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[Music] [Music] well good morning welcome to free grace Baptist Church nice to have everyone in attendance this morning we have no announcements so let's go right to worship and to prepare us for worship we're going to read Isaiah chapter 55 so I'll ask you to open your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 55 please Isaiah chapter 55 beginning at verse 1 ho everyone who thirsts come to the waters and you who have no money come by and eat yes come buy wine and milk without money and without price why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy it listen carefully to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance incline your ear and come to me hear and your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you the sure mercies of David indeed I've given him as a witness to the people a leader and commander for the people surely you shall call a nation you do not know and nations who do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel for he has glorified you seek the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon for my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways my ways says the Lord for as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts for as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth it shall not return to me void but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it for you shall go out with joy and be let out with peace the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree and instead of the Brier shall come up the myrtle tree and it shall be through the Lord for a name and an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off amen well please turn with me in your hymn books to him number 284 284 Hashmi please stand [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] amen we may be seated and let's go to God in prayer and ask his blessing to be upon our service time here this morning let's pray our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we come into your holy presence now through your son the Lord Jesus Christ we are the church here in Chilliwack we are part of that church elect that church Universal that comes to bring you praises and bring you adoration on this the Lord's Day we praise you Lord for the beauty that we see all around us here in the creation the created order that you that you caused to be created in the space of six days and all was very good and we just praise you Father along with the creation that you have given to us voices - - to call out voices to ring forth the truth of this hamon now the truth of Holy Scripture that you are a kind got a good God a holy God a God who is merciful a God who who does that remove our sins from us as far as the East is from the West you you buried our sins into the deepest part of the ocean and for these for these things father we truly give you our grateful thanks and praise and an adoration for such a great God as you are Lord we thank you for the word of God the praises you have not left us - to the creation alone but you've given to us your holy word and we thank you for these 66 books and we praise you Father that you've given to us all it is necessary - to be wise under salvation the Lord we know that without the help and without the aid of your Holy Spirit so take these words of Holy Scripture and to apply them to our hearts to give us that that that enlightening that enlightening light that comes for the Spirit of God to understand the words of Scripture and father we are we are truly pitiable but we thank you that you've given to us that Holy Spirit that gracious one who comes and enlightens our hearts and our minds and we pray Lord that you would be pleased - to do that even this day we praise you that you've enlightened our hearts and caused us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and cause us to have a an interest and the things of Christ it would find us here in this place this day we praise you father that you bless us with with a place to worship a place where we can come in out of the world and forget the the things that have been on our plate for the past week Pat the week Austin perhaps the week coming up and we can just focus and and draw our attention upon the things that are of eternal truth this day here in this place and so let me pray that you would help us now to focus and concentrate in cause our hearts within us to to truly rejoice and in the great God that we that we know and love and serve in and seek to obey here this day we pray lo that you would be pleased to bless the preacher here in this place and throughout Chilliwack throughout the Lower Mainland father all places where where your truth that the truth of your word is being preached this day where sinners are being called to to salvation in Christ and where people are being edified by the by the by the pure Word of God we pray lo that you would add your blessing your spirit your your enabling to each of those places of worship this day and cause Lord those those ministers of the gospel to be hedged in by truths we pray that you would keep them in truth and cause them to speak and to declare only your truth we pray Lord that you would revive churches that perhaps have left off some of these things and left off the truth of Holy Scripture where they've they perhaps a curved off those sharper edges and and made it more palatable yet yet it would be a gospel as a gospel now we pray though that you revive some of those churches and cause cause your churches across our nation to return to you father we pray that you would bend your whole ear and that you would hear hear our prayers and that you would truly revive your churches because we believe that as the church goes so that so the nation will go as well and we pray Lord that for our nation we do pray for those who who who hold positions of leadership and positions of power that have been given to them by you we pray Lord that you would cause them to attitude to rule and judge in a manner that whereby they will stand and give an account to you one day we pray Lord that she would cause the things that they that they would legislate for unrighteousness to be turned turned around we pray Lord that truly there would be a a righteousness that would be a that would be in this nation of ours that would that you would be pleased to add your blessing to Lord we do know that that's certainly there is sin all around us and sin is legislated even from positions of power how we pray Lord that you look down upon us this day and be merciful to us as a nation and we do pray Lord that this would not always be the way it is we do look to you father and we know that the answers are not contained in and those who govern over us but rather in the God the thrice holy God the God with whom we have to deal with this day so we do pray on behalf of on behalf of our own nation and the nations of the earth the Lord you would be pleased to cause your word to run swiftly and that it truly would be for the for the for the edification of Saints for the salvation of sinners for the bringing down of kingdoms of darkness and and raising up the kingdom of righteousness the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ the Church of Christ all over this earth we pray Lord for missionaries in in in the in the Far East we pray for the missionaries in Australia that we are familiar with those throughout Europe Lord there are missionaries serving faith seeking to be faithful all over this world bringing a gospel to - to the to the unsaved how we pray Lord that you would be with them this day caused them to persevere in well-doing we pray they would not be discouraged but rather they would be most encouraged to continue to work for that for the high king of heaven and earth and the lord you would add your blessing to their ministry add your blessing as they seek to see the church of christ grow in those many places where they work and where they minister well we do pray it you would make them powerful and make the Word of God powerful in those places as well we do pray for the for the persecuted church father how we pray that you would be pleased to bless those who are being persecuted for the gospel safe continue father to give them boldness continue to give them joy and serving you joy even in in in the midst of persecution and we know Lord this is this is something that that that they desire that they would bear up that they would bear up faithfully and they would bear up joyfully and not seeking revenge but rather seeking the good of the place and the nation that you place them in so Lord we pray that you would just cause your word to go to run swiftly all over this earth today and maybe for this for the salvation of sinners we do pray Lord we pray for any and all in our own congregation who are ill and not well perhaps some not able to be with us others perhaps who