Sermon #1746                                                                     Miscellaneous Sermons

 

      Title:                                 Five Questions

      Text:                                 Hebrews 10:22

      Subject:               Assurance

      Date:                                Sunday Morning — April 13, 2008

      Tape #                 Z-47b

      Reading: Psalm 71:1-24

      Introduction:

 

The title of my message is Five Questions. I am going to discuss five questions about things that really matter. Believe me, I have been thinking about things that really matter for the past couple of weeks. In Hebrews 10:22 the Apostle Paul speaks about the “full assurance of faith.” Do you know anything about that? Do I? Let’s look at that text for just a minute or two. Let’s begin reading at verse 9.

 

(Hebrews 10:9-22) “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, (16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; (17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. (19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (21) And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

 

Trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as our great, sin-atoning High Priest, Paul says, “Let us draw near with a true heart.” Oh, may God give me a true heart. Faith in Christ is found in a true heart. Repentance toward God is found in a true heart. Holy Spirit conviction is found in a true heart. Worship arises from and is found in a true heart. Prayer is the work of a true heart. Job said, “God maketh my heart soft.” If he makes it soft, he will make it true. God give me a true heart! A true heart is a heart sprinkled with the blood of Christ, a heart to which God the Holy Spirit has graciously applied the sin-atoning blood of Christ, making the conscience free before God, it is the heart of one washed with the pure water of God’s free, saving grace by the Holy Spirit.

 

If I have a true heart, a heart made soft by God, if Christ is my great High Priest, if I trust the Lord Jesus Christ, this text tells me that I can and should draw near to God in all his glorious holiness “in full assurance of faith.” I’m interested in that. Aren’t you?

 

I want you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to persuade you to trust my Savior. To that end, let me ask you five questions.

 

I.      What would it mean to you to know that every sin of your past, present and future is forgiven, blotted out and remembered no more? — Every sin of mind, heart, tongue, head and soul? — Open sin and secret sin? — What would it mean to you to know that in the books of God in heaven there is not one mark against you?

 

That is true of every believer in Christ! — “The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin!

 

(Isaiah 1:18) “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

 

(Isaiah 43:25-26) “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (26) Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.”

 

(Isaiah 55:6-7) “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

 

(Psalms 103:3-4) “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;”

 

(Psalms 103:8-14) “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (9) He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. (10) He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (13) Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. (14) For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”

 

(Psalms 130:3-4) “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (4) But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

 

(Romans 8:1) “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

 

(Romans 8:33-34) “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.”

 

(Hebrews 10:17) “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

 

(Jeremiah 50:20) “In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.”

 

II.     What would it mean to you to know that the eternal, holy, righteous and just God has totally reconciled you to himself? — That there is no wrath, fury, anger, or enmity in God toward you? — Not even a frown toward you? — That you are accepted in love and peace? — Not a sham, pretend peace, but a peace bestowed by God himself? — Our Savior said, “My peace give I unto you!” And Christ is our Peace.

 

That is what every believer has in Christ!

 

(Colossians 1:20-21) “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.”

 

“Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between!”

 

III.   What would it mean to you to have a new heart, a new spirit and a new nature that really does love God? — A nature as truly inclined to God as the flesh is to self? — A new nature which hates evil and loves the things of God, the Word of God, the people of God and the worship of God, and finds no greater delight than to be in his will and in his presence? — A nature that makes obedience and worship a choice, not a duty?

 

That is the heart, the spirit, the nature of all the Lord saves by his grace (2 Corinthians 5:17).

·      I love thy precepts, O Lord!

·      I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord!

 

(2 Corinthians 5:17-21) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

 

IV.  What would it mean to you to know that every trial and every failure, every joy and every sorrow, every good day and every difficult day is ordained, designed, purposed and ordered by your heavenly Father for your eternal good and his glory? — That all things that come to pass in your life and in the life of your family is for your good?

 

That is the experience and heritage of every believer (Romans 8:28-39; Isaiah 3:10).

 

(Isaiah 3:10) “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.”

 

Who are the righteous? They are all who have been made righteous in Christ by the grace of God.

·      Made righteous in justification by Christ’s righteousness imputed to them.

·      Made righteous in sanctification, in the new birth, by Christ’s righteousness imparted to them. — This is what Peter calls being made “partakers of the divine nature.”

·      Made righteous in the experience of grace by faith, faith receiving the righteousness of Christ.

