Sermon #1426 Miscellaneous
Sermons
Title: THINGS MOST SURELY
BELIEVED AMONG US
Text: Luke 1:1
Subject: Some
Things all Believers Believe
Date: Sunday Morning -- October 1, 2000
Tape
# W-3a
Reading: Psalm
93:1-5 and Romans 9:1-33
Introduction:
I want to talk to you this morning about “Things
Which Are Most Surely Believed Among Us.” You will find my text
in Luke chapter one, verse 1.
Proposition: In this verse of Scripture, in the very
opening words of Luke’s gospel, the Holy Spirit tells us plainly that there are
some things most surely believed among those who believe God.
In this day of religious chaos, spiritual darkness,
ignorance, and confusion, I want to show you some things plainly taught in the
Word of God, things which are and must be believed by those who believe God.
I know that salvation is not in things. Salvation is in
Christ. Salvation is not obtained by believing things, doctrinal or historical.
Salvation is obtained by believing the Son of God. But there are some things,
both historical and doctrinal, which must be believed if you believe on the Son
of God. Therefore, I have come here today, “to
set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed
among us.”
(Luke 1:1-4)
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a
declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, {2} Even as they delivered them unto
us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; {3} It seemed good to me also, having
had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee
in order, most excellent Theophilus, {4} That
thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been
instructed."
The Holy Spirit never wastes words. We should always
remember that when we read the Scriptures. Every word in the Word of God was
written for a specific purpose. There are several things to be learned from
these opening words of Luke’s gospel.
1. First,
we see here thee fact that God’s servants
tell what they know from first hand
experience, by direct experience, by divine
revelation, as those who are taught of
God.
Luke
describes the apostles as those men who were “eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.” I am aware that these
words, in their strict interpretation, apply only to the apostles, those who
saw the Lord Jesus in the flesh and learned the gospel directly from his lips.
But there are no apostles, in the official sense of that word today. Does that
mean the text has no meaning for us? Of course not!
All
true gospel preachers, like the original apostles, are also “eyewitnesses and ministers of the word.”
1 John 1:1-3 "That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you
that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard
declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and
with his Son Jesus Christ."
Faithful
men do not deal in second hand goods, or debate about matters of doubtful
disputation. We tell what we know, report what we have seen, and teach what we
have been taught of God.
I
take no license with the Scriptures when I tell you that all that Luke says in
verses two and three is applicable to all true gospel preachers.
Luke 1:2-3 "Even as they delivered them unto us,
which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had
perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in
order, most excellent Theophilus,"
2. Gospel preachers are men who preach what they know. We
preach that which we have experienced by the grace of God, as eyewitnesses.
3. God’s preachers are ministers, servants of the Word
of God.
2
Corinthians 2:17 "For we are not as
many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the
sight of God speak we in Christ."
2
Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this
treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God,
and not of us."
4. God’s servants are men who have a God-given, complete,
comprehensive understanding of all things spiritual.
When
Luke says that he had “perfect
understanding of all things,” he was not suggesting infallible knowledge,
but complete knowledge. And every servant of God, every man called and gifted
of God has that same knowledge of Holy Scripture. That man who has not yet
learned the message of the Scriptures is not yet called and gifted of God to be
a preacher. Such a man is not apt to teach and is not fit to teach, because he
has nothing worth teaching.
5. God’s servants are men who get their knowledge,
their understanding, and their message from above.
The
words, “from the very first”(v. 3),
should be and most commonly are translated “from
above” (John 3:31; 19:11; James 1:17; 3:15, 17).
6. The preaching of the gospel is setting the things of
God in order, in an orderly fashion, before men.
The purpose of God in giving
us his Word and the purpose of God in sending men to proclaim his Word to
sinners is to make men and women wise unto salvation.
Luke 1:3-4 "It seemed good to me also, having had
perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in
order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of
those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."
John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might
have life through his name."
2 Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known
the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus."
1 John 5:10-13 "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."
It
all comes to this - Jesus Christ is God’s Salvation. This great salvation is
the gift of God’s grace. God gives it to every sinner who believes the record
he gave concerning his Son. Will you believe God; or will you die in your sins?
God help you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have said all that to say
this. – There are some things you
must know, if you are made wise unto salvation. There are some things which who
believe God believe.
Luke makes no bones about
this. Neither should we. Let men accuse us of being narrow-minded dogmatists,
out of step with the rest of the religious world, and heap upon us whatever
ugly names they choose, the Word of God plainly declares that some things are
vital. Some things must be known and believed. Those who do not believe these
things are not saved.
Luke
tells us that he wrote his gospel, “to
set forth in order those things which are most surely believed among us.”
All who are, like Theophilus, lovers of
God love those things most surely believed among us. What are those things?
I will give them to you in five brief statements.
I. God almighty is the absolute sovereign of the
universe.
(Psalms 115:3)
"But our God is in the
heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased."
(Psalms 135:6)
"Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that
did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places."