are here but are not feeling well we pray Lord that you would strengthen each and every one bless those who have had surgery that they would recover and those who perhaps have upcoming surgeries that Lord you would bless them as well and cause cause these things to be for their good we pray Lord that that the second causes would be blessed of you the juubi please do to to own health and strength here in this congregation we look to you father as the giver of life the giver of health and we thank you for the for the ability that we do have to rise from our beds this day and come into your house and to worship you so we thank you for the privilege that is ours to be here this day we do pray your blessing upon our pastor strengthen him Lord as he comes in a few minutes to bring your word it's just not an ordinary word that's right it's the Word of God it's a spiritual word and we know that we know Lord that there are the the enemy of our soul would seek to come and take that word away and that it would not find would not find oil whereby - - - to come to fruition we pray against that enemy of our souls father in this place we pray that he would be filled with your spirit that we as congregants when we fill your spirit as well - might receive your word and be blessed by your word give to us your Holy Spirit we do pray and give that to him and help him to preach in power and strength and might as you would desire it so we thank you Father that we get to praise you we thank you for these these hymns that we that we have opportunity to praise you through and we pray your great blessing you look down upon us this day and and and give to us your blessing give to us your ear and hear our praises we do pray and Jesus precious name Amen well please turn with me in your him books 232 B 32 V then again I'll ask you to stand [Music] amen please be seated you can turn your Bibles please to acts Acts chapter 11 will read the whole chapter Acts chapter 11 knocks chapter 11 beginning of verse 1 now the Apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God and when Peter came up to Jerusalem those of the circumcision contended with him saying you went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them but Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning saying I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance I saw a vision an object descending like a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners and it came to me when I observed it intently and considered I saw four-footed animals of the earth wild beasts creeping things and birds of the air and I heard a voice saying to me rise Peter kill and eat but I said not so Lord for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth but the voice answered me again from heaven what God has cleansed you must not call common now this was done three times and all were drawn up against again into heaven at that very moment three men stood before the house where I was having been sent to me from Caesarea then the spirit told me to go with them doubting nothing moreover these six brethren accompanied me and we entered the man's house and he told us how he had how he had seen an angel standing in his house who said to him send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved and as I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell upon them as upon us at the beginning then I remembered the word of the Lord how he said John indeed baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit if therefore God gave them the same gift as he gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ who was I that I could withstand God when they heard these things they became silent and they glorified God saying then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia Cyprus and Antioch preaching the word to no one but the Jews only but some of them were men from cyprus and cyrene who when they had come to antioch spoke to the Helenus preaching the lord jesus and the hand of the lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem and they sent out barnabas to go as far as antioch when he came and had seen the grace of God he was glad and encouraged them all that was purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord for he was a good man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith and a great many people were added to the Lord then Barnabas departed for Tarsha Tarsus to seek soul and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch so it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch and in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch then one of them named Agabus stood up and showed by the spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar then the disciples each according to his ability determined to send relief to the Brethren dwelling in Judea this they also did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul well just a couple of a couple of points of observation I think it is good when we can observe doctrinally speaking that truly even salvations of the Lord we know that but even repentance is of the Lord it stated there and one of the great verses that there's a compendium to 2nd Timothy in regards to the fact that at the end of verse 18 it says then God also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life and it's not something we ought not to take for granted that even the ability to be - to be repentant for our sins is a gift from God and we see the the Apostles here or Peter and the Apostles as he speaks to them they were being obedient - that - axe axe chapter 1 verse 8 where they were to preach in Jerusalem and - and in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth and we see as they go out to the ends of the earth which in this case if that would have been into Antioch which was over into over into Europe what do we see but results good results God is able to add blessing when we are when we are obedient verse 21 it says and the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord verse 24 for as he was a good man full the holy spirit of faith and a great many people were added to the Lord and finally also in verse 26 about the middle of verse 26 and they assembled with the church and taught a great many people so true there is great blessing when we were obedient to the Lords of the things of scripture then we can expect that it's not it's out of 1 plus 1 equals 2 but certainly we can rejoice the fact that when we are obedient then we can then there's blessing God is able to add blessing to obedience you will never add blessing to disobedience but we are BR being obedient to the things of Scripture then we can expect that God is well pleased with that and God will bless that and I think that's that's an encouragement from this chapter it's a kind of a narrative chapter of how the church was going forward and and God was adding great blessing due to the obedience of his people doing what they were called to do but again let's not let's not minimize that the importance of that repentance our repentance is a gift from God and for that which really ought to return our grateful thanks to God for well let's pray our gracious and our loving heavenly true Heavenly Father we truly do thank you for the gift that is ours in your son the Lord Jesus Christ Lord we we thank you that we are saved not because if our doing but because if you're doing because of the doing of the Lord Jesus Christ and even an acknowledgment of our sins an understanding of our sins a repentance truly these are gifts that come from you and how we praise you Father for the gift of salvation we praise you for that gift of repentance that we would come before a holy God and seek your seek your forgiveness and Lord you are kind got a good God you do grant forgiveness you grant that repentance to those who would seek it and we pray Lord that you would be pleased even in this place this day to be it to be at work amongst us we pray for the young people we pray for the children we pray for any and all who come in here Sunday by Sunday they hear the they hear the Word of God they they hear the gift of salvation being presented and yet they have not acted upon it how we pray about it it would be that that this might be the day of salvation that you would come to them and cause them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the for the for the remission of their sins and we pray below that you would empower the preaching cause your spirit to to be here when we pray Lord that you would be pleased to bless bless this this meeting time today that we would leave here this place knowing of a truth that we've met with the true and the Living God we do pray your blessing upon us are upon this time now it's in Jesus precious name we pray amen well please turn with me for the last him before we do go to God Berkman in the preaching hour and that is a hymn number 389 389 and I'll ask you standards [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to Acts chapter 13 acts 13 we're considering the first missionary journey which is acts 13 and 14 it took place in AD 47 and 48 Paul and Barnabas were at the church in Antioch in Syria and they were called or identified by the Holy Spirit to go out to take the gospel to other places so they begin on the island of Cyprus and then they moved back to the mainland they find themselves in the region called pasilla and there's an Antioch there with the synagogue and they are invited to speak the truth so Paul stands up and preaches so I want to read beginning in acts 13 at verse 13 says now when Paul and his party set sail from paphos they came to purga in Pamphylia and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem but when they departed from purga they came to Antioch in Pisidia and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down and after the reading of the law and the prophets the the rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying men and brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the people say on then Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said men of Israel and you who fear God listen the god of this people the god of this people sorry the god of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt and with an uplifted army brought them out of it now for a time of about 40 years he put up with their ways in the wilderness and when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan he distributed that distributed their land to them by allotment and after that he gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years until samuel the prophet and afterwards they asked for a king so God gave them Saul the son of Kish a man of the tribe of Benjamin for forty years and when he had removed him he raised up for them David as king to whom also he gave testimony in said I have found David the son of Jesse a man after my own heart who will do all my will from this man's seed according to the promise God raised up for Israel a savior Jesus after John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel and as John was finishing his course he said who do you think I am I am not he but behold there comes one after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to lose men and brethren sons of the family of Abraham and those among you who fear God to you the word of this salvation has been sent for those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers because they did not know him nor even the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath have fulfilled them in condemning him and though they found no cause for death in him they asked Pilate that he should be put to death now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning him they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb but God raised him from the dead he was seen for many days by those who came up with them from Galilee to Jerusalem who are his witnesses to the people and we declared to you glad tidings that promise which was made to the fathers God has fulfilled this for us their children and that he has raised up Jesus as it is also written in the second song you are my son today I have begotten you and that he raised him from the dead no more to return to corruption he has spoken thus I will give you the shore mercies of David therefore he also says in another Psalm you will not allow your Holy One to see corruption for David after he had served his own generation by the will of God fell asleep was buried with his father's and saw corruption but he whom God raised up saw no corruption therefore let it be known to you brethren that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses beware therefore lest what has been spoken the profits come upon you behold you despisers marvel and perish for I work a work in your days a work which you will by no means believe though you were though one word to declare it to you so when the Jews went out of the synagogue the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath now when the congregation had broken up many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who speaking to them persuaded them to continue in the grace of God amen well let us pray our Father we thank you for this beautiful day we thank you for your handiwork in the creation thank you for your government over the creation and thank you for the redemption of your elect within this world how we praise you for the gospel of our salvation how we praise you for the Lord Jesus Christ all that is spoken of here of him by the Apostle Paul in this synagogue we give praise to you for this and we'd ask even now that you would cause us to to see that one who's altogether lovely that one whose chief among ten thousand and may you draw out from us worship and love gratitude and adoration and for any and all who have come here this morning that are still dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would awaken them that your glory would be manifest in the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ the Lord and to that end father send forth your Holy Spirit now forgive us for our sins and our transgression and we pray through Jesus Christ the Lord amen when we come to the end of the Apostles sermon essentially what we have seen in this sermon by Paul is first of all a sketch of Israel's history in verses 16 to 22 he shows how their history pointed forward to the Lord Jesus not away from him and then he highlighted the arrival of Israel's Messiah in verses 23 to 25 from then he goes on to explain Israel's Messiah specifically with reference to his death and his resurrection and now he comes to exhort his hearers on the response in other words as he is set forth the glory of Christ in his life in his death and in his resurrection what does Paul want to happen with reference to these people does he want them to say wow Paul knows the Old Testament better than we do Wow Paul has a superior hermeneutic on how to interpret the Bible better than we do Paul wants them to believe the gospel he wants them to understand forgiveness of sins and justification by faith alone he wants them to know the joy of being found in Christ not having their own righteousness which is from the law but that which is from God through faith in Christ and that's his emphasis in verses 38 and 39 he wants them to hear he wants them to believe and then he gives them a warning that they are not to despise the gospel they're not to reject the truth of God's Word they're not just supposed to turn a deaf ear to these things and just sort of continue on in their life so we'll look at that this morning the exhortation to believe on Israel's Messiah verses 38 to 41 and then we'll take up quickly in response to Paul's preaching in the synagogue in verses 42 to 43 but with reference to this exhortation to believe on Israel's Messiah Paul does three things or I want to do three things and in surveying this first we ought to observe the practical nature of his preaching secondly the redemptive focus of his preaching and then thirdly the serious warning attached to his preaching but in terms of the practical naturists as I've said he doesn't want them to just understand better he doesn't just want them to see that the law and prophets terminate upon the Lord Jesus he wants them to see that to be sure but he wants them to believe on Christ to know the joy of being found in him as J Alexander says and as we see from this verse 38 when he says therefore based on everything I've said to you therefore this is the response that I want Alexander says it was not mere historical nor even doctrinal or exegetical instruction that the Apostle here intended to communicate but practical and experimental knowledge of the utmost moment as relating to the only method of salvation so the practicality of the Apostles preaching here in the city and Antioch is on full display this is where sermons ought to lead this is where a discussion concerning the truth of God's gospel ought to come it ought to be a decisive moment we ought to call upon sinners to believe that gospel to repent from their sin and to know the joy of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord Paul doesn't just want to demonstrate the superiority of a Christian and interpret ativ principle but he wants these hearers to pass from death unto life there must be that practicality involved in preaching there must be that application involved in the Ministry of the word we're not simply trying to provide a body of knowledge but a body of knowledge that gets into the heart that gets into the soul that comes to a sinner who has transgressed the law of God that comes to a sinner who lacks conformity to that law of God to hear that there is a remedy there is a blessing there is forgiveness there is justification it's not sought out by us it's not conducted by us it's not