Sermon #1262[1]
Title: Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
Text: Romans 6:23
Reading: Romans 6:1-23
Subject: The Wages of Sin and the Gift of God
Date: Sunday Morning - November 17, 1996
Tape # T-8
Introduction:
I have been reading a new book this week. It was written by
a friend of mine. It is in many ways an excellent defense of gospel truth. Its
object is to defend the efficacy of Christ’s atonement, the freedom of God’s
elect from the law, and the sovereignty of God’s grace in salvation. In those
matters the book is very good.
However, there is an underlying message in the book that is
almost as dangerous as the Arminianism it repudiates. In the opening forward,
there is a statement that denounces the responsibility of sinners to believe
the gospel. The author’s reasoning is - “If we preach that a sinner is
responsible to repent, we must declare that he is able to repent. If we teach
that sinners are responsible to believe on Christ, we must also teach that they
are able to believe.” He deduces, in what appears to be a very reasonable
manner, that responsibility of necessity implies ability The problem with is
reasoning is that attempts to mold the Word of God to a theological system.
Now listen carefully.
We must never try to make the Word of God fit into any human system of doctrine
or theology. We must build our doctrine upon the plain statements of Holy
Scripture. If the plain statements of Scripture contradict, or even destroy our
theological system, so be it. If we have to throw away every doctrinal creed,
every confession of faith, and every catechism that has ever been written by
men in order to be faithful and true to he Word of God, then we will throw them
away. This is one reason why, in this church, we do no require members to sign
or agree to a confession of faith. Our
creed, our confession of faith is the holy, inspired Word of God. If that
seems to others to be too simple, too non-intellectual, or too pietistic, we
can live with their disapproval. We bow
to and build our doctrine upon the Word of God alone, even when it seems to
contradict human reason and philosophy.
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to
the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no
light in them.
The title of my message this morning is Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility. My text is found in Proverbs 1:22-33…
"How
long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in
their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
(23) Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I
will make known my words unto you. (24) Because
I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man
regarded; (25) But ye have set at
nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your
fear cometh; (27) When your fear
cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress
and anguish cometh upon you. (28) Then
shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but
they shall not find me: (29) For that
they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: (30) They would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof. (31) Therefore
shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own
devices. (32) For the turning away of
the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. (33) But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall
dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."
May God the Holy Spirit be our Teacher, as we search the
Scriptures and seek to understand the things written in them for our learning
and admonition. In this message, I want,
while ministering to your souls, to show you from the Word of God that these
two things are so…
·
God almighty s absolutely sovereign in salvation. He has mercy on whom he will. He is gracious to whom he
will be gracious. He saves whom he will.
·
All men are responsible under God to walk in the light he
has given them. The Lord God has
fixed it so that those who perish in their sins, that those who die in
rebellion and unbelief are altogether without excuse. No one goes o hell by
accident! Unbelief is not a passive thing. If you go to hell, you will have to
scratch and claw your way there, fighting to your last breath against the light
God has given you. Men and women do not go to hell because they are ignorant.
People go to hell because they are rebels.
Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who
hold (hold down and suppress) the
truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because
that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the
world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse.”
By way of introduction, I want to make
five observations These five statements go right to the heart of Paul’s
doctrine.
1. If I continue in my sin,
rebellion, and unbelief, if I continue to reject Christ as my Lord and Savior,
and die in my sins, it is a condition that I deserve.
Death and hell will be my proper wages. It will be my own
responsibility. But if I am saved, taken to heaven, and live for ever in God’s
glory and holiness, it will be the result of God’s work alone.
2. Death, eternal separation from
God, is the result of deliberate effort on my part.
I do not read in the Bible of anyone
going to hell for Adam’s sin. We are all guilty of original sin, and because of
our original sin we deserve to go to hell; but, as I read the Bible, I find
that every man will be judged for his own works (2 Cor. 5:10). If I go to hell it will be the result of
deliberate effort on my part. But salvation and eternal life is the result of
deliberate effort on God’s part (2 Tim. 1:9-10).
2 Timothy 1:9-10 Who hath saved us,
and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel:
3. Eternal wrath and condemnation
is the just wage of my sin and guilt; but eternal life and salvation is the
free gift of God’s grace in Christ.
Romans 6:23 "For the wages
of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord."
4. There is nothing that keeps a
man out of heaven, but his own unwillingness to bow to Christ, and receive him
as Lord and Savior.
Matthew 23:37 - “O Jerusalem,.Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not.”
John 5:40 - “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
John 6:37-40- “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not
to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s
will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose
nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of
him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may
have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 7:37-38 - “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He
that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water.”
