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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God on this Lord's day for our call to worship you can turn with me in your Bibles to the prophet Isaiah Isaiah chapter 42. huh Isaiah 42 I'll read verses 1 to 9. behold my servant whom I uphold my elect one in whom my soul Delights I have put my spirit upon Him He will bring forth Justice to the Gentiles he will not cry out nor raise his voice nor cause his voice to be heard in the street a bruised Reed he will not break and smoking flax he will not quench he will bring forth Justice For Truth he will not fail nor be discouraged till he has established Justice in the earth and the Coastland shall wait for his law thus says God the Lord who created the heavens and stretched them out who spread forth the Earth and that which comes from it who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it I the Lord have called you in righteousness and will hold your hand I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people as a light to the Gentiles to open blind eyes to bring out prisoners from the prison those who sit in darkness from the prison house I am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to carved images behold the former things have come to pass and new things I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them amen well please turn in your hymn books to Psalm 150 that's Psalm 150 Charlie and will stand as we sing together foreign [Music] Oh Praise [Music] please [Music] oh crazy [Music] examples praise our love forever [Music] o praise the Lord forever foreign [Music] let us pray our blessed God most high it is a joy and a privilege to gather in your house again on this Lord's Day evening we come before you we acknowledge that you are from Everlasting to Everlasting that you are God most high even Father Son and Holy Spirit we praise you for your works of creation and Providence we praise you for Redemption and the wisdom and the power and the goodness that you display in these Works external to yourself and we rejoice in your loving kindness in terms of the Gospel of our Salvation we thank you for the occasion that brings us together here on the Lord's Day namely the resurrection of our Blessed Redeemer that one who lived for us the one who died for us the one who was raised again the third day and As We Gather tonight for the ordinance of the supper may we remember in a special way his death on behalf of Sinners we know Lord God that our sin is great our wickedness our transgression our Rebellion we are indeed totally depraved and unable to Merit favor from God on I so you you in your initiative sent the son of your love into this world Sinners to save and we rejoice in your grace to us giving us that new life in Jesus Christ giving us that faith and repentance so that we could close with him and even now we pray that you would increase it cause us to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Blessed Redeemer and may you be glorified As We Gather here tonight as we sing praises unto you as we look to the holy scriptures as we pray unto you may you receive glory and honor honor and adoration from your Saints assembled together the psalmist said you're enthroned upon the Praises of Israel and God we know in that New Covenant Arena the Church of Christ is the Israel of God and so we trust that blessing that that promise and provision that you are in the midst of your lamp stand here and Lord God encourage and strengthen each of our weary hearts and even now please forgive us for our transgression and our our Rebellion against you we know we're called to let our conduct be worth worthy of the Gospel of our Salvation And yet as we see in Romans 7 we see it in Galatians 5. we see it on our own hearts on a regular basis that remaining corruption that proneness to wander and proneness to leave the god that we love Lord forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness Zechariah prophesied a day when there would be a fountain open for sin and uncleanness and we Rejoice that we live in those days we rejoice in that forgiveness that comes as a result of the shed blood of our Blessed Redeemer John says if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness so do that even now and purify our minds and hearts our conscience as we gather together in your in your house and may we lift up our voices on high to praise you and to worship you in spirit and in truth and God for any and all who've come here tonight that are still dead in their trespasses and sins we don't appeal to their free will we don't appeal to their wisdom or to them to try harder and do better but we appeal to The Sovereign power of God Almighty who's able to make men willing in the day of his power so we pray that he should Open Hearts and cause there to be that that looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and that salvation that comes as a result as well God we pray for your blessing upon this local body and the various needs in our church we pray for those with temporal physical hardships and challenges and we commend them to you and to the word of your grace we pray as well God for all of us as we have the spiritual difficulties and trials associated with life in a Godless World help us to be faithful in this world help us to shine as lights in this crooked and perverse generation and give us boldness and courage to hold forth your your truth bless our sister churches and in Surrey and in Armstrong and in Dryden we thank you for these brothers and sisters as they gather together tonight we pray that you would be in their midst that you would encourage them and strengthen them and and bless their gospel witness in the parts of the world that you have placed them as well father we pray for the church in Honduras we thank you for the Faithful Men that Minister the word of God and that that City and that Community we pray that they would know the blessing of God Almighty that they would know the power of the Holy Spirit as they preach Christ and him crucified and may it be the case that that church would grow not just numerically but in terms of spiritual strength and vitality and that those men would be encouraged at witnessing the hand of God in that in that local church as well we pray for the persecuted church we know there is great trial great Affliction and difficulty for the Saints of Christ all throughout this Earth we read of many many places this morning in prayer meeting and God it Grieves us and at the same time it encourages us because we know that as Christ builds his church the gates of Hades though they shall not Prevail against it nevertheless do try and we see that opposition we see that enmity so we trust and we know that the gospel is making inroads into these various Nations and among various people groups and we have the sure promise of of God through the Apostle John that it'll be men women boys and girls from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation there will be a multitude that no man can number on that day and we praise you for that gospel success and we look forward to to that entrance into heaven to being with the church triumphant where we can worship our Triune God World Without End even now father help us to press on help us to be persevering help us to be faithful in this