effected by us but it is the provision of a gracious God and that's where Paul now turns with reference to his preaching notice secondly the redemptive focus in his preaching in verses 38 B and 39 first of all he preaches the forgiveness of sins again there's nothing more practical than this and I would suggest there is nothing more desirable for a sinner than to hear this do you see what happens when Paul and Barnabas leave the synagogue in verse 42 it says that the Gentiles begged that they could hear that word again I suggest that if you truly understand the Christian gospel your attitude toward it isn't going to be a take-it-or-leave-it your attitude toward it isn't going to be well you know I'm sort of indifferent know there is this begging on the part of the Gentiles that they may hear more about this Christ and about the reality that he brings not only the forgiveness of sins but a righteousness that avails with the father this Christ brings with him every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ I think you can understand why it is that persons in this context would beg for this truth because they knew themselves to be sinners they knew themselves to be opposed by God and to God and Paul is preaching the remedy Paul is preaching the anecdote antidote Paul is preaching that which is most necessary for persons who are dead in their trespasses and sins so he highlights this preaching of the forgiveness of sins in verse 38 when he says therefore let it be known to you brethren that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins the man whom the law and the prophets pointed forward to according to Paul in verses 16 to 22 the man who was in fact the seed of David consistent with that promise to David in second chat Samuel 7 that man who is from the seed of David according to verse 23 who is the savior for Israel that man who is the Lord Jesus Christ this man is the one in whom there is the forgiveness of sins this one who is preached by John the Baptist this one who came down from heaven for us men and for our salvation do you get PulsePoint forgiveness of sins from God doesn't come as a result of your works it doesn't come as a result of your even begging or your beseeching or your imploring that forgiveness of sins comes through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that's the emphasis of the Apostle in this particular place so if you are in sin if you are dead in your sin understand that the way of life is not through your own merit through your own abilities or through your own work but that comes through faith in Jesus Christ that's the emphasis of the Apostle that man who lived that man who died that man who was raised the third day it is through that man the forgiveness of sins calms and that itself demands a bit of consideration this blessing of the forgiveness of sins whats man's problem ultimately it's sin right if you look around the world today what's the the consistent unifying theme that man's problem is it's not social it's not economic it's not all the things that the the social engineers of our day tell us it is it is rather sin and rebellion against the true and living God it is transgression against his law it is the reality that God calls us not to engage in idolatry and we do God tells us not to blaspheme and we do God tells us to keep his Sabbath day holy and we don't God tells us to be subordinate to our to our parents and governing authorities but we're not God tells us not to murder and we do God tells us not to commit adultery and we do God tells us not to steal and we do God tells us not to lie and we do God tells us not to covet and we do that's the problem with society today it's a god problem it's a problem of transgression it's a problem of a lack of conformity under that law and yet the scripture consistently the scripture constantly sets forth the forgiveness of sins for God's people and that is connected inextricably to our Lord Jesus Christ the ultimate problem of mankind is sin and rebellion against God turn over to Romans chapter 8 to see how that affects man's got mankind in terms of total depravity and total inability in Romans 8:7 it tells us or Paul tells us there because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law as I think because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God nor indeed can be so then those who are in the flesh cannot please God so those out there that want to please God have this nagging problem this pesky problem of continuing to sin against him but God in the gospel has made provision God in the gospel has brought hope God and the gospel has brought an answer and it's in this man this Lord Jesus who shed his blood so that all of our sins could be washed away who shed his blood so that all of our sins could be forgiven the fact of total depravity and total inability renders sinners helpless in and of themselves but we are not helpless in the realm of the sovereign God God is gracious God is merciful God is kind and God does grant as we were reminded in the scripture reading repentance unto life and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ so the very things that Paul says concerning an interest in Christ which is faith and will develop that in a moment that itself is given by God God is about the saving of sinners and salvation includes it involves the forgiveness of sins let's look at a few passages in both old and new to see how glorious this idea of forgiveness is look at Psalm 25 Psalm 25 so long 25 verse 8 good and upright is the Lord therefore he teaches sinners in the way the humbly guides in justice and the humble he teaches his way all the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth - such as keep his covenant and his testimonies for your name's sake o Lord pardon my iniquity for it is great the psalmist ties forgiveness of sins to the great name of God Almighty and the psalmist indicates that that is his only refuge and his only hope the very argument upon which he mounts this this this request is on his own sinfulness the name of God and the sinfulness of David are the reasons why he invokes God to bless him with forgiveness to bless him with mercy to bless him with that covering turn over to Psalm 32 we sang this as the second song in our worship today psalm 32 verse 1 blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered you see what David is saying this is what makes a blessed man David was a rich man David had a multitude of wives David had a palace David had a kingdom david had everything earthly possible to bring satisfaction to a creature but that's not what causes him to rejoice that's not what causes him to reflect upon the blessedness of man what is blessed about man is that he is the recipient of God's grace you see brethren we are rich men and women in Christ Jesus our Lord because he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ you may be dirt poor physically and temporally you may have absolutely nothing in your bank account but if you are in Christ Jesus you are rich beyond compare you have received every spiritual blessing justification sanctification glorification is in the future for the people of God you see this is what causes David to reflect it's not his temporal blessings and benefits though in another place he praises God for decking him or loading him with benefits but he says blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit Psalm 51 that psalm of repentance on the part of David we know the particular occasion the saw subscript tells us verse 1 to the chief musician a psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him after he had gone into Bathsheba David needed something here he didn't need more mansions he certainly didn't need more wives he didn't need more money he needed grace from on high and he found it so if you're here this morning and you're not a believer you're not a Christian perhaps you've heard in the past well you know God's not really about saving God says but you know it's just like a miser he just kind of doles it out in a little bit I just want to abandon have you abandoned that thought that is not the conception of the God of the Bible who's the God of the Bible Luke 15 when that father saw the prodigal a great way off he ran to him he fell on him he kissed him and he ordered the slaying of the fatted calf calf I'm sorry but that image of God does not comport with the idea that there's just going to be this small little handful of people and before you start to the passage in Matthew well many are called and fewer chosen the SATs in a particular context there's a particular emphasis in that passage and it's simply not to teach us that there's only going to be a handful in heaven when you get to the book of Revelation what do you see before the throne of God in the land who sits upon the throne were the people of God cry out salvation belongs to our God and to the lamb who sits