And as that creed goes on, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven? See, I think when you get your mind wrapped around John 17, 3, the only true God in Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent, you should have a breathtaking moment or a breathless moment like, really? He does that for us? Have you ever had somebody do something really kind for you that was just way out of left field?
You're like, really? You're going to do that for me? There's an unworthiness and, you know, there's a humility that's inculcated. There's an admiration of what the person has done.
Brethren, never lose that with your God. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. That this God operates in this manner toward this kind of people? This is amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see. We see as well in the passage the condemnation of unbelief. I will say it again on the authority of God's holy word as a minister of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is forgiveness with God.
Whatever your sin is today, I don't know your heart, God does. I don't know the nasty crevices in your heart, just like you don't know mine. Probably if we all really knew each other, we wouldn't be sitting in the same room with each other. God is good and merciful in that we're not omniscient.
But I can affirm to you on the authority of Holy Scripture what Paul the Apostle says in 1 Timothy 1. He says this is a faithful saying. It's worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world, sinners to save. In fact, he does it in a way to emphasize the sinners.
Christ Jesus came into the world, yeah, sinners to save. We usually translate it to save sinners. He throws sinners at the front to emphasize the targets of this redemption. But then Paul, just to sort of counter anybody that would say, well, you know, I'm a little bit beyond the pale.
I don't know, Paul, I'm pretty bad. You don't know the sorts of things I've done. You don't know the skeletons in my closet. What do you think Paul says?
Of whom? I am chief. So on the authority of God's Holy Word, I can promise you today what John 6.37 says, all that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out. Come to the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will have everlasting life. But if you do not believe that I am, Christ speaking here, then you will die in your sins. There are two places, two positions, two options. And as Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Israel that, listen to them, how long will you falter between two options?
If Yahweh is God, serve him. If Baal is God, serve him. Fish or cut bait.