← Back to sermon library

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e welcome to everybody it's good to be back in the house of our God on this Lord's day you can turn with me back to Psalm 89 as we read the next section for our call to worship Psalm 89: 11 to18 Psalm 89 beginning in verse 11 the heavens are yours the Earth also is yours the world and all its fullness you have founded them the North and the South you have created them tabore and Hermon rejoice in your name you have a mighty arm strong is your hand and high is your right hand righteousness and Justice are the foundation of your throne mercy and Truth go before your face blessed are the people who know the joyful sound they walk oh Lord in the light of your countenance in your name they Rejoice all day long and in your righteousness they are exalted for you are the glory of their strength and in your favor our horn is exalted for our Shield Belongs to the Lord and our King to the Holy One of Israel amen we please turn to Psalm 23b as in bravo Psalm 23b will stand as we sing together [Music] the of he down to [Music] the my again and to walk with the of right his s my will I not how with me and my God and still my T in presence of my my head and my and mercy all my life shall surely God's house forever my dwelling shall [Music] be well let us pray our blessed God and Holy Father we Rejoice to gather again in your house on your day with your people we call upon you tonight and pray that you would Rend the heavens and come down be found amongst this lampstand we are thrilled when we see Christ in the midst of the lampstands in the Book of Revelation and we know that corporate worship and the New Covenant is that that house of God that place where you dwell in a special way with your people certainly God loves the gates of Zion more than all the The Dwelling Places of Jacob and we rejoice in this we pray that you would be glorified here we pray that you would be exalted and enthroned upon the Praises of your people here and Lord God as we come we pray that you would encourage and strengthen our weary hearts that you build us up in our Most Holy Faith as we come to the supper tonight may we receive from your hand these gifts to remind us and and to encourage us about what Jesus Christ has accomplished on our behalf as well may you indeed strengthen our faith and confirm us and cause us to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Blessed Redeemer King do forgive us now for all sin and all corruption and transgression cleanse Us in that precious blood of the lamb and God we Rejoice that we live in those days prophesied of old we Rejoice that we live in the the days of the substance that the shadows and the types pointed forward to we Rejoice that we know the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and we Rejoice that you have given us Grace To Believe on him and to repent from our sins we ask God that you would be merciful and gracious to many others we pray for all and every that would come into this place that are outside of Grace we pray that you would have mercy upon them you would convict them of their sin you would show them the Lord Jesus and God may you draw them to him as well we pray for our children and our young people we thank you for your many blessings CH children certainly are gift given from you and we know this and acknowledge this to be the case we ask God that you would have mercy Mery upon them in their youth that they would look to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith they would remember their creator in their youth as well our father we ask that you would look with favor upon all the the specific needs in our local body we know there are many struggling with health concerns and issues and and things that are that are lasting and and ongoing we just commend them to you and to the word of your grace and pray you would Supply what they stand in need of we pray that you would encourage them and that they would be mindful that though the outer man does Decay the inner man is renewed day by day and that these momentary light afflictions will give way to an exceeding weight of Glory may this be a great help and a great strengthener to those who are in great uh great Affliction as well our father we thank you for the other churches that we have communion with we thank you for the Saints in Suri and in Armstrong and in dren We Praise You For The Works in Sig and pray God that you would continue to look with favor upon the brethren there be with John and Melena as they travel this week grant them safety grant them a time of rejoicing as they behold your creation and God when they return home may you just continue to grant them wisdom and Grace and use them to be a help in that local body we thank you for Elder and for the the work going on in the church there not just the external in terms of the building we thank you that these three brothers are committed to gospel Ministry that they want to make known Christ and him crucified and we praise you that they are doing the good work in that part of the world we also pray for pastor tnie and kumu thank you for that brethren for all the Saints of Christ in that nation that you would do a great and glorious work there as well God we pray for your blessing upon Myanmar we pray continually for those children that they would be able to be removed from that that place of threat to a place of safety that you would facilitate this and cause this all uh cause all this to work out for good to all those affected by this continue to Grant Grace and strength and help and wisdom to our brother Peter and just use him for your glory there we ask these things now through our Lord Jesus Christ amen well you can turn with me again in your hym books to Psalm 100 a as in Alpha Psalm 100a as in Alpha we'll stand as we sing together and a joy my God your voice the is he made us be is his and his [Music] sheep and his with prise give thanks to him and bless his name to God youres [Music] he for fful you can turn with me in your Bibles to the go Gospel of Matthew for our meditation this evening before the supper Matthew 11 Matthew 11 we'll pick up at the end of the John the Baptist section where Jesus comments on the Baptist in verse 11 I'll read to the end of the chapter and then our Focus will be at the end of the chapter verses 25 to30 a familiar passage one that I hope is encouraging to