world and may the word tonight and may the sacrament be means unto that end may he cause us to grow and may you further conform us unto the image of your blessed son and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we can turn with me again in your hymn books to Psalm 51. again 51 see as in Charlie will sing the first four stanzas so 51c stands as one to four [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] I understand [Music] as Grace [Music] Bibles to the book of Acts Acts chapter 13 for our meditation tonight prior to the supper Acts chapter 13 the Apostle Paul is preaching in a synagogue in the city and Antioch this is the first missionary journey it's recorded in Acts 13 1 to 14 28 and it was conducted in about the years A.D 47 to 48 covered about 1400 miles so Cyprus and then the churches in southern galatia so there were presidian Antioch Iconium lystra and Derby the return to the church and Antioch is recorded in Acts 14 27 and 28 where Paul and Barnabas reported all that God had done with that as well if you notice the end or toward the end of chapter 12 we have one of Luke's several progress reports Luke wrote the book of Acts along with the Gospel According to Luke and several times along the way he gives us a progress report so in Luke I'm sorry acts 12 24 it says us but the word of God grew and multiplied we certainly see that in this first missionary journey when the Apostle makes disciples and plants local churches our Focus tonight will be on the application in the sermon so specifically verses 38 to 43 but I do want to begin reading in Acts 13 at verse 13. when they arrive in Antioch in presidia now when Paul and his party set sail from paphos they came to perga in pamphilia and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem but when they departed from purga they came to Antioch in presidia and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down and after the reading of the law and the prophets 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 hands said men of Israel and you who fear God listen 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 arm he 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 their land to them by allotment after that he gave them judges for about 450 years until Samuel the prophet and afterward they asked for a king so God gave them Saul the son of Kish a man of the tribe the Benjamin for 40 years and when he had removed him he raised up for them David as king to whom also he gave testimony and 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 loose 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 came up with him From Galilee to Jerusalem who are his witnesses to the people and we declare 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 Psalm 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 sure 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 fathers 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 in the prophets 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 the 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 on the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God but when the Jews saw the multitudes they were filled with envy and contradicting and blaspheming they opposed the things spoken by Paul and Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said it was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first but since you reject it and judge yourselves Unworthy of everlasting life behold we turn to the Gentiles for so the Lord has commanded us I have set you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the Earth and when the Gentiles heard this they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed and the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region but the Jews stirred up The Devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region they shook off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium and the disciples were filled with joy and with the holy spirit amen let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for this wonderful section of Holy scripture we thank you for the the Blessed accomplishment you gave to the Apostle as he went about the various places in the Roman Empire to make disciples and to plant churches and to write letters to the churches we thank you for that rich Legacy we thank you for the benefit it provides to the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the ages and even now give us eyes to see yours to hear in Hearts to receive this wonderful truth concerning forgiveness of sin concerning the empty of the righteousness of Jesus Christ all the scripture says concerning justification is such an encouragement to our weary Hearts to even now build us up in our Most Holy Faith again forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and guide us by your spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well we would be here for several hours if we looked at the entirety of Paul's preaching here in pacity and Antioch so basically what happens in verses 13 to 15 as Paul's custom was he'd go to the synagogue of the Jews there you'd have a ready audience you'd have people that were familiar with the old Covenant scriptures as well you had persons referred to in the book of Acts as god-fearers they were typically Gentiles outside the Covenant Community but nevertheless interested in Israel's God so 13 to 15 that's precisely what happens notice at the end of verse 15 one of the rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying men and Brethren if you have any word of exhortation for the people say on will you throw that softball over the plate and the Apostle Paul is definitely going to take a swing at it should not surprise us one bit that in verse 16 Paul stood up and motioning with his hand said and he preaches Jesus Christ and the way that he does that is that he gives a brief sketch of Israel's history he does this in a manner similar to Peter in Acts 3 and of course Stephen in Acts chapter 7. it is the history of Israel where there was the promise of the Messiah and so he shows that sort of uh progression he speaks of David and then he says in verse 23 from this man's seed according to the promise God raised up for Israel a savior Jesus and then he highlights that arrival of the Messiah verses 23 to 25 and then he explains Israel's messiah in verses 26 to 37. he shows that it was necessary in accordance with Old Testament scriptures that the Christ must suffer the Christ must die and the Christ must be raised again and then he brings the sermon to a close with an exhortation to believe on Israel's Messiah that's what we're looking at specifically in verses 38 to 41. it would be good to sort of look at the rest of the chapter as well but we're actually going to conclude tonight at verse 43. so notice with reference to his exhortation to believe on Israel's Messiah he does two things here first we ought to appreciate the Practical nature of his preaching and then secondly the Redemptive focus of his preaching so notice how he begins in verse 38 therefore let it be known to you he's not just passing on information he's not just sketching Israel's history with a view to appreciating cognitively the Messiah Jesus Christ no he brings it to its practical implication therefore he doesn't just present Bible information