upon the throne it is a great multitude that no man can number the God of the Bible is the father of the prodigal that runs to sinners the God of the Bible is the God of David who forgave him of his adultery and murder the God of the Bible is the one who took this Saul of Tarsus who just a few chapters ago was breathing out threats and murder against the church and now puts him in the synagogue in facility in Antioch preaching the forgiveness of sins does Paul understand that concept does Paul understand this doctrine is this why it finds its way into his preaching absolutely positively he was going to help kill the people of God most high and now he's a preacher of the grace of God most high he understands forgiveness and he preaches it to the people in pacinian Antioch and that's what Psalm 51 does acknowledge my transgressions verse 3 my sin is always before me against you you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight that you may be found just when you speak and blameless when you judge he says behold I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me doesn't mean the conjugal act was sin it means that as soon as David was David was in Adam David was a sinner constituted such and then actual transgressions proceeded from that verse 6 behold you desire truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part you will make me to know wisdom and then verse 7 purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter than snow make me hear joy and gladness that the bones you have broken may rejoice hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities see what he does not do okay Lord I've messed up but I'm gonna do better I messed up Lord but I'm gonna bet get better I've messed up Lord but I'm not going to commit adultery and murder anymore now certainly that's necessary he's not supposed to commit adultery and murder him anymore but where does he go for forgiveness he doesn't bring himself to God as an argument for why God ought to forgive him he goes to God wash me purify me cleanse me verse the verse 10 created me a clean heart O God renew a steadfast spirit within me do not cast me away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from me verse 12 restored to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me by your generous spirit it's not that he wasn't converted and then fell into this sin he was converted that's why he says restore to me the joy of your salvation because it's lost as I have sacrificed that peace and comfort through my own wickedness and lawlessness and then notice what David says in verse 13 it's similar to what Paul's doing in acts 13 he says then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners shall be converted to you lords as David experiences the grace of God in the forgiveness of sins that comes as a result of this man this Christ because that's who David believed on he then teaches others concerning that grace concerning that forgiveness concerning that rightness with God that comes from God same with Paul he was a gross sinner he was a vile man he tried to persecute the Church of God and destroy it and now as a conquered Saint he's preaching forgiveness through this man Jesus that is the greatest need of mankind is forgiveness of sins notice as well Psalm 130 you might say well these are the passages he always recites good I hope they are nagging in your hearts on a regular basis not nagging in a bad sense not all nagging is bad kids when your mother's nag you to eat your broccoli that's good nagging you should eat your broccoli even more so your beef Psalm 130 verse 3 if you Lord well let's look at verse 1 out of the depths I have cried to you O Lord you just don't get that in human composition now I know that some hams give us a bit of the the dark side of sand and the sorrows of the soul and that sort of thing she's got to go to the Psalter when you want the honest expression of the people of God you got to go to the Psalms of Zion to enter into what is called experiential or experimental religion out of the depths I have cried to you O Lord Lord hear my voice let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications and what is intriguing here is that David was be sought by trials and afflictions David had a lot of issues in his life as we might count issues David had the constant sort of pursuit of Saul trying to get rid of him now where this is at in David's life I'm not absolutely sure but it wasn't just saw that was on his heels it was the Philistines David had a lot of problems and a lot of challenges he had a lot of struggles and this is indicative of that out of the depths I have cried to you O Lord but verses three and four indicate what the nature of his distress is it wasn't the temper all temporal it wasn't the Philistines it wasn't saw it was the Philistines in the Saul of the heart it was the sin of the heart it was the reality that offended God it was the reality that he had defected from God was a reality that all of us find ourselves in that we have sinned against a holy God and that's why he says that that certain truth of verse 3 if you Lord should mark iniquities O Lord who could stand that is that is uh none reproach of all that logic is inter tired if God should mark iniquities there is not a one of us who can stand I don't care how good you think you are how many virtues you believe slow from your very being there is not a one of us that engage in the kind of demand or the demand of God's law upon us that we ought so if God should mark iniquities O Lord who could stand but then notice what David says but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared see David walked in this constant reality that there is forgiveness with God that's the constant reality that his people walk in today they don't just hear this sermon in acts 13 the city in Antioch and reflect upon it with reference to their initial coming to Jesus Christ we need every day to walk under the shadow of the cross we need every day to be cleansed in that precious fount that is open for sin and uncleanness we need every day to confess our sins understanding that he's faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness brethren what really makes our Christianity wonderful is this theme that God is redeeming people by his son the Lord Jesus Christ for his glory in other words man might try to deal with sin man might try to deal with aberrant behavior in society typically through education we just teach them they'll get better typically through money we just throw money at it and it will get better but it never gets better the only way to deal with sin is at the very base and the only way to deal with that very base is through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that's dr. Riya 13 in those days there will be a fountain open for sin and uncleanness praise God for that fountain praise God for that forgiveness in the last hour we talked about of the law of God in chapter 19 in the confession of faith and I made the observation that at times we Christians can come across as self-righteous we Christians can come across as a bit insufferable we Christians can come across like the Democratic Party in the United States and we need to guard against that and one of the helpful ways is to understand God's holy law brethren if God should mark iniquities who of us could stand right now as believers do you want to take that shot you want to stand before God clothed in your own righteousness you want to stand before God and say okay all these things I've kept from my youth let me in no none of us want to do that we are prayer praise full of are full of praise rather for our God and the provision of his son the Lord Jesus Christ but you are with you there is given us that you may be feared turn the prophet Isaiah prophet Isaiah again might say well we spent a lot of time on the forgiveness of sins in this church I'm not sure that we need to now well okay I think we need to happen to be up here so let's go ahead and rehearse this idea of the forgiveness of sins notice in the prophet Isaiah specifically at isaiah 43:25 isaiah 43:25 i even i am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and i will not remember your sins isn't that a beautiful statement say well this God forget no God doesn't forget this is spoken in the manner of men this is to assuage our conscience says this is to affirm and confirm for us that he doesn't forgive on Monday and then bring it back to bear on Thursday you ever had that your marriage relationship husbands you thought you took care of something you thought you dealt with something you thought that you were forgiven only to hear five years later you remember back then you did such-and-such that's acida doesn't only happen to husbands but husbands do that to wives as well right you know back in March of 2000 you did this and I still haven't gotten over it well this passage indicates