our hearts as we consider our blessed savior that Good Shepherd of the sheep that one who receives us unto himself and cares for us perpetually so beginning in chapter 11 at verse 11 assuredly I say to you among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist but he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he and from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers V vience and the violent take it by force for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John and if you are willing to receive it he is Elijah who is to come he who has ears to hear Let Him hear but to what shall I liken this generation it is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their Companions and saying we played the flute for you and you did not dance we mourn to you and you did not lament for John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he has a demon the son of man came eating and drinking and they say look a glutton and a wine bibber a friend of tax collectors and sinners but wisdom is justified by her children then he began to rebuke the cities in which most of his mighty Works had been done because they did not repent woe to you coren woe to you Betha for if the mighty Works which were done in you had been done entire and siden they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and Ashes but I say to you you it will be more tolerable for Ty and siden in the day of judgment than for you and you Capernaum who are exalted to heaven will be brought down to Hades for if the mighty Works which were done in you had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day but I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you at that time Jesus answered and said I thank you Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes even so father for so it seemed good in your sight all things have been delivered to me by my father and no one knows the son except the father nor does anyone know the father except the Son and the one to whom the son Wills to reveal him come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light amen well let us pray Our Father we thank you for the written word of the living and true God we thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit as he teaches and brings to remembrance all things we ask that he would guide us now as we consider this wonderful passage of Holy scripture where our blessed savior calls us to himself and promises that rest which no man can give we give glory to you for so great a Salvation for justification for sanctification for that glorification that one day we will enter into till such time God give us that appreciation that gratitude that thankfulness and help us to embrace happily willingly and joyfully the Yoke of our blessed savior that we would indeed follow the lamb wherever he goes again forgive us now for all of our sin and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well in this particular section of Matthew's gospel we see an emphasis on both opposition to our Lord but as well reception to his mission we notice specifically here in verses 16 to 19 that he's reproving that generation they always had something to complain about and he puts it this way Verse 18 John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he has a demon the son of man came eating and drinking and they say look a glutton and a wine Biber a friend of tax collectors and sinners they were never happy they were not religiously minded they were not scripturally minded they were not prepared they were not ready to see and Behold The Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ but I want you to notice that that sort of complaint or rebuke rather by our Lord in verse 19 the son of man came eating and drinking and they say look a glutton and a wine bibber I think that's a little bit more serious than might meet the eye in the book of Deuteronomy the incorrigible son the Glutton the wine bibber was delivered up to the Elders of the city to be executed so these men at least uh uh implicitly are charging that the savior of Sinner is a vile Wretched Man and then we see this condemnation of the unrepentant cities that had witness the Glorious works of our Lord Jesus Christ in that great debate by Greg bonson and Gordon Stein bonson said miracles don't make theists you must be born again and I think this is a classic case of that particular scenario these cities had seen these cities had witnessed these cities had actually seen with their own eyes the various and Sury works of our Lord Jesus of a miraculous nature and yet they did not repent so Jesus closes that section with this strict condemnation in verse 24 but I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment then for you so if as we follow the gospel narrative and we see this continued opposition against Christ it might be the case that we get a little discouraged that is anybody going to come to him does anybody believe on him does anybody want to know the the joy of the Lord as their strength well Jesus highlights that there are those who by God's grace receive those who by God's grace do come to him both here in chapter 11 at veres 25 to30 but as well notice over in chapter 12 at veres 46 to 50 so after an extended treatment in chapter 12 a vile wretched opposition to our Lord notice in 12:46 while he was still talking to the multitudes behold his mother and brothers stood outside see seeking to speak with him then one said to him look your mother and your brothers are out are standing outside seeking to speak with you but he answered and said to the one who told him who is my mother and who are my brothers and he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said here are my mother and my brothers whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother so while there was opposition while it was a continued and increasing opposition there were nevertheless those who by Grace came to the Lord Jesus Christ so let's look specifically at CH 11: 25 to3 to notice the foundation for that or the reason or rationale why Sinners come to our Lord Jesus Christ notice he doesn't EMP emphasize the goodness of man he doesn't emphasize the Free Will of man he doesn't emphasize the wisdom of men he doesn't emphasize that they make better decisions than others no there are three things he asserts here three things that Matthew asserts first The Sovereign will of the father veres 25 and 26 