as an end in itself now certainly there's a place for the passing of or the transmission of Bible information certainly to get more knowledge we have Bible studies we have lectures we have sort of discussions and that that kind of a means a Pursuit but when it comes to the preaching of God's word there is usually or there's should be a therefore there is an attempt by the preacher to present the data in such a way that the Holy Spirit comes and moves God's people to growth in Grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus or he moves those who are not God's people to consider their own sin to consider their own place before a holy God and to consider his blessed remedy and provision in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ so certainly that's what Paul is doing here he wants to speak to these Jews and God fearers in this synagogue on the Sabbath day in such a way as to see them embrace the Savior by faith come to him believe on him and know the joy as it is to be in Christ alone and so there is that practical emphasis in the gospel preaching of our brother Paul J.A 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 and he uses something that is used previously in 214 and 410 let it be known so it functions the way we saw Jesus words in verse 51 of John 8 this morning most assuredly or amen amen pay attention to what I have to say to you because it's of Eternal importance don't turn off your ears don't resist don't reject don't check out don't think about tomorrow's work day but rather think about the truth as it is in Jesus Christ the Lord that's the apostolic preaching of the Cross they don't go out and tell everybody God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life the word love is never once used in the book of Acts that doesn't mean there's no love we see love amongst the people of God we see God's love for his people but the apostolic preaching of the Cross was to make known Christ in his life Christ and his death Christ and his resurrection and then the call by the apostles was to believe on him to repent from your sin to come to him for the Salvation that he graciously provides in his gospel so now notice secondly the Redemptive focus in his preaching in 38b and 39 this is no be a better you sort of nonsense this isn't sort of self-help drivel this isn't just to try to promote a better life for you now while you're in this present age I'm just going to give you some nuggets I'm going to give you some tidbits I'm going to give you some helpful aspects of life so that you can function in a better way while you Traverse God's Globe no that's not it at all he preaches the Forgiveness of sins and he preaches justification by faith alone he preaches the most important message any man woman boy or girl will ever hear it is absolutely crucial that we understand and that we get our minds wrapped around this response to the gospel so notice his preaching of the the Forgiveness of sins in verse 38 be therefore let it be known to you Brethren that through this man is preached to you the Forgiveness of sins the man of whom the law and the prophets were consume a concern the man who was from the line of David the man who was announced by John the Baptist the man who was a perfect uh keeper of God's law and one who died as a sacrifice and substitute on the cross and the one who was raised again from the dead it is through this man and it's through this man alone I can forgive you horizontally if you sin against me but this man brings peace with God this man brings justification this man brings the conscience that we also desperately long for the best thing or one of the best things relative to the Christian message is the Forgiveness of sins it is having them blotted out it is being washed in the Precious Blood of the Lamb it is to know the joy of being found in him forgiven and having a righteousness that avails with god with reference to sin we need to appreciate it's not just a little missing of the Mark we are dead in our trespasses and sins we engage in sin like it's Sport with reference to a to an athlete we engage in sin constantly the Bible tells us work totally to pray the Bible tells us we're totally unable now it doesn't use those precise languages theology tells us but it shows us from scripture that those truths are there it we are messed up we're not just a little bit off we're not just a little bit lame we're not just a little bit maim we're not just a little bit sick we are absolutely dead spiritually before the Triune God Of Heaven and Earth we need our sins forgiven we need to be cleansed in the blood of the lamb and no accident this was an emphasis in the apostolic preaching of the Cross turn to Acts chapter 2 Acts chapter 2 at verse 36 on the day of Pentecost Peter preaches he tells them that this was this outpouring of the spirit was in accordance with the prophecy of Joel he says that the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ culminating in his life death resurrection and Ascension on high he then highlights the fact that they were guilty they were responsible they were the ones that crucified the Lord Of Glory and that's what he says he's addressing Jerusalem Sinners and in verse 36 he says therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ we can't escape that reality in the Bible the man who doesn't know sin the man who doesn't appreciate his problem will never seek out the remedy Jesus teaches the same thing in his Earthly Ministry I did not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance he's not suggesting there's a class of righteous people that sort of live out there in the specific somewhere that I didn't come for them because they're already righteous it's talking about the righteous in their own eyes he's talking about the wise the the the wise of this age he's talking about the Pharisees and the scribes who fancied themselves as being spotless and pure and the sort of sort of uh governors of the religion of Israel we need to understand our sin don't let that you know bother you if you come to a church and the pastor of the preacher points out your sin points us to the law of God to show us that transgression again if we don't know the law we won't know our sin and we certainly won't see our need for the Savior so Peter brings that to Bear upon them whom you crucified and then verse 37 now when they heard this they were caught to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and Brethren what shall we do perhaps there aren't you know large audiences of people cut to the heart because we don't preach the law of God anymore We Don't Preach against sin we don't tell men why they need Jesus we tell them they they need Jesus so they can be complete or they can be happy or they can have a better our life and all that sort of thing we need to preach Jesus as the one in whom there is forgiveness and a righteousness that avails with God perhaps when we take that seriously we might see the spirit of God working in such a way that Sinners are caught to the heart that Sinners might actually say men and Brethren what shall we do so what's Peter's response then Peter said to them repent let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ notice the next words for the remission 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 afar off as many as the Lord