Israel did not enter in because of unbelief. And if I miss heaven, it will be because of
my own wilful unbelief. There is nothing
that will keep a man out of heaven but his own will; but there is nothing that
will keep a man out of hell but God’s will.
My friends, we must build our doctrine on the plain
statements of the Word of God. “I realize
that all things are of God.” I am sure you know that I know that. Nothing
comes to pass in time that was not predestined from eternity. I am fully aware
that the eternal destinies of all men was fixed by God’s sovereign decree
before the world began.
Romans 9:21-24 "Hath not the
potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour,
and another unto dishonour? (22) What if
God, willing to show his wrath, and
to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath
fitted to destruction: (23) And that
he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he
had afore prepared unto glory, (24) Even
us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"
1 Peter 2:7-10 "Unto you
therefore which believe he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed,
the same is made the head of the corner,
(8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:
whereunto also they were appointed. (9) But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
Jude 1:4 "For there are
certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
Absolutely
nothing comes to pass in time that was not predestined by God from eternity,
“who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Yet, God’s purpose
and decree of predestination is never spoken of in Holy Scripture as the cause
of reprobation, judgment, and condemnation. The cause of God’s wrath is to be found altogether in the sinner.
You not go to hell because God will not save you, but because you will not to
be saved by God’s free grace through the merits of his dear Son. No one will
stand at the bar of God and say, “I wanted to be saved, I wanted to trust
Christ, I wanted to have him, but you predestinated me for hell!”
5. Any man who is saved by the
grace of God in Christ will justify God in his own condemnation.
Psalm 5:1-5 - “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy
lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tendermercies blot out my
transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my
sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against
thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou
mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Any man who is saved by the grace of God will take sides
with God against himself. He will sit in judgment with God against himself. He
will justify God in his own condemnation.
Proposition: The
doctrine of our text is plain and clear - “The
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.”
I. Here is the first things taught in our text - “THE
WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.”
Eternal
death and separation from God is the just reward of man’s sin. All men by
nature are under the sentence of death. “For
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). This is
what the law says, “The soul that sinneth
it shall die.” “Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things written in
the book of the law to do them.” Since all have sinned all are under the
curse of death, the penalty of the law (Psa. 14:1-3). “For as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so
death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
A.
Let me show you what the condition of the natural man is.
I speak plainly to warn you who are yet without Christ. I
must tell you the truth. You must be warned. You are hovering over the brink of
hell. If God does not intervene to save you, you will soon be lost for ever.
1. You deserve eternal wrath and
condemnation.
You are a guilty sinner. You are a
sinner by birth, a sinner by choice, and a sinner by practice. Justice cries
aloud for your punishment. The law of God can offer no plea on your behalf. I
can think of no reason why you are not already in hell, except the merciful
longsuffering of God.
(Illustration: The fig tree - Luke 13:6-9).
2. More than that, you are already
under the sentence of condemnation (John 3:18, 36).
John 3:18 He that believeth on
him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:36 He that believeth on
the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
a. At this very moment, you are the
object of that same wrath and anger which is poured out upon the wicked in
hell.
Psalm 7:11-13 - “God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not,
he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready. He hath also
prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the
persecutors.”
Psalm 11:5-6 - “The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him
that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares,
fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their
cup.”
b. Hell’s mouth is opened wide to receive you. Satan is
ready to seize you.
c. Those corrupt principles that
kindle the fires of hell reign in your heart (Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 3:10-19).
Romans 3:10-19 As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one:
(11) There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after
God. (12) They are all gone out of
the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good,
no, not one. (13) Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues
they have used deceit; the poison of asps is
under their lips: (14) Whose
mouth is full of cursing and
bitterness: (15) Their feet are swift to shed blood: (16) Destruction and misery are in their ways: (17) And the way of peace have they not known: (18) There is no fear of God before their eyes. (19) Now we know that what things
soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth
may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 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.
3. And you have no power or ability to
lift that awful curse and condemnation off of yourself.
B.
I warn you whose wrath is upon you.
It is the wrath of the infinite, inflexible, unchangeable
God! The God against whom you sin, the God whose law you break, the God whose
power you defy, the God whose holiness you mock, the God whose grace you
despise, the unquenchable wrath of God is upon you!
1.
There is no
lack of power with God to punish you.
2.
God is under
no obligation to show you mercy.
3.
God’s wrath
upon you is as fierce and terrible as it is just and holy.
4.
God’s wrath
upon you is infinite.
5.
God’s wrath
upon you will be everlasting.
6.
God’s wrath
will fall upon you swiftly and seize you suddenly, without warning; and you
will have no power to resist it.
God help you to flee to Christ now,
today, while he is yet willing to be gracious. There is nothing between your
soul and hell, but the forbearance of God. While you hear his voice, harden not
your heart!