secondly the mediatorial office of the son verse 27 and then the gracious Declaration of the savior in verses 28 to30 so it's that Foundation or that context by which Sinners move from Darkness to light but note first in terms of The Sovereign will of the father in verses 25 and 26 at that time again the context is very specific there is opposition there is enmity there is hatred there is a detestation of Our Lord by the unbelieving Jews so at that time Jesus answered and said I thank you Father Lord of Heaven and Earth he's not taken unawares by this he's not caught off guard he's he's not surprised he's not saying I just don't know why they're not coming to me in in in multitudes I I just don't know why I'm being frustrated at every step of the way Christ was never of that mindset Christ was always Resolute Christ was always determined Christ is the me mediator definitely knew the purpose for which he came into this world so instead of reacting in frustration to this continuing tide of opposition he rejoices in the father I thank you Father Lord of Heaven and Earth he expresses that intimate relation that he sustains with the father by calling him father he acknowledges the sovereignty of God by calling him the Lord of Heaven and Earth there's nothing outside of his control there's nothing outside of his perview there's nothing outside of his absolute Sovereign power remember Rahab confessed that she understood that Yahweh of Israel was the god of Heaven and Earth The Majestic and most high the Glorious one will Jesus sees the father in that particular light so he says I thank you Father Lord of Heaven and Earth now notice what he thanks God for the particular content of this prayer again as man he prayed as God he has prayed unto he's praying here to the father according to his humanity and he says that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes so the opposition to our Lord the rejection of Our Lord again was not based on him being frustrated in his purpose and plan to save his people from their sins this was the power of God and when Jesus uses this particular language it ought to cause us to stand in awe you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent I don't believe Jesus is teaching that there's actually wise and prudent people but those who are wise and prudent in their own eyes those whose estimation of themsel is far more advanced than it ought to be turn back to chapter 9 specifically in verse 12 this is the scene where Jesus is saved Matthew now Matthew is called GA a feast in his home to celebrate and as well to evangelize and the guest list was other tax collectors and other Sinners and of course when the Pharisees saw it they whed they grumbled and they complained that's particularly what Pharisees do in the New Testament and then we see this statement well at the end of verse 11 why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners when Jesus heard that he said to them those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick but go and learn what this means I desire mercy and not sacrifice for I did not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance when he says I didn't come to call the righteous he is not speaking of a category of righteous persons out there that have no need of redemption by our Lord Jesus Christ there is a group of people out there not here specifically I hope that think that they are righteous that see themselves as wonderful that do not see their need for the Lord Of Glory so back in chapter 11 I praise thee father of he Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou is hide these things from the wise and The Prudent those who do not want the Savior those who do not see their sin those do those that don't see the gravity of a of offending a a Thrice holy God as well when somebody sees this particular passage I think the inclination might rise up well well that that doesn't seem fair God hides gospel truth God hides truths that that can save sinners from the those very Sinners who who stand in need is that okay is that legitimate is that lawful we like to clamor on about fairness today that that doesn't seem fair this is an act of God's justice this is an act of God's judgment this is an act of God's sovereignty this is an act of God's power and of God's glory notice then that Jesus goes on to say and have revealed them to babes so there are some he hides Gospels truth from and there are others he reveals gospel truth from and then notice in verse 26 even so father for so it seemed good in your sight in Calvinism or reformed circles we talk about the good pleasure of God Brethren that's not just an add-on or a tack on to show our you know our calvinistic card or credentials everything that obtains in terms of the Salvation of Sinners is according to the good pleasure of God most high notice again in verse 26 even so father for so it seemed good in your sight he's not looking for outside approval God doesn't care what men think with reference to his Sovereign Grace and as well he doesn't seek outside counsel to confer with the likes of us and to run it by us to see if in fact we approve of his dealings with men turn to the Book of Romans in Romans 11 after a lengthy section celebrating the sovereignty of God specifically in election and predestination Paul ends this subsection in 11:33 to 36 and he says oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out for who has known the mind of the Lord or who has become his counselor or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him for of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever amen so incites or invokes the prophet Isaiah who has known the mind of the Lord what finite creature has plumbed the depths of the infinite and then he turns to the Book of Job And he says uh or or or who has become his counselor or who has first given to him and it shall be repaid to him back in Matthew 11: 25 and 26 this is an absolute Declaration of glorious sovereignty on the part of God most high acknowledged by Jesus and just by way of a practical observation has it ever perplexed you when you've met Christians that have a problem with this oh I couldn't believe in a god of predestination I couldn't believe in a God who elects I couldn't believe in a God who functions in that particular manner or capacity well I'm sorry you don't get to Define your God you don't get to pick the God and model the God after your own Wayward heart you must submit you must bow you must confess and you must acknowledge the glory of this God well on the one hand hides these things from the wise and The Prudent but on the other hand reveals them unto babes if you are a babe don't complain about the method of Grace if you are a babe praise God most high that he's opened your eyes that he's called you out of Darkness Into The Marvelous Light and know that if he's done that for you There's Hope for a multitude of Sinners out there we don't know who the babes are we don't know who the wise and The Prudent are so what is our call to go out and to proclaim the gospel to every creature under heaven to make known Christ and him crucified and resurrected to talk about his life his death his resurrection and the significance of that for justification by faith alone so the Lord Jesus as he begins Revels in the absolute sovereignty of his father then notice secondly in verse 27 he speaks of the mediatorial office of the son verse 27 all things have been delivered to me by my father and no one knows the son except the father nor does anyone know the father except the Son and the one to whom the son Wills to reveal him that's Johan theology John tells us that just about on every page in the Book of John see there's no contrariness between the gospel writers they all preach and teach and confess the same Christ the same father The Same Spirit they come at it from different angles to emphasize different theological truths but here Matthew is giving us a glimpse into the mediatorial office of our blessed savior he's not mediator because he's performed well and God conferred that upon him he's not mediator because he was the best possible Choice out of the lot he is the mediator because he is the word who became flesh and dwelt Among Us he is the mediator because that Unity of essence with the father and he and the Covenant of redemption took to himself the reality that he would assume a body he would assume our Humanity he would live for us he would die for us and he would rise again for us so in verse 27 he says all things have been delivered to me by my father just a statement that no you know regular creature could make it's only one who could make that statement it's the God man it's the Lord Jesus Christ all things have been delivered to me by my father it's like John 5 when Jesus says that the father has entrusted to me judgment the father is entrusted to me the conferral of life the father has uh entrusted to me the the access or denial into the very Kingdom of Heaven well who could say that among us as as fellows it's only the word became flesh who dwelt Among Us so he says all things have been delivered to me by my father and no one knows the son except the father now I think it's the John 1:18 sort of a thing no one has seen God at any time ex uh yet the only begotten son who is in the bosom of the father has declared him so it's not that we don't know God it's that the one who knows the father with that kind of intimacy they have the same nature that one functions as the mediator to allow us access or entrance in to the presence of God he is the mediator nor does anyone know the father except the Son and the one to whom the son Wills to reveal him so the emphasis here is upon the mediatorial role of the son we learned that in Hebrews 7 one who comes to the father through the son will have that salvation to the uttermost the graciousness of the son Brethren I would concede maybe maybe I don't know just from the hip here concede maybe with Calvinism or reformed theology no I wouldn't concede it for a second because the Bible teaches it all too clearly but let me just try to paint this scenario here if we had this God who for the most part only hid if we had this God who for the most part only hid then there there again I'm not actually saying this there might be a reason for people to whine but the whole purpose and intention of the coming of the son of man is to save his people from their sins and when you turn to the Book of Revelation is it just a few people it's a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe tongue people and Nation it's what I always try to encourage us as Calvinists or reformed Believers when we go out and we evangelize the issue isn't well there's only this little handful of people that are going to be saved the issue is is that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life in other words Christ has said all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out not only does Jesus possess or have this relation to the father wherein he can reveal the father and the father reveals the son but we see that the son Wills to do this in other words he doesn't undertake this Mission grudgingly he doesn't undertake this Mission with some sort of a a capacity to to only damn and bring judgment the glory of the Cross is that there's a great multitude that's going to enter in as a result of the Cross but I think as well we see the exclusivity of the son there's not two mediators there's not five mediators there not a whole host of ways nor to any or nor does anyone know the father except the Son and the one to whom the son Wills to reveal him there's one way to the father and it's through the son John 14:6 I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me so now before we head into this glorious or gracious Declaration of the Savior think about the backdrop to the gracious Declaration of the Savior The Sovereign will and purpose of God to save his people from their sins the power of Jesus Christ as mediator vvv Prophet priest and King to save his people from their sins so when Jesus says what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 you can't cannot uh uh uh detach it from what has preceded in other words I would suggest the only way you could effectively preach Matthew 11:28-30 is by an absolute emphasis upon the Sovereign will of the father and the mediatorial office of the son if we didn't believe in God's sovereignty if it was up to man and their free will if it was up to man to better his condition and his own strength perhaps adding a bit of Jesus to sees in his life and to make it go a little bit better who would want to preach the gospel in that context when we go out and evangelize or when pastors or preachers get behind pulpits they're not coming here with an appeal to you and your wisdom or