(Isaiah 46:9-11)
"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none
else; I am God, and there is none like me, {10} Declaring the end from the
beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: {11} Calling a ravenous bird from the
east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have
purposed it, I will also do it."
(Daniel 4:34-37)
"And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes
unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most
High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his
kingdom is from generation to
generation: {35} And all the
inhabitants of the earth are reputed
as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and
none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? {36} At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory
of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors
and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent
majesty was added unto me. {37} Now I
Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and
those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
II. We are all, by nature, fallen, sinful, and lost,
under the wrath of God, cursed, condemned, spiritually dead and doomed to
eternal death, unless God himself steps in to save us. – Our only hope is sovereign mercy!
(Ephesians 2:1-10)
"And you hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins: {2} Wherein
in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience: {3} Among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of
wrath, even as others. {4} But God,
who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, {5} Even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) {6} And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: {7} That in the ages to come he might
show the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
{8} 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. {10} For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before
ordained that we should walk in them."
III. God almighty has mercy on
whom he will.
A. There are some men and women
in this world whom he loved with an everlasting love.
B. There are some, being loved
of God from eternity in Christ, were chosen unto salvation in eternal election,
before the world began.
C. There are some who have been
predestinated unto everlasting glory.
(Romans 9:11-18)
"(For the children being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God
according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) {12} It was said unto her, The elder
shall serve the younger. {13} As it
is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. {14} What shall we say then? Is
there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. {15} For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. {16} So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that showeth mercy. {17} For the
scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up,
that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared
throughout all the earth. {18} Therefore
hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he will he hardeneth."
IV. The Lord Jesus Christ, the
Son of God, died for and effectually redeemed God’s elect by his sin-atoning
sacrifice at Calvary.
The
Lord Jesus came here on an errand of mercy. He came here to save his people
from their sins (Matt. 1:21).
(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."
It is written, “Now, once in the end of the world, hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Either he did what
he came to do, or he didn’t. If he failed to do what he came to do, he is no
God at all, no Savior at all, and trusting him as such is the most absurd thing
in the world.
But I
am here to tell you, as plainly as I know how, that the Son of God is no
failure. He has put away the sins of his people. When he had, by himself,
purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.
Behold,
yonder in heaven, the crucified Christ, sitting on the throne of God in human
flesh and understand this. – “There is therefore now no condemnation to
them that are in Christ Jesus!”
(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 8:31-39) "What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us? {32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? {33} Who shall lay any thing to the
charge of God's elect? It is God that
justifieth. {34} Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that
is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us. {35} Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or
peril, or sword? {36} As it is
written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep
for the slaughter. {37} Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. {38} For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, {39} Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
V. The Lord God almighty, the
God of Glory, who loved his people from eternity, who chose them and
predestinated them unto salvation in Christ, who covenanted with his Son to
save them, who sent his own darling Son to Calvary to make atonement for their
sins, -- the Lord God Almighty will save his people by his omnipotent grace.
A. He will search them out and
find them.
B. He will regenerate and call
them.
·
By His Spirit
·
By His Word
·
By Special Revelation
Note: After the resurrection, no one ever knew the Lord
Jesus Christ, except by revelation. The only way any sinner can ever know him
is by revelation (2 Cor. 4:4-6).
When the time of love has come, when God the Holy
Spirit comes fetching, sinners come running. The call of God’s omnipotent
grace is an irresistible, effectual call of omnipotent mercy (Ps. 65:4; 110:3).
·
The Infant (Ezek. 16)
·
The Valley of Bones (Ezek. 37)
·
Lazarus
·
Zachaeus
·
Jacob
Every chosen sinner was
redeemed at Calvary, and shall be saved by God’s almighty, effectual call at
the appointed time of love. But if God quit working with us then, we would go
to hell in a heartbeat.
C. Those whom he saves by grace
alone, he keeps and preserves by his omnipotent grace.
D. Not only does he keep them
in grace, he crowns them with glory. – Grace
and Glory!
E. Then, when he gets done, our
great and glorious God will take his people, chosen, redeemed, called, kept,
saved by free grace alone, and show them!
God
saved us for his name’s sake, to praise of the glory of his grace, to show us
off forever!
(Ephesians
2:7) "That in the ages to come he
might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
Application: These are “things which are most surely believed among us.” This is the
testimony of every regenerate soul. – “Salvation
is of the Lord!” – “By the grace of
God I am what I am.”
You might ask, “Pastor, how can you be so dogmatic about
these things? How can you be so certain that this message of free and sovereign
grace in Christ is the gospel and everything else is a false gospel? I’ll give
three answers to that question.
1.
This message of free grace
is the only message that gives hope to sinners.
2.
This message of free and
sovereign grace is the only message that exalts and magnifies the Lord Jesus
Christ (1 Cor. 1:30-31).
3.
This message of God’s free
and sovereign, omnipotent, immutable grace, is the only message that gives the
triune God all the glory.
(Psalms 115:1)
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory,
for thy mercy, and for thy truth's
sake."
Amen.