Our God will call the remission of sins the Forgiveness of sins turn over to chapter 3 specifically at verse 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 look at 5 31 531 it says him God has exalted to his right hand to be Prince and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins now we rehearse these passages on the one hand to encourage the people of God to reflect once again on how good it is to be a believer right it's a good thing to have the sins forgiven to have our transgressions dealt with to have that iniquity washed but I also rehearse this so that if you are an unbeliever you'll see the nature of the Redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ you're a sinner there happens to be one in the universe who has as definitionally part of his job to deal with sin it's a Most Blessed and glorious prophet position you're a wretch you're a monster you're a ghoul you're a sinner that that's actually a an offense to monsters and ghouls we're actually worse than monsters and ghouls monsters and ghouls do what monsters and ghouls are created to do we are sinners it's like that as a scenario mention this on Wednesday night in the Bible study Aza tries to study the ox cart so that the Ark of the Covenant doesn't fall into the mud does he expect God's going to say good for you us I'm glad you you know you're giving me a hand no God kills azza why because the mud does what the mud does if the Ark of the Covenant falls in the in that you can clean it off it's Azad that's got the problem it's azza that's defiled it's azza that's a sinner so the Forgiveness of sins is one of the chief Boons of the Christian religion it is a wonderful thing to have your sins forgiven in Proverbs we read that whoever covers his transgressions will not Prosper but the one who confesses and for forsakes it will find Mercy and this is what Paul is telling or Peter is telling the various Sinners that he's speaking to notice in Acts chapter 10 with reference to the house of Cornelius that Gentile or that sort of formal Gentile entrance into the Covenant of Grace made by God in light of Israel's Messiah look at how Peter finishes his sermon with reference to with reference to Cornelius and his household so 10 43 to him all the prophets witness that through his name whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins there is forgiveness to be had the New Testament simply reiterates what we find all throughout the Old Testament what does David say in Psalm 130 if you Lord should Mark iniquities O Lord who could stand that strict justice of God is unbending it is inflexible and the psalmist reflects upon that if thou Lord should Mark inequities oh Lord who could stand what's he saying because none of us are without sin but he continues on and says but there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared if you are not a believer in Jesus Christ tonight come to Jesus Christ and believe you will receive the Forgiveness of sins the man Christ Jesus lived for us he died for us he was raised again for us look at 26 18. the Apostle Paul defending again or highlighting his conversion and he's speaking before Agrippa a pagan a a non-covenant member and he is speaking concerning his own conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ notice what he says in 26 18. well verse 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people as well as from the Gentiles to whom I now send send you to open their eyes in order to turn them from Darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are Sanctified by faith in me so this isn't a one-off in presidian Antioch this isn't Paul sort of leaving the script and saying you know what I'm going to talk about forgiveness of sins here this punctuated this was part and parcel of the apostolic preaching of the Cross you have sinned against a holy God you have opened yourself up to that liability to his just wrath and curse and Punishment both in this life and that which is to come but there is forgiveness with him that he may be feared and that forgiveness comes as a result of this man the Apostle Paul sets before them this man being the Lord Jesus Christ now notice he doesn't stop there there is forgiveness to be sure but notice he speaks concerning righteousness verse 39 and by him everyone who believes is Justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses now there's a lot to unpack here in the first place the Bible declares God's demand for Perfection you will search in vain for God saying you know do your best try as good as you may and so long as you're you know above a d or an F then you can enter into heaven you don't find that the demand of God is on Perpetual exact entire personal obedience on the part of the center unto God remember R.C Sproul asking the question one time it was rhetorical and he said you know if God ever said in his word you were allotted one cent he doesn't obviously but he says if he did how long ago did we use up that one sin how long ago did we uh do that one said we are called to obey God the Bible says says that God demands Perfection the Bible declares as well Fallen man's inability to perfectly obey God's law if you're tracking you're going to start to conclude that sounds like bad news it is bad news God demands Perfection and we are utterly imperfection we are totally depraved we are totally unable we do not or cannot Merit God's favor based on our works based on our righteousness based on our best efforts the prophet Isaiah on behalf of the people says that our righteousness our righteousnesses are like filthy rags in the sight of God and in that particular context he meant their religious observance their religious performance the things that they were actually doing that that at least to some external measure uh fulfilled the the the demands of God's law he doesn't say our our adultery our our murder our our theft our our idolatry he says our righteousness says our light filthy rags our our best Deeds the the the good that we actually do accomplish is like filthy rags in the sight of God again if you're tracking you're going to say man this is this is bad news this isn't very encouraging but the Bible declares God's provision for forgiveness and righteousness in and through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ see we often preach Christ and him crucified and well we should in many ways that summarizes the entirety of the Gospel but we shouldn't neglect or forget his life of obedience when Jesus lived those 33 years it wasn't simply in an exemplary manner it wasn't simply a display of how good he was before God most high there was an end game in view that righteousness that Christ accomplishes in those 33 years is the righteousness that God gives to us the language of scripture is he imputes it to us and it is received by faith alone so the demand for perfect righteousness is not obliterated the demand for perfect righteousness is not suspended the demand for perfect righteousness not done away with the demand for perfect righteousness is fulfilled by by Christ himself such that when The Sinner by God's grace believes on Jesus he's not only forgiven of his sin which that in and of itself would be great but that would simply transport us back to the Garden of Eden to stand probation before the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil we then have to effectively pursue righteousness in such a way as to win from God final salvation but that's not all that's in justification it's the Forgiveness of sins and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to the believing sinner this is why we rejoice in the gospel this is why it's good news this is why we get out of bed each day this is why even though we said we confess it to God knowing that our sins are forgiven knowing that we have that righteousness that ultimately avails with God so the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin the righteousness of Jesus Christ clothes us and fits us and prepares us to enter into heaven it is a Most Blessed exchange our sin is heaped upon the Savior the savior's righteousness is heaped upon us God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him that's Second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21. so the Bible declares God's provision of forgiveness and righteousness in the gospel of Christ turn to Romans chapter 1. you see this emphasis in 16 and 17. Romans chapter 1 the thesis statement concerning Paul's great letter to the to the Romans 116-17 for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written the Josh shall live by faith so in it the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith that's not the Perfection of God's righteousness though that is revealed the attribute of God's righteousness the fact that God is right and that he is righteous but I think what Paul's getting at in 117 is for in it for in the gospel the righteousness of God the righteousness that God demands and the righteousness that God provides that's what the gospel delivers it's the righteousness that God demands and the righteousness that God supplies in and through the work of his son for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith as it is written the just shall live by faith turn as well to the book of Galatians I'm sorry Philippians we'll get to Galatians in a few minutes Philippians chapter 3. again just the argument that with Justified or with justification it does include the Forgiveness of sins Paul preaches that in 1338 but it also includes righteousness provided by God through Christ's life through Christ's obedience Paul expands on this and in Romans chapter 5 here we'll see it in just a moment in Philippians chapter 3 we'll get back to what Paul says in 1339 in a moment but notice what Paul says in Philippians chapter 3 verse 7 but what things were gained to me these I have counted loss for Christ now in the context he's basically telling us what his sort of spiritual resume was if there was ever a guy that could have got into heaven based on his own action based on his own conduct based on his own performance Paul was the guy in fact look back for just a moment verse two beware of dogs beware of evil workers Beware of the mutilation dogs here are not canines they're not pit bulls they're not you know those vicious dogs that are going to rip you you know and I don't want to get into the pit bull debate I'm sure some are oh they're just innocent wonderful dog okay the the dogs here are judaizers the dogs here are those who've come to the churches in southern galatia those churches I mentioned that were part and parcel of Paul's Ministry in this first missionary journey and said faith in Christ is requisite but so are the laws of Moses so is circumcision so is this sort of national identity being part of the Jewish people so he says beware of dogs beware of evil workers Beware of the mutilation for we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh now notice his resume though I also might have confidence in the flesh if anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh I more so circumcise The Eighth Day of the stock of Israel of The Tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of the Hebrews concerning the law of Pharisee concerning Zeal persecuting the church concerning in the righteousness which is in the law blameless see what he's saying Jennifer there was a candidate that could have been entered into heaven based on his Judaism based on his compliance with the law based on Torah based on what was stipulated in terms of being a good Jew Paul was that candidate Paul was the guy should have been a shoe head but that's when he says but what things were gained to me these I have counted lost for Christ yet indeed I also count all things lost for the Excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ now notice in verse 9 and be found in him not having my own righteousness which is from the law but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness which is from God by faith we need forgiveness but we also need a righteousness and this is provided by God through our Lord Jesus Christ and for wearing any Sinners this is the best news you're going to hear today this is as good as it gets you are a sinner you stand in need of help and grace and mercy and love and kindness and forgiveness and righteousness Christ provides that particular task Look to Him in faith and you will have everlasting life believer as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes you Proclaim that provision of both forgiveness and the righteousness by which you and I will enter in to the very presence of God most high so Paul in this sermon in presidian Antioch holds forth these twin blessings of justification so 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 it was simply impossible the problem isn't owing to the law the problem is owing to sinful man the problem isn't that God's law is wondrous and glorious and beautiful and a Perfection or a perfect reflection of his will but rather it's the fact that we're an Adam that we're Sinners that we don't obey that law that we don't do what that law says Paul elsewhere in first Timothy chapter one at verse 8 says we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully there is a proper use for the law of God in the life of the Christian but that proper use is not trying to obey it in order to be saved no we obey it because by God's grace we have been saved and so Paul is simply telling a bunch of Jews sitting in a synagogue in presidian Antioch that if you look to the law of Moses as your means for entrance into heaven you are on a Fool's errand it is never going to happen the only way the only means the only manner by which men are accepted is that provision of Jesus Christ in the gospel of our blessed savior in the language of Westminster Shorter Catechism justification is an act of God's free Grace where any pardonneth all our sins and accept acceptance acceptth us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone and that's the instrumentality and by him everyone who noticed the scripture everyone who believes is Justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses this is an emphasis by Paul in Romans and in Galatians predominantly but he speaks to the instrumentality of faith and other Epistles as well our movement through the book of of Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 to 8 to 10. Faith it's we're not saved because of Faith we're saved through our faith matron makes the observation faith is not a meritorious work the New Testament never says that a man is saved on account of his faith but always that he is saved through