Sermon #1224
Title: “Jehovah Is Salvation”
Text: Numbers 13:16
Reading: Psalm 62:1-12
Subject: Salvation - The Work of God Alone
Date: Sunday Morning - March 3, 1996
Tape # S-30
Introduction:
In Numbers 13 Moses selected twelve
men from the tribes of Israel to go into and search out the land of Canaan. “Of the tribe of Ephraim,” he sent, “Oshea the son of Nun” (v. 8). But
before he sent them into Canaan, Moses changed the name of Oshea. In verse 16
we read, “Moses called Oshea the son of
Nun Jehoshua,” or Joshua. If you will look in the margin of your Bible, you
will notice that the name Jehoshua means, “Jehovah
Is Salvation!” When Moses changed Oshea’s name to Jehoshua, he was making a
declaration to encourage the spies in their work and to encourage all Israel to
believe God and take possession of the land. He was declaring to them that
which is the basis of all true faith - “Jehovah
Is Salvation!” That is my subject today.
“Jehovah
Is Salvation!” This is the essence of everything taught in the Bible! I
cannot find any other doctrine taught in this Book. The doctrine of this Book
is the doctrine of grace.
Illustration: The
professor at Ashland Community College.
When Moses stood before the children of Israel at the Red Sea, he cried,
“Stand still, and see the salvation of
the Lord!”
The whole Book of
Jonah is a declaration and an example of that which he learned and declared
while he was in the whale’s belly - “Salvation
is of the Lord!”
David’s psalms of praise declare over and over again that Jehovah is
salvation. He sang, “The salvation of the
righteous is of the Lord!” (Psa. 37:39). Read Psalm 62 again the whole psalm declares this message.
·
(v. 1) - “Truly, my soul waiteth upon God: from him
cometh my salvation.”
·
(v. 2) - “He only is
my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be greatly
moved.”
·
(v. 5) - “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my
expectation is from him.”
·
(v. 6) - “He only is my rock and my salvation.”
·
(v. 7) - “In God is my salvation and my glory!”
·
(v. 12)- “Unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy!”
David never tired of ascribing
salvation to God. He had no other hope. On his dying bed, his last words were
these: “Although my house be not so with
God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things
and sure: for this is all my salvation and all my desire!”
When Jeremiah counseled
his own soul and encouraged himself with hope, it was with these words - “It is good that a man should both hope and
quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam. 3:26).
All the prophets proclaimed, “Jehovah is Salvation!” So too did all
the apostles. With one voice, we hear them declare, “By grace are ye saved though faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). “Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Tit. 3;5).
If
this was the message of all the prophets who spoke for God in the Old Testament
and the message of all the apostles who spoke for God in the New Testament,
then this is the message of every preacher who speaks for God today. Any
preacher, any church, and doctrine that departs from, diminishes, or denies
this doctrine to any degree, departs from, diminishes, and denies the gospel,
and must not be tolerated (Gal. 1:6-9).
Proposition: All error,
all heresy begins right here, adding something man does to the work of the
triune God in salvation. All heresy is a departure from this glorious truth - “Jehovah Is Salvation!”
This is my
doctrine. This is my hope.
This is my religion. This is my message. All my theology and all my preaching
can be summed up in these three words - “Jehovah is Salvation!”
The whole of the work whereby a son of
Adam is delivered from the dominion of sin, the power of satan, the kingdom of
darkness, the curse and condemnation of God’s holy law, spiritual death, and
the wrath of God, is the work of God alone! The whole work of bringing a sinner
from the pit of corruption to the possession of glory is God’s work, and God’s
work alone! Jehovah is Salvation! Neither angels nor men make any contribution
to that blessed work. It is the work of the triune God alone! Jehovah is
salvation!
·
Jehovah the
Father chose us and predestinated us unto eternal life!
·
Jehovah the
Son redeemed us and intercedes for us in heaven!
·
Jehovah the
Spirit calls, regenerates, and preserves all whom the Father elected and the
Son redeemed!
Recognizing that salvation is God’s
work alone, we also recognize that no power in heaven, earth, or hell can
prevent or even hinder the salvation of God’s elect!