that God is not like us when he forgives he does forget again spoken in the manner of man because there's nothing that God doesn't always know but it's for us that the text indicates it in this manner and I will remember your sins or I will not remember your sins and then notice of the prophet Isaiah chapter 45 forgiveness isn't offered here but it's contained isaiah 45:22 look to me and be saved all you ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other that beautiful why do we have this conception that God is a miser God as Ebenezer Scrooge God doesn't want to save anybody God isn't the father of the prodigal God doesn't run to returning sinners God doesn't end and in that context the returning center wasn't returning for the right motives I don't that prodigal was saved until he had dealings with the father I think that prodigal wanted a hot meal is what he wanted that was the return so that return was less than noble itself and nevertheless the father falls on him the father kisses him the father puts a ring on his finger and the father orders the fatted calf to be slain it's about grace it's not about the ingenuity or the wisdom of that sinner who thought to himself well I know that my father is benevolent and gracious he just wanted a hot meal the emphasis falls on or the access falls on God in His grace receiving that young man this is most blessed look to me and be he saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other some of you have heard of Spurgeon's conversion he was a young man 15 or 16 it was a snowy day wasn't able to get to church so he popped into a Methodist chapel that he could that he could arrive at think it was a Methodist chapel and there that the minister was off the minister wasn't there and so he had a preacher a man from the congregation and I don't mean to offend I know that we tell our kids not to use this particular word but this is what Spurgeon said how the New King James translates certain things in the Proverbs so perhaps there's a way to use it a positive and a way to not ever use it but he referred to that man as a stupid preacher that man didn't know anything that man wasn't trained that man hadn't gone to seminary that man didn't have the ability to put together a homiletically correct sermon so Spurgeon ends up there and guess what the text is the text is isaiah 45:22 and all the man all the stupid preacher could do was repeat that verse look to me and be saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other and that man alighted on CH Spurgeon and he said young man have you looked young man have you looked God saved Spurgeon through the efforts of the stupid preacher that none of us know whose name it is and then Spurgeon goes on to preach the forgiveness of sins to thousands and thousands and thousands of people it's beautiful brethren salvation isn't God by our works by our merit by our law keeping by our civility salvation is wrought by the grace of God there is for give nathie that thou may us be feared and God through the Prophet notice it's not just Israel look to me and be he saved all the ends of the earth Jews Gentiles men women boys girls every kindred every tribe every tongue every people group this is proleptic this is anticipatory God through the Prophet knows obviously that this gospel is going to go forth all over the earth and back here back then he says look to me and be he saved all the ends of the earth for I and God and there is no other look at the prophet Micah Micah chapter 7 Micah chapter 7 verse 14 Schappert Shepherd your people with your staff the flock of your heritage he dwells solitarily in a woodland in the midst of Carmel let them feed in basian and Gilead as in days of old as in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt I will show them wonders the nations shall see and be ashamed of their might they shall put their hand over their mouth they their ears shall be deaf they shall lick the dust like a serpent they shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth they shall be afraid of the Lord our God and shall fear because of you who is a God like you it's beautiful it's a play on the prophets name Micah means literally who is a God like you and so Micah cries out to God and notice the cry is not because you judge the nations around us the cry is not who is a god like you who punishes these vile reprobates that's not what he listens this from the Prophet it's not the reality of God's justice and judgment we know fundamentally at a basic point in our in our experience that God is just God is righteous there is a moral government he has put his law in our heart that's not what provokes from the Prophet wondering who is a god like you but rather it's the redemptive privilege it's the redemptive benefit it's the grace of God it's not the Justice that cries out who is godlike you but it's an appreciation of grace who is a God like you verse 18 pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage he does not retain his anger forever notice this next language loved applause because he delights and murder see see if you've been taught I can't go to God because God's dish is harder to cruel you sound more like that guy with the talents so I knew you to be an austere man I knew you to be a hard man so I buried the dough so I wouldn't lose any that's not - God portrayed in the Bible he he does what he he delights in mercy you see if you're a sinner here this morning you should hear this and be encouraged if you're a sinner here this morning you should go wow you mean there's hope for a sinner like me yes there's hope for sinners like you there's hope for sinners like me certainly there's hope for sickness like you every sinner in here that has found that hope in and through this man the Lord Jesus Christ can affirm and a test and verify this is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world sinners to save of whom I am foremost or of whom I am chief Paul says back to the text he does not retain his anger forever because he delights in mercy he will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea I like that God goes deep-sea fishing I really appreciate that God does deep-sea fishing I like that he casts our sins into the depths of the sea because if God wasn't a deep-sea fishermen if speaking in the manner of man if God only cast them into the shallowest parts of the sea what would happen inevitably they bubble back up to the surface they would be used against us they would be constantly treated trotted out and put before our face but that's all what God does he takes those sins and he cast them into the depths of the sea that's the testimony of the prophet Micah turning back to the book of Acts this is a recurring refrain in the book of Acts this emphasis on the forgiveness of sins Peter preaching to Jerusalem sinners in Acts chapter 2 makes this emphasis acts 2:38 now I say Jerusalem sinners because it's important for us to remember they were Jerusalem sinners what was unique about Jerusalem sinners that hasn't been unique sense in this context these Jerusalem sinners were the means by which the Son of God went to the cross so you would think that that would disqualify them forevermore from ever being received favorably by God the fact that they crucified the Lord of glory the fact that they put that man on the cross the fact that they did this even in itself did not disqualify them from the forgiveness of sins offered by God through his preacher notice in verse 36 in acts 2 therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ now when they heard this they were cut to the heart that's good that's great that's what we pray happens God sent forth the spirit bless the preaching of the word and bless the reception of the word if a cutting to the heart happens this morning don't lose that in other words after the sermon if there has been an impression made by the spirit with the truth of God don't just discount that if there is conviction wrought that's a good sign the remedy then must be sought and it's what Paul says in verse 38 that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins so look back at our text verse 37 now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do again a great question if you're convicted of your sin that's a great question now our default typically goes this way what shall we do I should go out and do better I should go out and see moral reform I should go out and stop doing the back I should go up no no that's not the answer to the question Peter answers it but the act of asking is a good sign men and brethren what shall we do thirty-eight then Peter said to them repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for what for the remission of sins for the forgiveness of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promises to you and to your children and to all who are far off as many as the Lord our God will call whether you're