his faith faith is the means which the Holy Spirit uses to apply to the individual soul the benefits of Christ's death so it is by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that brings us into this fear of peace with God look at Romans 5 specifically at verse 1 a beautiful wonderful statement of that net effect of justification by faith alone therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ now Brethren if you've been at this for any amount of time you'll know that peace is not always a warm fuzzy feeling is it well I've got this warm fuzzy feeling that could be heartburn you don't judge your religion based on the feelings or the emotions there is a concreteness to this there is a definiteness to this those who put all their eggs in the baskets of feelings are those people that are like this when it comes to the Christian Life Now Brethren as Luther said feelings come and feel feelings go but feelings are deceiving my warrant is the word of God none else is worth believing it is through faith in the Savior and that Faith does not make you know fireworks go off that Faith does not warm your heart to the to the very inner parts of your bowels that Faith doesn't set a halo over your head that Faith rather is objective as Machin says it is the means by which the Holy Spirit applies the benefits of Christ to that sinner so don't judge it based on feelings you know people say well I believe the gospel but but nothing happened what does that mean nothing happened what are you thinking is going to happen you're going to grow another foot your hair is going to come back your eyes are going to get better this isn't a health wealth Prosperity Gospel you don't quantify it that way there are times in the experience in the lives of God's people where they don't always feel like they're forgiven they don't always feel like they're righteous so it's in those times that they cleave to the word of God they White Knuckle the pages of Holy Scripture and they don't let it go they understand that this is in fact their life blood this is the means by which they have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ it is the most freeing and most blessed and most wonderful thing in all the world one man made this observation and just so you know I absolutely positively disagree with this observation he says justification by faith alone is just paperwork in heaven it does nothing to change your life it simply changes your status or your state ending in heaven before God I'm sorry but a change in status in heaven before God does everything to change your life it causes you to say my sin oh the Bliss of this glorious thought my sin not in part but the whole is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more praise the Lord praise the Lord Brethren it's not just paperwork in heaven ousted said that the doctrine of justification by faith is that article upon which the church falls or stands it's typically ascribed to Luther but it was a theologian by the name of J.H alstad the the scriptures are are very clear at this point of justification by faith alone that doesn't mean we eliminate the need for preaching on regeneration of course we preach on regeneration of course we preach the transforming work of the power of the holy spirit in Us in the life of sanctification but that's not what Paul is preaching in the city and Antioch he is preaching not the spirit's work in us to transform our us he is preaching the Lord Jesus work for us the fact that when we by Grace believe in him we are forgiven of our sins and we receive this righteousness by which we'll enter in to the very presence of God most high so when it comes to the law of Moses it's valuable it is absolutely crucial as long as we use it lawfully but Paul tells that by him everyone who believes is Justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses again it's a fool Fool's errant if you hear the the law of God the gospel of God and you conclude well you know I'm gonna try to go it on my own I'm gonna I'm gonna try to get to heaven on my own I'm going to try to fulfill that righteousness in such a way that God will accept me I love what Fisher says if you desire to be justified before God you must either bring to him a perfect righteousness of your own and holy renounce Christ or else you must bring the perfect righteousness of Christ and holy renounce your own take that advice sinner be encouraged Saint listen to what he says and holy renounce your own Fisher goes on Christ Jesus will either be a whole savior or no savior he will either save you alone alone or not save you at all this is Paul's emphasis in a synagogue in presidian Antioch to Sinners that stood in need of God's Saving Grace the accent does not fall on the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and sanctification though that is inextricably connected to justification by faith alone don't leave here tonight saying Butler denies regeneration it doesn't think it's important Butler denies sanctification and doesn't think it's important Butler's preaching acts 13 and for the Apostle when he comes to bring his sermon to Bear upon these Sinners he preaches justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ for the Salvation of sinners now notice how he ends you know Paul just stand there it's a good high note you don't have to be a negative Nelly but he's going to be a negative Nelly look at what he says in verse 40 beware therefore it's intriguing because this comes from the prophet Abacus chapter 1 verse 5. of course habakkuk is the famous prophet in 2-4 the just shall live by faith so habakkuk is the sort of prophet that asks questions of God you know you hear that sometimes it's oftentimes associated with sort of a pseudo-christian pseudo-religious approach oh sure you can get angry at God and you can question God no no you can't no no no no no don't don't do that we're not supposed to get angry with God we're not supposed to you know question god well why this why this why this why this but under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit habakkuk did ask a couple of questions and Yahweh was very kind and gracious to answer him well in that first series of questions habakkuk is basically just musing upon the condition going on in in Israel at the time and so this passage comes from habakkuk 1-5 beware therefore Paul says lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you intriguing old Covenant profits are still normative still applicable still useful in the New Covenant Church and the New Covenant preaching and the apostolic preaching we don't divide up the Bible and say well the Old Testament doesn't apply anymore Paul takes this prophet and smacks him right down in the middle of this in the synagogue and says listen to what he has to say beware therefore lest what has been spoken and the prophets come upon you behold you despisers Marvel and Parish for I work a work in your days a work which you will by no means believe the one word to declare it to you the emphasis in habakkuk 1-5 is on the Judgment of God via Babylon upon Judah for her Rebellion against God they would know that passage Brethren their Jews in the synagogue in the city and Antioch they weren't well I wonder what habakkuk had to say no they knew their Old Testament they knew these scriptures and so when Paul