 

Now, listen to that which God commands his prophet. — “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him!” You may read the statement as broadly as your heart’s imagination will allow. There are no limitations to the promise. There are no conditions to the promise. There are no qualifications in the promise. To the righteous God simply says, — “It shall be well with him.” Our God, who cannot lie, made the promise. Our hearts ought to respond, “If God has said it shall be well with me, then it is, has been, and shall be well with me!” It shall be well with the righteous. It shall be well with the righteous always, at all times, and in all circumstances.

·      It is well with the righteous now. — “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

·      It shall be well with the righteous when all seems to be ill. — (Jacob — Joseph).

·      It shall be well with the righteous when it is ill to everyone else. — (The Widow at Zarephath).

·      When temptation comes, it shall be well with the righteous (1 Corinthians 10:13).

·      When trials come, it shall be well with the righteous (Hebrews 12:5-11; James 1:12).

·      When Satan buffets, it shall be well with the righteous.

·      When we are weak, it shall be well with the righteous (2 Corinthians 12:9).

·      When we sin, it shall be well with the righteous (1 John 2:1-2).

·      When we fall, it shall be well with the righteous. — “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24 — Peter).

·      So long as we live on this earth, it shall be well with the righteous.

·      In the hour of death, it shall be well with the righteous.

·      In the judgment, it shall be well with the righteous. — “Come ye blessed!

·      In eternity, it shall be well with the righteous (Revelation 21:4; 22:4).

 

(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 22:4) “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”

 

Children of God, your heavenly Father promises that it shall be well with the righteous; and he wants you to know it, believe it and enjoy the fact of it. — It shall be well with the righteous.

 

Perhaps you are saying to yourself, “Pastor, I know that this promise is written in the Bible, but how can I be sure that it shall be well with me?” If you are righteous, if you are a believer, if you are washed in the blood, born of God, and robed in the righteousness of Christ, it shall be well with you.

 

Let me give you seven solid pillars to support this promise which ought to greatly encourage your faith. It shall be well with the righteous, because -

 

1.    Your greatest trouble is past. — Your sin and guilt has been removed (Isaiah 44:22-23; Romans 8:1).

2.    Your greatest enemy has been defeated — Satan.

3.    Your indwelling sin, that old man of the flesh, is doomed.

4.    Your God, who made this promise, rules all things.

5.    You live upon a bank that will never be broken. — The Bank of Grace (Hebrews 4:16).

6.    You are not alone (Hebrews 13:5). — There is a Divine Comforter within you. — There is an almighty omnipotent arm embracing you, upon which you may lean with confidence. — There is a gracious God walking with you.

7.    And the very justice of God demands that it shall be well with the righteous. — “For they shall eat of the fruit of their doings.”

 

That which you have done in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, your perfect, righteous obedience in him, demands that it shall be well with you. He merits all that is good; and by his merits you shall have all that is good.

 

Children of God, can you get hold of this blessed, comforting promise of good? — “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him.” We are…

·      Well fed, for we feed upon the flesh and blood of Christ.

·      Well dressed, for we are robed in the very righteousness of Christ.

·      Well housed, for the eternal God himself is our dwelling place.

·      Well wed, for the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ has wed himself to us in everlasting love.

·      Well provided for “the Lord is the portion of my soul.”

 

(Romans 8:28-39) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (31) What shall we then say to these things?”

 

Here are 5 bold challenges of faith.

 

1st “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

2nd (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?”

3rd (33) “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”

4th (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.”

5th (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.    What would it mean to you to know assuredly that growing old and dying is the very best and most wonderful thing that could happen to you?

 

That is the assurance Christ gives to every believer! — “For me to live is Christ, but to die is gain!” — “I have a desire to depart and be with Christ!

 

(2 Corinthians 4:17-18) “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

 

(2 Corinthians 5:1-9) “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. (9) Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.”

 

(Revelation 7:9) “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.”

 

(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.”

 

Application

 

What would it mean to you to go home today knowing…

·      That all your sins are forgiven?

·      That God is not angry with you, that you are completely reconciled to God?

·      That you have a new nature, that Christ dwells in you?

·      That all is well with you?

·      That death will be a great blessing?

 

All these great boons of grace are promised to every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(Hebrews 10:22) “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

 

(2 Timothy 1:9-12) God “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: (11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (12) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

 

(2 Timothy 4:6) “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

 

(2 Timothy 4:18) “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

Trust Christ, and this great salvation is yours. God help you to trust him.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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