a Jerusalem center whether you're the child of a Jerusalem center or whether you're a heathen afar off it's predicated on the fact of as many as the Lord our God will call but the response to this gospel the response to this instruction the response to understanding the law and the prophets led to our Lord Jesus that he is the one who came down for us men and for our salvation that he is the one who lived and died and was raised again the the response to that is faith believed on him for the forgiveness of sins and that's what Peter says now he uses repent often repent and believe for use synonymously in evangelistic passages here in the book of Acts turn over to acts 3:19 acts 3:19 repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord if we ever asked the question what moved these men what moved these twelve men to go out and do what it is they did well first of all it was the glory of God secondly it was obedience to the law of God because he had told them to do so but thirdly it was love for men this is the best expression of the second great commandment love your neighbor as yourself what's the best thing we can do for our neighbor we can tell them the way of forgiveness especially in a society like ours man people are hurting people are broken people are destitute people have all kinds of issues but this is one area where God in Christ brings hope brings encouragement brings life and brings blessedness this is what our generation every generation desperately needs to hear 531 531 him God has exalted to his right hand to be Prince and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins and then 10:43 the Apostle Peter preaching to the household of Cornelius to him all the prophets witness that through his name whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins now I think this is really intriguing because Cornelius is set forth as a as a good man Cornelius is a just man Cornelius is a devout man but Cornelius is still a sinful man same in Pisidia and Antioch those proselytes the Greeks that we see in verse 43 those weren't just god-fearers those weren't just persons that were interested in the God of Israel so they would go to synagogue when it uses the language of proselyte that means Gentiles that had been converted to the religion of the Jews they were baptized they were circumcised and they offered up sacrifice so having said that as far as life and people go they were decent people these proselytes to the Jewish religion these Jews that were in the synagogue wanting to hear about y'all way to this room so in that light we can agree at least on a on a horizontal level on a surface II level their moral somewhat decent people and yet notice the emphasis of the Apostles there is that tendency in us to hide behind our morality there is that tendency in us to hide behind our perceived goodness there is that tendency in us to think that all as well because there's some vestiges of external compliance to God's law and yet the Apostles come to these allegedly good people and preach to them the forgiveness of sins what does that indicate it doesn't matter your station it doesn't matter your place it doesn't matter how irreligious you are or how religious you are the one fundamental common identifier characteristic of all men and women and boys and girls everywhere is that we have sinned against a just and holy God and we need forgiveness and it's in this man that forgiveness is preached it's in Christ Jesus that forgiveness comes and then you turn to the epistles and the New Testament again you see this emphasis on forgiveness why because we desperately positively need it romans 4 7 when the Apostle is presenting his argument for justification by faith he appeals to david in psalm 32 romans 4 7 and 8 blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin turn over to Ephesians chapter 1 Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7 in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace beautiful Ephesians 1 verses 3 to 14 is one long Verta one long sentence there's no punctuation in the sentence in the original to sort of break it up the translators do that because we don't think in terms of one long sentence from verses 3 to 14 but Paul did and what is he rehearsing in verses 3 to 14 he's rehearsing the salvation of our triune God blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ he then focuses upon specifically the work of the father in verses 4 and 5 father chose us in him before the foundation of the world he predestinated us unto adoption as sons by Jesus Christ we didn't stop there he praises the father for the work of the father he praises the father for the work of the Spirit you see that in verses 13 and 14 but he praises the father for the work of the son he praises the father for what Jesus has done on behalf of his people you see the connection verse 6 he says to the praise of the glory of His grace by which he made us accepted in the beloved well how did he make us accept it in the beloved because of the prior work of the beloved on their behalf that's what verse 7 indicates in him that's the beloved in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace you see forgive is a constant theme throughout Scripture we've could have gone before the Book of Psalms what's the sacrificial system and in Leviticus all about it's about sinful man approaching a holy God I think I've shared before the hope the whole reason why the Book of Leviticus is in the Bible or one of the reasons why is to deal with the tension at the end of verse at the end of the book of Exodus the book of Exodus they finished the tabernacle in the book of Exodus the Shekinah glory of God comes upon the tabernacle but Moses himself couldn't go into the tabernacle because Moses is a sinner Moses the holiest of Israel the best and the brightest of Israel cannot enter into that house cannot enter into that tabernacle where the glory of God is that's why the Book of Leviticus that's why the emphasis is on sacrifice in chapters 1 to 9 in the Book of Leviticus how does sinful man approach a holy God who is moralis tells us it's through a bloody knife and a smoking altar it is that sacrificial system that deals at least typically with the sins of the nation so that they can in fact commune with God in Temple in tabernacle and even prior to that what happens after the fall what happens when Adam and Eve sinned Adam and Eve run from God Adam and Eve show are set forth the the default mechanism that has ever since been imitated we sinned against God what do we do we try to run and hide we try to run and hide by pretending there is no God we try to run and hide by suppressing the truth of God we try to run and hide by argumentation we try to run and hide by our own attempts in atonement we try to run and hide by a whole manner of things that are ultimately wicked in and of themselves but how does God deal with Adam and Eve he kills animals before them and he covers them with those skins again that's typical that's pointing forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world but you see Adam and Eve had sinned against God they had transgressed that law and now God comes to deal with them in grace there is no forgiveness by your own attempt there is no forgiveness by you trying to you to outweigh the bad with your good forgiveness is grace forgiveness is mercy forgiveness is goodness forgiveness is kindness we don't earn it we don't deserve it but God in His mercy has granted it to us why because as the prophet Micah says he delights in mercy they don't think we have that conception of God sometimes and I'm not suggesting we shouldn't listen to verses 40 and 41 and the serious threat that's attached to Paul's preaching that God is a just God that God is a righteous God that God according to Salter is angry with the wicked every day but we always need to make sure that we're balanced in our understanding because that God is angry with the wicked every day is the same god of Psalm 103 he who knows our frame he knows that we're but dust and any pities us that that's our God and if you're not a believer here this morning that's God and that God is accessible we can come to the Father through the son this man in Paul's preaching according to acts 13 and verse 38 forgiveness does not come because you outweigh the bad in your life and God rewards you forgiveness doesn't come because you pay money because you do certain things because you enter into a a bartering system with God no forgiveness is an act of God's mercy to sinners that's Paul's point in acts 13 38 so he says therefore let it be known to you brethren that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins now I'm going to stop here because I don't want to take this too far afield or too long rather we'll pick up the next section God willing next week so in terms of the redemptive preaching or the redemptive focus in his preaching