Death, eternal death in hell is the
just wage of your sin and mine. But, thank God, the story does not end there.
There is good news in our text!
II. “BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.”
“But God!” I am so glad for those two words. Thanks be unto God! He
graciously, sovereignly, lovingly intervenes in the affairs of men to show
mercy (Eph. 2:4; Ezek. 16:6-8).
Ezekiel 16:6-8 And when I passed by
thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea,
I said unto thee when thou wast in
thy blood, Live. (7) I have caused
thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen
great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. (8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy
time was the time of love; and I
spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee,
and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest
mine.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
A.
Salvation is in its entirety the gift of God (Eph. 2:8-10).
Eternal life is not a good idea, a
generous offer, or a gracious proposal. Eternal life is the gift of the
operation of God. It is the work of God in you.
1.
He gives a
desiring heart (Psa. 65:4; 110:3).
2.
He gives
repentance (Acts 5:31).
3.
He gives faith
(Col. 2:12).
4.
He gives
preservation (John 10:27-28).
5.
He gives a
crown of glory (2 Tim. 1:13).
Our Lord Jesus Christ says, concerning
all of his sheep, “I give unto them
eternal life!”
B.
That salvation which God gives is eternal life.
Eternal life is much more than eternal duration. This term
does not so much refer to the length of the believer’s life as it does the
quality of his life. Eternal life is nothing less than the Divine nature being
implanted into a man’s soul (2 Pet. 1:4).
1.
Eternal life
is a personal, experimental knowledge of the living God in Christ (John 17:3).
2.
Eternal life
is a living union of faith with the living Lord (Col. 3:1-3).
3.
Eternal life
is a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
Being born again by almighty grace,
being united to Christ by faith, being now adopted into the family of God, we
are made to be the King’s sons!
Though exciled from home,
Yet still I may sing -
All glory to God! I’m a child of the King!
·
We have the
King’s peace.
·
We have the
King’s love.
·
We have the
King’s nature - holiness.
·
We have the
King’s inheritance (1 Cor. 3:21-23; Rom. 8:17).
C.
Eternal life is the gift of God freely bestowed upon sinners in Christ.
You cannot earn it. You cannot buy it. You cannot weep
enough, repent enough, pray enough, or do enough to get it. It must be given to
you, as the free gift of the grace of God.
1.
Why has God given us eternal life?
·
He loved us.
·
He determined
to glorify himself in us (Psa. 106:8; Ezek. 16:60-63).
·
Christ died
for us (John 3:16).
2.
When did God give us eternal life?
·
He gave it to
us by decree before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9).
·
He gave it to
us in regeneration at the time he had appointed to be gracious to us.
3.
How does God give eternal life to sinners?
·
He sovereignly
bestows life (John 3:8).
·
He speaks life
to the sinner’s heart by the Word (James 1:18).
4.
What did God give us when he gave us eternal life in Christ?
Every blessing of divine grace is
freely bestowed upon us in Christ Jesus by the gift of eternal life.
·
God loves us
in Christ.
·
All mercy is
ours in Christ.
·
We have the
atonement and the forgiveness of sins in Christ.
·
We have peace
and reconciliation in Christ.
·
We have
acceptance with God in Christ.
·
We have
righteousness and justification in Christ.
·
All the
blessings, all the bliss, and all the glory of heaven is given to every
believing sinner in Christ.
5.
How long shall we be able to enjoy this gift of God?
It is ours forever. “The gifts and callings of God are without
repentance.” Eternal life is God’s work in us. It cannot be destroyed
(Eccles. 3:14). Eternal life is eternal!
·
God promised
it to us.
·
God purchased
it for us.
·
God performed
it in us.
·
God preserves
it in us.
·
God protects
it in us.
·
God perfects
it in glory.
·
God alone
shall have the praise for it forever.
Application:
1. Would you have eternal life? Look to
Christ and live. Sue Christ for mercy now. It may be that he will give you life
eternal. But if you refuse to bow to him, I am sure of this, he will punish you
for ever in hell; and his punishment will be just.
·
God is willing
to punish the ungodly. H is going to put all rebels in a place where they can
do no harm.
·
God is able to
punish you.
·
God’s
punishment of sin will be just and unending.
·
And if you
refuse to trust Christ and worship him, your torment in hell will cause no
grief in heaven.
2.
Do you have eternal life? Give
thanks and praise to the triune God alone.
·
He chose you
and predestinated you to life in Christ.
·
He sent his
Son to redeem you.
·
He called you
by his Spirit.
·
He gave you
faith.
·
He preserves
and keeps you by his grace.
“The
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.”
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.