appropriates that and brings it to Bear upon them in light of his having preached to them justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ Alone he brings that to Bear upon them one New Testament a commentator on the book of Acts he's a modern he says this is the only occurrence of this term the word despisers here in verse 41 in the New Testament it refers to someone who despises or has contempt for something rejecting God's work in Christ puts one in this category in other words if you've heard this gospel if you've heard this message and you don't come to the Savior then this warning is appropriate for you beware therefore last what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you Brethren I know we live in a town that acknowledges the absolute and complete sovereignty of God most high our church acknowledges the complete and absolute sovereignty of God most high we have a confession of Faith back there that will explain all of that to you but the biblical truth of God's absolute sovereignty does not negate the responsibility of man and man must come to the Savior there is no other name given under Heaven by which we what must be saved acts 4 12 and so to despise this to reject this to resist this is again a Fool's Aaron the Geneva Bible says the benefits of God turn to the utter undoing of them that condemn them Calvin says habakkuk prophesies of the destruction brought upon them by the Chaldeans but the punishment whereby God revenges the contempt of his gospel was more severe therefore let us accustom ourselves to fear God and reverently Embrace his word lest such some such thing befall us remember Jesus words in in John 8 51 those who who keep my word you're not going to be upbraided for keeping God's word you're not going to be upbraided for coming to the Lord Jesus and believing in him that's a a brand of hyper Calvinism that distorts the very nature and being of God it turns on its head the whole idea of gospel preaching yes God is Sovereign but man is responsible and if you come to him he will in no wise cast you out according to John 6 37. he says it in Matthew chapter 11 all you who are weary and heavy laden do what stay away from me don't ever come near me stay far from me no come to me and I will give you rest to obey or to listen or to keep or to receive the word of God most I is not a a bad thing if you've been told that it's a bad thing that's bad preaching the bottom line is is that the Apostle tells these people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and then notice what happens as a result of this preaching there's a bit of a variant if you're using something in the non-king James tradition you don't get what we get in the new King James or in the King James look at what it says in verse 42 you may get it but you may get it in the margin now when the Gentiles went out of the Senate sorry when the Jews went out of the synagogue notice the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath why do you think they begged because this man preaches forgiveness this man preaches righteousness this this man preaches a way in a means to Heaven this man preaches what we don't have in ourselves we want that we want to hear that we desire to have that oh that God's gospel would be received such in our own generation we're a gospel hardened people you have to harangue the Saints of Christ to even come to church anymore and yet in this town in presidian Antioch you had a class of Gentiles begging that they too could get to hear the word of God verse 43 now when the congregation had broken up many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas so there were those who disagreed we'll see that later in the chapter we won't but you can look at it later you'll see that there were those who blasphemed there were those who who who didn't like what Paul and Barnabas had to say but there were those who followed his logic who followed the trajectory of Redemptive history who saw the tell us in the Lord Jesus Christ and by Grace they believed so what does Paul one of us do persuaded them to continue in the grace of God now notice 44 on the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God that that is what we pray for that is what we hope for that is what we cry out to God for and give him no rest revive your church May the church beg to hear the gospel May the church show up on the Lord's Day May the church actively take part in her responsibility and privilege to gather in the house of God Almighty but may there be that trickle-out effect that the Heathen the Pagan here what's going on in that church well they're preaching righteousness there they're preaching justification they're preaching salvation by faith in Jesus Christ look at the emphasis this first missionary journey on the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together not to hear some political speech not to watch some UFC match but they've gathered together to hear the word of God most high that Brethren is our God that Brethren is the God we call upon and the God we pray to to bless the proclamation of his truth in our own generation in conclusion the content of the Gospel we see it it's not your feelings it's not your happiness it's not your emotional well-being it's about the seedeth David the Lord Jesus Christ who lived the life of perfect obedience who died as a sacrifice and a substitute and who was raised again the third day we see the response to the gospel what are men called to do go out and Obey Jesus go out and obey the law go out and do everything you're supposed to do after believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved see our obedience to the law of God is a consequence of his justifying Grace in our lives it's not the the cause of our Salvation it's the effect of our salvation and so the response to this word the response to this message is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and you will by grace receive the Forgiveness of sins and the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ advised Morocco the Dutch reformed Theologian made this observation concerning justification he says it is the soul of Christianity I prefer that then paperwork in heaven it is the soul of Christianity and The Fountainhead of all true comfort and sanctification isn't your heart ring out amen with that what hap what makes you happy in your life your righteousness your obedience your faithfulness your law keeping if you're like me those are the things that most discourage you those are the things that most concern you those are the things that make you say 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 goes on to say he who airs in this Doctrine heirs to his eternal destruction the devil is therefore continually engaged in denying perverting and obscuring the truth expressed concerning justification he's right it is happening all around us may God bless may God preserve may God protect and may God cause us always to Rejoice that through this man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you so much for this sermon we thank you that we have the book of Acts and the apostolic preaching of the Cross and the blessing of God upon Sinners what a what a wonderful and encouraging look at Redemptive history and Lord we know that you have not changed you do not you cannot change it is impossible for