Divisions: The Lord
God teaches his people three things with reference to the gospel of his
sovereign grace and mercy in Christ.
1.
The Meaning of
It.
2.
The Experience
of It.
3.
The Importance
of It.
Believers are men and women who are
taught of God; and those who are taught of God are well taught (John 6:45).
I.
Every believer is taught THE MEANING OF
GRACE.
Believers can define grace. They know the meaning of Jonah’s
words, “Salvation is of the Lord.” They
know that salvation is more than a doctrine, a decision, or a plan. We know
that salvation is a Person. With Moses we say, “Jehovah is Salvation! With Simeon, holding Christ in the arms of
faith, we realize that he is God’s Salvation!
·
We cannot call
that salvation which only puts men in a savable condition!
·
We cannot call
that salvation which supplies part of the work and leaves part of it for men to
complete!
·
We cannot call
that salvation which puts a sinner on the road to heaven, but leaves the
success or failure of the long journey in the hands of man!
A bridge that only reaches half way
across the river is no bridge at all. Call it a bridge if you want to; but it
will not carry you across the river! Even so, a salvation that does not carry
us all the way from Egypt to Canaan is no salvation! Salvation carries us all
the way from the dunghill to the throne! (Rom. 8:29-39).
This salvation, from beginning to end,
is the work of God (Eccles. 3:14).
·
He commenced
it!
·
He continues
it.
·
He completes
it!
The
psalmists said, “Then shall I be
satisfied, when I awake in thy likeness.” And if I do not awake at last in
his likeness, I am not now, nor have I ever been saved!
·
Philippians.
1:6
A. God the Father made Christ our
representative and surety in the covenant of grace before the world began.
All that God has for sinners is in Christ (Eph. 1:3; II Tim.
1:9).
1.
He loved us in
Christ!
2.
He chose us in
Christ!
3.
He accepted us
in Christ!
4.
He redeemed us
in Christ!
5.
He crucified
us in Christ!
6.
He raised us
up in Christ!
7.
He made us sit
down at his right hand in heaven in Christ!
B. In the fullness of time the
Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth and fulfilled all that the law and justice
of God demanded from us.
·
II Corinthians
5:21
1.
He brought in
everlasting righteousness!
2.
He made
complete satisfaction!
3.
He put away
sin!
C. At the appointed time of love,
God the Holy Spirit quickened us, regenerated us, gave us spiritual life in
union with Christ by the Word of Truth.
·
James 1:18
Illustration: Lazarus
D. The Lord
God, by his Spirit, through the merits of Christ’s blood, by the power of his
saving grace, gave us repentance and faith and will sustain us in these graces
until we enter into heavenly glory.
·
Repentance is
the gift of God (Rom. 2:4).
·
Faith is the
gift of God (Eph. 2:8).
·
Perseverance
is the gift of God (John 10:27-28).
Every believer knows these things.
Every person who has been with Jonah, down in the belly of hell, and has been
delivered from the belly of hell by the grace of God knows that “Salvation is of the Lord!” We know that
Jehovah is Salvation.
Yet, I know that it is quite possible
for a person to know the meaning of salvation and never know the experience of
it. To such people the truth of God is just dry, dead doctrine. It is all intellectual
theory. It is religion of the letter, not of the Spirit.
II.
So, secondly, I want you to see that God’s people know more than the meaning of
salvation and grace. Every believer knows THE
EXPERIENCE OF IT! We know by experience that Jehovah is Salvation.
Understand what I say, it will do you
no good at all to define salvation in the clearest terms possible, if you have
not experienced it in your heart. Salvation is a heart work!
·
Isaiah 29:13
·
Matthew 15:8-9
·
Romans 10:9-10
Believers know the gospel of the grace
of God by experience. With us it is not a theory, or an idea, or even so much a
doctrine. It is an experience! I know that Jehovah is Salvation! With David, I
say, “In God is my salvation!” Everything
I have experienced in my soul compels me to cry out with Jonah, “Salvation is of the Lord.” Let me show
you what I am talking about.
A. Do you believe in THE DOCTRINE
OF ORIGINAL SIN?
I do. The Bible teaches it clearly (Rom. 5:12; Matt. 15:19).