we've seen the preaching of the forgiveness of sins God willing next week we'll see the preaching of justification by faith alone so Paul deals with both of those things forgiveness justification I want to end on this particular note that he says that the blessings of God are obtained not by our works by our merit by our righteousness but through faith faith is the empty hand that God gives us to receive the blessings that God gives us faith is a gift given by God now again I've heard the logic before well if we tell sinners that that'll make them really sad and despair because if it's not something that they can conjure or conjure up rather than then they have nothing to do you know my answer to that is no Center apart from the grace of God will ever even want forgiveness I mean he may want it for a bit of peace of conscience at some level but the forgiveness of sins that comes as a result of the blood shadow of Jesus Christ pagans just don't even concern themselves about those sorts of things but if faith is a gift think about the God that we've just surveyed think about the God that the Bible sets forth a God who delights in mercy a God who says look to me and be saved all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other the God who says I will blot out all your transgressions you see the very thought that faith is a gift given by God is ground for great encouragement for any sinner here because God is about doing these things God is the father of the prodigal God does run from the porch god does fall on prodigal not does kiss them God does put rings on their fingers God does put robes on their back God does call for the slaying of the fatted calf God does say there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents if you do not have faith if you do not have repentance cry to the Lord God Most High who grants it but emphasize this as Paul does believe look under Jesus Christ in faith our confession is so helpful here there's a lot of confusion about faith I think I've heard it with kids well what does it mean to believe the gospel what does it mean to believe on Jesus sometimes we we get to the point where it's almost belief plus works and so we have to be very careful to make sure that we define faith properly and in a manner that is consistent with Holy Scripture again I think our confession helps when it says this it says by this faith it's talking about saving faith a Christian be to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word for the authority of God himself that's faith isn't it we believe whatever the Bible says oh but scientists tell us the world is what four billion years old I know what they're at now that number just keeps increasing you know science has said so irons has said it's all but replaced thus sayeth the Lord but for the person who has saving faith he isn't care what science says if science has gone off the reservation and entered into philosophy science can build us nice refrigerators science can build us nice cars science is a good thing if we means knowledge and men who have that knowledge can do good things with it but science can't get into the philosophical questions of the origin of the universe that is a that is a call they're not able to answer they're not able to engage and so we ought not to fear that the person who has saving faith looks at the entirety of the Word of God says of course I believe it of course I believe there were Hittites even though science or anthropology in the first part of the 20th century said oh you know the Bible's it's it's false when it comes to these Hittites or Hittites well the civilization was found by archeology not long after such claims were made so we believe whatever the Bible says and that's what the confession highlights it says it also apprehends this faith with reference to the Bible and excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world oh it's the Bible's the best of books a lot of books in my library they're all about the Bible why because the Bible is the best of that because all Scripture is given by inspiration of God as wonderful as Owen may have been as wonderful as virgin may have been they were not writers who were guided by the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit and that's what we have in the sacred writings of Holy Scripture goes on to say as it bears forth the glory of God and his attributes the excellency of Christ and his nature and offices and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit and his workings and operations goes on to say with reference to those who have saving faith and so is enable the person who has saving faith to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed and also acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains yielding obedience to the commands trembling at the threatenings and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come so you see what the confession does the faith saving faith is believing everything the Bible says seeing that the Bible is the book of books the most excellent the most wonderful the most glorious thing ever and then to see that as a believer in Christ there's different responses to the law of God obedience to the threatenings of God warning to the promises of God great encouragement and comfort and then the confession hones in it comes to get real specific on this matter of saving faith and it goes on to say but the I'm sorry but the principle acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ accepting receiving and resting upon him alone for justification sanctification and eternal life by virtue of the covenant of grace so we believe everything that the Bible says but the principle acts of saving faith what marks are identifies principally saving faith it is to accept to receive and to rest upon Jesus Christ alone for justification sanctification he and eternal life by virtue of the covenant of grace and those are metaphors that accept that receive those are metaphors for believe on him fact John Calvin I think makes belief very simple again if you study this issue faith sometimes people want to mix faith and works and call that faith well that's that's not good that's not a way to go with reference to faith I think Calvin is right on John 333 he says to believe the gospel is nothing else than to assent to the truths which God has revealed it's so simple exactly it's so simple and yet is so hard isn't it we need God's grace we need the spirit we need conviction of sin and we need him to show to set forth Christ as altogether lovely and as chief among 10,000 for you here this morning that are not believers in Jesus Christ here's the answer believe on Jesus Christ look on to me Yahweh says all the ends of the earth for I am God and there is no other that's the response to the message concerning this man this Savior sent to Israel this Savior preached by John the Baptist this Savior that was crucified this Savior that was resurrected the response of any unbeliever is to look unto him in faith for the forgiveness of sins let us pray father we thank you for your word and we thank you for the clarity of the Apostle and his preaching I pray father that these things would find mark the mark in our hearts as believers that we would be refreshed and encouraged that there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared and for unbelievers that they may be encouraged that there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared and God I pray that we'd all ponder the prophets the psalm the Psalter and the new testament and what it testifies concerning our God our God that is gracious our God that is in Christ reconciling the world to himself and our God who is calling men and women and boys and girls from every tribe tongue people and nation we thank you for Jesus we thank you for the cross we thank you for the resurrection we thank you for his life of perfect obedience to the father's law and even now Lord God we pray that you would bless and strengthen our hearts and encourage us and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well why don't we stand and we'll close by singing 564 564 [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the Lord bless you and keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace God thank you that we have peace with our God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for that peace of God that does surpass all understanding that comes as a result of your gospel and your blessing and I pray that all of us would enjoy this peace all of us would know this peace all of us would delight in it and that we would bring glory and honor and praise to you and lives of gratitude and worship and Thanksgiving we ask that you would bless our day help us to sanctify the day help us in our conversation to make much of Christ and we pray in his glorious name amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation you you