you you are immutable and impassable so we call upon you to bless the word as it goes forth not just here but throughout this Earth that there would be people begging to hear the truth as it is in Jesus that there would be people by Grace coming to our lord Jesus Believing on him for the Forgiveness of sins and that righteousness that avails with you we ask now that you would continue to bless us in this service bless our time as we eat this bread and as we drink this cup and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well you can turn with me back to Matthew's gospel Matthew chapter 26 where we'll read the section concerning the supper just a few observations concerning the ordinance or sacrament of the Lord's Supper is for believers only if you're not a believer in Christ tonight the main emphasis that I would suggest is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so in other words it is a ordinance it is a Sacrament it is a way to see the gospel it's a means by which we we see the gospel and God's provision to us but it is for believers those who by Grace have come to our lord Jesus as well it's for believers who are dealing with their sin that doesn't mean they've extinguished all sin they've arrived at Perfection that's not what it could possibly mean we see though in First Corinthians chapter 11 if we don't have a conscience void of offense toward God and Men then we are unworthy participants in the supper in other words if we have sins that we're harboring we have sins That We're Not Gonna relinquish we have sins that we're not going to get rid of whether with God or with man then we shouldn't take we don't want to Heap up judgment or chastisement Upon Our Own heads as well the sacrament women as a means of Grace but we need to remember the elements stay the elements the bread and the wine are brought from sort of normal use to some degree of sacred use but they don't become the body and blood of Jesus they don't become something transubstantiated although Roman Catholicism they teach the the idea that the bread actually becomes the physical body of Jesus the the wine actually becomes the physical blood of Jesus they've got a bad doctrine of Christ there as do the lutherans the lutherans believe as well in the ubiquity or the omnipresence of the Flesh of Jesus Christ suffice it to say that's not right you cannot givenize the humanity and you cannot humanize the Divinity of our blessed Lord if you didn't understand that that's okay the bread Remains the bread and the wine Remains the wine and if you are so inclined there is juice in the outer ring if you want to take juice instead of wine the wine is in the inner part the juice is in the outer part and let us never forget that the sacrament ultimately is about Jesus it's not about us a bit of extra a little bit of introspection confess your sin you don't have to sort of beat yourself over the back with a whip for another month or so before you're worthy to come and take you can confess your sins to God and in his grace he forgives you it's a beautiful and a wonderful thing first John 1 9 is not applicable at certain places and times if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness notice he doesn't say if you do that you know 10 months before you take the sacrament if you do that in a special place with a priest present and you you no he doesn't say that you can confess your sins right now isn't that amazing it's the beauty and benefit of having a sovereign God it's a beauty and benefit of having the true and living God we can confess our sins right here right now and he can cleanse us and forgive us what a blessed and wonderful God he is the sacrament points us to Jesus Christ as Murray says it is the Lord we're remembering so frequently Believers become so introspective that preoccupation with themselves excludes preoccupation with Christ we don't want to be preoccupied with self we want to be preoccupied with Christ so we'll read that section after the brothers pass out the bread while the brothers pass out the bread we will remain seated and re uh sing 336. 336 please remain seated after the bread is passed out and the brothers sit down and we conclude the hymn we'll read the appropriate section pray and then take the bread together but 336. foreign [Music] foreign foreign [Music] foreign foreign foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign so in Matthew 26 at verse 26 we read and as they were eating Jesus Took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat this is my body let us pray a gracious God and Father we thank you for what we readth in Acts chapter 13 the life of our Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for the history of Israel the old Covenant prophets that point us forward to that blessed reality and we praise you for including us in this Covenant We Praise You for Your Grace the faith and repentance that you have given to us we praise you for the new birth and Regeneration all those things God in heaven that you have done in the salvation of our of our hell-deserving souls we just give glory and honor and praise unto the father Son and Holy Spirit for so great a Salvation and we pray in Jesus name amen will take together for you can turn to Psalm 130 a again will remain seated the juice is in the outer ring the wine is in the center we'll sing 130 a foreign [Music] foreign [Music] baby [Music] baby foreign [Music] foreign [Music] um we continue reading in verse 27 then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins but I say to you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's Kingdom and when they had sung A Hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives well let us pray Our God and Father we know the old Covenant was ratified with the shedding of blood we know that blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin it was typological it pointed forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world we thank you for that Shad blood as the Apostle says without the shedding of blood there is no remission so we rejoice in what Christ has accomplished on our behalf we rejoice in the inauguration the ratification of this Covenant in his blood and we praise you for including us again in this blessed arrangement we thank you for this great salvation help us to live in light of it help us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our savior help us to live in a manner that is consistent with our High Calling in Jesus Christ Our Lord and we pray in his wonderful name amen we'll take together you can turn it in your hymn books to 352. 352 will stand as we sing together in praise to our Triune God foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] guilty foreign [Music] foreign [Music] ready comes our glorious [Music] songs [Music] o Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is Mercy and with him is abundant Redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities Our God and Father we thank you for a full Lord's day we thank you for the Blessed privilege of entering the house of God on your day we ask now that you would go with us and cause your face to shine upon us may we know your peace may we know your power may we know your preservation may you help us to glorify you each and every day and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation