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Sermon #2429 — Miscellaneous Sermons

 

Title:                           BobbieÕs Gospel

 

Text:                            Romans 2:16

Subject:                     Gospel Doctrine

Date:                          Wednesday Morning — July 25, 2018

                                                            Bobbie Estes Funeral Service

 

Bobbie Estes

March 24, 1936 — July 20, 2018

 

Special Music

            Deeper than the Stain

            Judy Estes

 

Scripture Reading and Prayer

 

(Exodus 15:1-18) Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. (2) The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him. (3) The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. (4) Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. (5) The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. (6) Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. (7) And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. (8) And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. (9) The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. (10) Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. (11) Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. (13) Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. (14) The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. (15) Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. (16) Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. (17) Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. (18) The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

 

Congregational Hymns

            It is Well with My Soul ##256

            Grace `Tis a Charming Sound #219

 

Special Music

            Amazing Grace

            Ruth Wall

 

Congregational Hymn

            How Great Thou Art #37

 

Message

            Pastor Don Fortner

 

Introduction

 

á      BobbieÕs 1st Sign of Interest

á      The Doctrine Messages

á      BobbieÕs Confession — Baptism

á      BobbieÕs Faithfulness

 

I cannot think of a better way to honor our friend and brother, a better way to comfort and help you who love him so dearly, and a better way to minister to you who are yet under than wrath of God than by preaching to you the gospel of God, preaching to you BobbieÕs Doctrine, the doctrine of God our Savior. In the 2nd chapter of the book of Romans, the apostle Paul was inspired by God the Holy Ghost to assert that there is a day appointedÉ

 

ÒWhen God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.Ó (Romans 2:16)

 

What is that gospel by which God shall judge you? What is that gospel by which alone you must be saved? What is that gospel by which Bobbie Estes lived, the hope of which sustained him in dying? — Give me your attention for just a few minutes and I will tell you.

 

Religious Fables

 

You know what a fable is. It is a brief story, dreamed up by a man to teach a moral, ethical lesson, but factually it is a lie. Here are three common religious fables, dreamed up by men to teach people moral principles. They are universally embraced, proclaimed, and defended. But they are in fact lies which are damning to the souls of all who believe them.

 

1. ÒGod loves everyone— He does not! Nowhere does the Bible say or imply that he does. In fact, the Bible plainly tells us that God does not love everyone (Psalm 11:5; 7:11; Romans 9:13). — ÒGod is love.Ó We rejoice in that. But GodÕs love is in Christ. In the Bible there is no assurance of GodÕs love given to anyone apart from faith in Christ.

 

2. ÒThe Lord Jesus Christ died to redeem and save all people— He did not! The Bible nowhere teaches, suggests, or implies that Christ died for, redeemed, or came to save those multitudes who are at last lost in hell. Those for whom Christ died shall never die! The Son of God redeemed all whom he came to redeem, and he shall save all whom he came to save.

 

3. ÒThe Holy Spirit of God is doing all that he can to save all people— You know that is not true. There are multitudes to whom the Spirit of God has never even sent his Word. The Bible says nothing of the Spirit trying to reprove, trying to convince, or trying to regenerate. The Bible declares, — ÒIt is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing.Ó

 

The whole religious world, to one degree or another, declares that salvation is accomplished by the will of man, the worth of man, and the work of man. But the Word of God declares that salvation is by the will of God alone, the worth of Christ alone, and the work of the Holy Spirit alone.

 

It is my responsibility, as the servant of God, to do what I can to stop the mouths of the religious gain-sayers and rescue perishing sinners from their pernicious lies. And Paul tells me that the way to do that is to simply, unceasingly preach sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 2:1; 1 Timothy 4:6).

 

Proposition: No preacher is faithful to his calling, charge, and responsibility as GodÕs messenger to men who does not faithfully instruct men and women in sound doctrine, with distinctive clarity and in unmistakable terms. Sound doctrine is essential both to the salvation of sinners and to the spiritual stability and maturity of GodÕs saints (Ephesians 4:14; 1 Timothy 4:16).

 

This morning we are going to go back to the basics. I am not going to have anything new to say. Everything will be elementary, foundational, essential gospel truth. I want to lay before you the foundation doctrine of the gospel, the fundamentals and essentials of the faith, just basic Bible doctrine. When you think about the fundamentals of the faith, I am sure your mind immediately goes to things like the verbal, plenary inspiration of Holy Scripture, the Bible account of creation, and the Deity and virgin birth of Christ. But those things are not the real issues of sound doctrine.