But I do not know as much about the doctrine of sin as I do about the fact of
it. I know that “I am carnal, sold under
sin.” I know that, “When I would do
good, evil is present with me.” “I know that in me, that is in my flesh,
dwelleth no good thing!”
·
I am sin!
·
I have sinned!
·
I am sinning!
·
I shall yet
sin!
B. Do you believe in THE DOCTRINE
OF ELECTION?
Of course I do! You do not believe the Bible if you do not
believe in election. I see that doctrine everywhere in the Word of God.
·
The elect
angels.
·
The choice of
Abraham.
·
Israel, an
elect nation.
·
The chosen
apostles.
·
The election
of grace (II Thess. 2:13-14; John 15:16).
But I know a great deal more about the
fact of election than I do about the mechanics of it.
1.
He loved me
with an everlasting love!
2.
He sought me
out of the ruins of fallen humanity!
3.
He called me
by his almighty grace!
“I was lost on the broad way of sin and despair,
Crushed ‘neath the burden of sorrow and care;
My constant companions were trouble and care;
‘Til Jesus reached down and lifted me out!”
C. Do you believe in THE DOCTRINE
OF EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION?
Certainly I do! The Word of God everywhere assures us that
all for whom Christ died shall be saved. “He
shall not fail!” “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied!” The grace of God cannot be frustrated. Christ did not die in
vain! Yet, I know much more about the blessed fact of redemption than I do the
doctrine of it.
1.
His blood
cleanses me from all sin!
2.
His blood
purges my conscience of guilt!
3.
His blood
gives me access to God!
4.
His blood
gives me peace!
D. Do you believe in THE DOCTRINE
OF IRRESISTIBLE GRACE?
I certainly do! Grace is the work of God, and God’s work
cannot be resisted. Grace is not an offer from God, but the operation of God.
Who can resist God? Who can withstand the power of the Almighty? But I know
more about the fact of his irresistible grace than I do the theological
arguments in favor of it.
1.
He called me
(Gal. 1:15).
2.
He revealed
Christ in me.
3.
He made me
willing in the day of his power (Psa. 65:4; 110:3).
4.
It was his
distinguishing grace which brought salvation to me and wrought salvation in me
(I Cor. 4:7).
E. Do you believe in THE DOCTRINE
OF FINAL PERSEVERANCE?
Most definitely! (John 10:28; I Pet. 1:5). But when I think
of the rivers I must yet cross - The mountains still to be climbed - The
valleys I must yet pass through - The deserts and wastelands over which I must
yet pass - When I think of the enemies around me, the temptations before me,
and the sin within me - When I think of the malice and power of satan - I
realize there is no way I will ever persevere unless he keeps me.
·
He has kept
me!
·
He keeps me
now!
·
He will keep
me tomorrow.
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its’ waters at my feet!
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
Where my Savior I shall meet!
III. “Jehovah is
Salvation!” Every believer know the meaning of it and the experience of it.
Lastly, God teaches his people THE
IMPORTANCE OF IT.
A. Every
believer will holdfast the gospel of the grace of God in Christ, because this
is the only hope he has (II Tim.
1:13).
·
“Jehovah is
Salvation!”
·
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that
build it.” (See Matt. 7:22).
B. Every believer is taught of
God to defend and contend for the message of grace, because this message alone
honors and glorifies God (Jude 3; I
Cor. 1:26-31). “Jehovah is Salvation!”
C. Every believer bears witness
to this fact, “Jehovah is Salvation,” because we know that there is no other
hope for sinners!
1.
If I gave you
a law to keep, you would break it.
2.
If I gave you
a race to run, you would never finish it.
3.
If I gave you
a work to do, you would mess it up.
4.
If I gave you
a price to pay, you would not be able to pay it.
Application:
But my message is Jehovah is Salvation! Trust him. Look to Christ. Keep on looking to
Christ. He is salvation. This, God enabling you, you can do!
1.
Salvation
begins by looking to Christ (Isa. 45:22).
2.
Salvation is
maintained looking to Christ (Heb. 12:1-2).
3.
Salvation is
completed looking to Christ (I John 3:2).
4.
God help you
to look to Christ!