grow weary of eternity. And we will never grow weary in eternity. Eternity is unchanging, unending bliss!

C. Moreover, the glory God will give his saints is the glory of Christ, our Mediator, Surety, and Covenant Head (Rom. 8:17; John 17:22).

(Romans 8:17) "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."

(John 17:22) "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"

Whatever that glory is which Christ has as our Mediator, as the reward of his perfect obedience to God, we shall have when we see him as he is in heaven! My heart pants to know, by actual experience the meaning of what I am preaching! Oh, to know the glory that awaits us! Now we look through a glass darkly. But I long to see him face to face, to have the clouds of darkness swept away, that I may know and enter into his glory! In the serene atmosphere of heaven, we shall not only see the King in his beauty, but also possess his glory!

D. This glory will be the glory of total victory.

· Victory Over Sin!

· Victory Over The World!

· Victory Over Satan!

· Victory Over Death!

E. The glory which the Lord will give us is the glory of a perfect nature (Eph. 5:25-27; Jude 24-25).

(Ephesians 1:3-6) "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: [5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."

(Ephesians 5:25-27) "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

(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."

This is the goal of God in predestination, holiness, election, redemption, and regeneration. And God’s work will not fail to accomplish his purpose. In heaven we shall have a perfect nature, spotless, sinless, incorruptible; bodies without weakness, sickness, decay, or death; souls incapable of temptation, sin, care, or trouble; hearts free of unbelief, sorrow, and pain; wills in complete harmony with God’s will. Imagine that! In glory we will possess perfect natures!

F. The glory promised in our text is the glory of perfect rest (Heb. 4:11).

(Hebrews 4:9-11) "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. [10] For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [11] Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

Heaven’s glory shall be a perpetual sabbath, an endless day of perfect peace, perfect happiness, perfect security. Spurgeon said, “It shall not be possible for a man to have a wish ungratified, nor a desire unfulfilled...Every power shall find ample employment without weariness. And every passion shall have full indulgence, without so much as a fear of sin.”

This is rest! This is glory! We shall want what our Savior wants, do what our Savior wills, love what our Savior loves, and live for our savior’s glory perfectly.

G. This glory is a gift of God’s rich, free, abundant grace in Christ.

“The LORD will give grace and glory.” There is not a soul in heaven that came there by merit. There is not a crown in heaven earned by the works of men. There is not a note of self-righteousness to mar the song of the redeemed. Glory is the gift of God!

H. When will the Lord give us this glory?

Some will receive glory very soon. For some it will, perhaps, be a while yet. But of this we can be absolutely sure: The Lord will give glory...

1. As soon as our work here is done, no sooner and no later.

2. At the hour he has purposed from eternity, no sooner and no later.

APPLICATION:

1. Comfort one another with these words - “The LORD will give grace and glory.”

2. Our trials and troubles here are not worthy to be compared with the glory that awaits us (Rom. 8:18).

Last week, when he and Linda knew that she would go home to glory in a very days, perhaps a few hours, Marvin said to Linda, -- “Tell me what the Lord has taught you in this. Tell me the thing that stands out most. I really want to know.” – Linda said, “Well, Marvin, I have never before seen, as I now do, the complete, utter, insufficiency of my righteousness and good works before God. -- And I have never before seen, as I now do, the complete and absolute sufficiency of Christ and his righteousness.”