á      Why argue about the inspiration of the Scriptures if we do not believe and preach those truths revealed in the Scriptures? If the Bible is not our only rule of faith and practice, it really does not matter whether it is inspired or not, does it?

á      Why argue about the Bible account of creation if we refuse to accept the Bible account of the new creation? Why fight over Darwinian evolution if we embrace the far more evil Arminian theory of evolution? — ÒGod gets salvation started and man completes the work.Ó

á      Why argue with men over the Deity of Christ and his virgin birth, if we are willing to embrace any doctrine that makes Christ a failure, robs him of his glory, and frustrates the purpose of his incarnation.

 

Some of you may be thinking to yourself, ÒIf these things are not the issues, what are they?Ó I want to show you. And I want to show you from the Word of God. I am going to give BobbieÕs confession of faith. In doing so, I am giving you my own confession of faith, the faith confessed by this congregation, the faith believed, confessed by, and witnessed by all who are born of God. This is what I believe and preach, because this is what I have experienced. This is my doctrine. GodÕs saints embrace, love, and rejoice in these things. Only GodÕs enemies oppose them.

 

I want everyone here to follow me through the Scriptures (Isaiah 8:20). If what I say this day is GodÕs truth you must bow to it and embrace it or perish forever in hell. If what I have to say is not GodÕs truth it is because I am a lost man, without light from God. If that is so, you must never hear me again, lest you embrace a lie and perish with me in the last day. ThatÕs how important, basic, and vital these issues are.

 

Divine Sovereignty

 

1st — The one true and living God is totally sovereign in all things (Psalm 135:6). To say that God is sovereign in all things is to say that God rules all things. Before objecting to that fact, consider the alternative.

  • If God does not rule everything, then something rules God!
  • If God does not control everything, then something controls God!
  • If God does not govern everything, then something governs God!
  • If God is not totally, absolutely, universally sovereign, then it must be concluded that faith in God is nothing more than throwing a coin in a wishing well — because...

á      No promise of God can be sure!

á      No prophecy of God can be absolute!

á      No word from God can be believed!

á      God is the sovereign creator of all things (Genesis 1:1).

á      God is the sovereign ruler of all things (Romans 8:28; 11:36).

á      God is the sovereign disposer of all things (Revelation 4:11).

á      God is totally sovereign in the exercise of his saving grace (Romans 9:11-24).

á      ÒSalvation is of the Lord!Ó

 

(Romans 9:16) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

 

Total Depravity

 

2nd — All men and women by nature are totally depraved (Romans 3:9-19). Do you know what happened in the Garden of Eden? — (Describe the Fall).

 

The doctrine of manÕs original sin and total depravity does not mean that all men are as sinful and corrupt in deed as they can be. God will not allow men in this world to be as wicked in deed as we all are in heart. When we talk about manÕs total depravity, we are talking about spiritual death and moral inability (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).

 

Here are eight effects of AdamÕs fall upon the human race. These things are true of all men and women by nature.

  1. Man cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).
  2. Man cannot understand the things of God (1 Corinthians. 2:14).
  3. Man cannot do anything pleasing to God (Romans 8:8).
  4. Man cannot hear the Word of God (John 8:43).
  5. Man cannot receive the Spirit and truth of God (John 14:17).
  6. Man cannot come to the Son of God (John 6:44).
  7. Man cannot call Christ Lord (1 Corinthians. 12:3).
  8. Man cannot believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:39-40).

 

Total depravity means that you cannot be saved by your free will, or your works. Total depravity means that ÒSalvation is of the Lord,Ó entirely. If ever you are saved you must be saved by grace alone.

á      Salvation is not determined by you.

á      Salvation is not dependent upon you.

 

Because we are sinners, we are all deserving of GodÕs everlasting wrath in hell. We are justly condemned. And unless God saves us by his almighty grace, we will forever die. ThatÕs the bad news. But here is the good news.

 

Unconditional Election

 

3rd — God almighty, from old eternity chose some of AdamÕs fallen race to salvation and eternal life in Christ, and his loving choice of some was an unconditional election of grace (Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; John 15:16). If you read the Bible at all, you know that election is a Bible doctrine. And if you understand what the Bible teaches about election, you know that it is a precious Bible doctrine.

  • The cause of our election was the love of God (Jeremiah 31:3).
  • The time of our election was before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
  • The only condition of our election was the will of God. — ÒI will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.Ó
  • The object of our election was our everlasting salvation in perfect holiness — Conformity to Christ (Ephesians 1:4).
  • The comfort of our election is the immutability of our God (Malachi 3:6).

 

Limited Atonement

 

4th — In the fulness of time the Lord Jesus Christ died for and effectually redeemed all GodÕs elect (Isaiah 53:8; John 10:11, 15, 26; Hebrews 9:12; Galatians 3:13). Nowhere in the Bible is it written that Christ died for everyone in the world, redeemed everyone in the world, or made atonement for everyone in the world. The doctrine of universal redemption is the most hideous, blasphemous doctrine ever spewed from the pit of hell.

á      It reduces the love of God to nothing.

á      It perverts the justice of God.

á      It is a mockery of the blood of Christ. — Did Christ die in vain?

á      It makes man his own savior.

 

We believe, according to the Scriptures that Christ died for and redeemed GodÕs elect. His blood was not shed in vain. Our SaviorÕs limited atonement was and is the effectual redemption of his people. The atonement of Christ is limited in scope, but not in efficacy. It was limited in design, but not in merit — ÒIt is finished!Ó

 

The issue of the gospel is not the bare fact that Christ died, but ÒHOW that Christ died for our sins, according to the ScripturesÓ (1 Corinthians. 15:3). This is how he died...

á      Sovereignty! — ÒI lay down my life!Ó

á      Substitution! — ÒFor the transgressions of my people.Ó

á      Satisfaction! — ÒI have found a ransom!Ó

á      Success! — ÒHe shall not fail!Ó

 

Irresistible Grace

 

5th — Salvation is wrought in GodÕs elect by the irresistible power and grace of god the Holy Spirit (Psalm 65:4).

á      Conviction is the work of the Spirit (John 16:8-11).

á      Regeneration is the work of the Spirit (John 3:3).

á      Calling is the work of the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

á      Faith is the work of the Spirit (Ephesians 1:19).

á      The instrument of grace is the Word of God.

á      The end of grace is salvation.

á      The cause of grace is the will of God.

 

Preservation by Grace

 

6th — Every believer shall persevere in faith, because all who trust Christ are infallibly preserved by the grace of God (John 10:28; Philippians  1:6; 1 Peter 1:5). — Here are four bold challenges of faith (Romans 8:31-39).

á      ÒIf God be for us, who can be against us?Ó

á      ÒWho shall lay anything to the charge of GodÕs elect?Ó

á      ÒWho is he that condemneth?Ó

á      ÒWho shall separate us from the love of God?Ó

 

Glorious Liberty

 

7th — All who are in Christ are made free in him (Romans 6:14, 15; 7:4; 10;4). — In Christ we are freed from...

á      All legal condemnation (Romans 8:1).

á      All legal service (Colossians 2:16-23).

á      All legal motivation (2 Corinthians. 4:18).

á      All legal fear (Romans 4:8).

á      The fear of death (Hebrews 2:15).

 

That is the gospel of God, the gospel by which God will judge the world. That is BobbieÕs gospel.

 

Application

 

1.    I call upon you who hear my voice to make your calling and election sure. — ÒBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ.Ó Faith in Christ is both the fruit and the proof of —

á      GodÕs election!

á      ChristÕs redemption!

á      The SpiritÕs call!

 

2.    I call upon you who believe to join me in the proclamation of the glorious gospel of the blessed God around the world.

 

3.    And I call upon us all to give God alone all praise, honor, and glory for his great grace to us great sinners in his great Son!

 

Amen.

 

Congregational Hymn

            A Mighty Fortress is our God #36

 

Benediction

 

LUNCH AFTER THE BURIAL

DOWNSTAIRS

 

Graveside Service

 

Don't Stand Around My Grave and Cry

Pastor Don Fortner

(Tune: Faith of Our Fathers)

 

1.    When I have breathed my final breath

And dropped this robe of flesh in death,

When my appointed work is done

And my allotted time is gone,

Don't stand around my grave and cry.

I'll not be there. I did not die.

 

2.    My Savior came to call me home,

And I with Him to heav'n have gone!

Now I am free from sin and pain;

And with the glorified I reign!

Don't stand around my grave and cry.

I'm glorified! I did not die!

 

3.    Seated with Jesus on His throne,

Glorified by what He has done,

I am a trophy of His grace.

Rejoicing, I behold His face:

Don't stand around my grave and cry.

I am with Christ! I did not die!

 

4.    My body lies beneath the clay

Until the resurrection day.

In that day when Christ comes again,

Body and soul unite again!

Don't stand around my grave and cry.

Rejoice with me! I did not die!

 

(Psalm 27:1-14) The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (2) When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. (3) Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. (4) One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. (6) And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. (7) Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. (8) When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. (9) Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. (11) Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. (12) Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. (13) I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Benediction

 

The Family will Greet You

At the Church Dining Hall

For Lunch

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor FortnerÕs

 

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