you and your will to make good decisions for Jesus I know and am convinced that God has been well pleased to save his people from their sins he has uh uh enacted that or executed that in the sending of his son who lived for Sinners who died for Sinners and who was raised again for Sinners and is based on those varities those truths those blessed realities that the the then exhortation to come to Jesus makes sense so now notice the gracious Declaration of the Savior two parts here first the encouragement in verse 28 and then secondly exhortation in verses 29 and 30 note the encouragement proper verse 28 come to me it's pretty simple isn't it notice what it negates notice what it doesn't say that's a good help in in theology he call this in the doctrine of God apophatic theology that means negations things that God isn't teaches us great truth about what God Is Right you've got words like infinite that means he's not finite invisible that means he's not visible you you've got these these things stated negatively in the Bible because of that distance between God and the creature wherein we learn what God is first and foremost by what he's not and I think in a statement like this come to me what what is he not saying here notice he is not saying do for me work for me go out and try harder for me see that would be good advice if a guru a religious teacher a master said you know you need to get your life together get up at 5: have a good breakfast make sure you read your Bible and pray go out for a run exercise pick up heavy things put them down go to work show up on time actually breathe and and function like a normal human being you'll probably own the company and you know not too distant future that's all good advice it's not goel this is a problem Brethren try harder be better do more scolding lecturing Jesus says come to me it's so simple it's so Sublime it is so glorious it is so wonderful the encouragement is to come to me it is Christ Alone who is the mediator of the Covenant between God and Men it is Christ Alone who is able to reveal the father to men according to verse 27 it is Christ Alone who brings men out of Darkness into marvelous light it is Christ Alone who saves to the uttermost all that draw nigh to God through him it is Christ Alone by God's grace alone through faith alone in which the sinner has peace with God so when Jesus says come to me there's a lot he's not saying but the Glorious fact is that he's saying a great deal salvation is found in Jesus salvation is found in the Lord Of Glory salvation is found in that one who lived who died and was raised again for Sinners that that one who as we will see the closer he gets to Jerusalem he announces the manner in which he will affect this look at chapter 16 chapter 16 specifically at verse 21 from that time Jesus began to show to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem suffer many things from the from the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised the third day look at chapter 17 chapter 17 and verse 22 now while they were still uh uh staying in Galilee Jesus Jesus said to them the son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men and they will kill him and the third day he will be raised up and they were exceedingly sorrowful and then notice as well in chapter 20 chapter 20 specifically at verse 17 and then we need to appreciate the response of the disciples on the heels of this so 2017 now Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the 12 disciples aside on the road and said to them behold we are going up to Jerusalem and the son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes and they will condemn him to death and deliver him to the Gentiles to Mock and to Scourge and to crucify and the third day he will rise again so the fact is is that he says come to me and then he fleshes out or displays for us what the coming to me means it means to believe on him in light of his death and Resurrection it is intriguing here in this this section verse or chapter 20 he announces that he must go to Jerusalem and be crucified and then on the heels of that in verse 20 then the mother of zebedee's sons came to the to him with the her sons kneeling down and asking something from him and he said to her what do you what do you wish she said to him grant that these two sons of mine may sit one on your right hand and the other on the left in your kingdom huh Jesus just said he's going to die Jesus just said he's going to be scourged Jesus just said that he's going to be bloodied and beaten and brutalized in in Jerusalem he has said he'll be raised again but they constantly don't hear that part so if we judge based on the other situations where he announces this thing these things he they only seem to focus upon his death so he just announces that he's going to die so now they come and they jockey for position and of course Jesus chides them and then this culminates in verse 28 he says as he's likening himself to the model that they ought to follow not to the Gentile not to the Heathen just as the son of man did not come to to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many as ma says the announcements he doesn't say it like this for this purpose but I think this is the framework he says that that that Christ died is history Christ died for sin is theology so in chapter 16 17 and 20 the Lord Of Glory announces that he must go to Jerusalem he must be tried he must be scourged he must be crucified he must be resurrected well wouldn't you possibly ask the the question why why are you going to do this now don't put this past them Brethren it was Pentecost that flipped the switch on when John the Baptist says Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world that indicates people did see people did understand but as I said and as Barcelo said people forgot they forgot the old Covenant system not completely they were still under it technically they forgot the significance of the day of atonement how how is Jesus the Lamb of God well 2028 is theology 2028 is explanation 2028 gives us the goods as to how the one who says come to me can actually receive Sinners unto himself and bless them with so great a Salvation with reference to the invitation exhortation encouragement I realize some don't like the word invitation it sounds like you're going to a birthday party let's call it a Divine or an effectual invitation whatever we need to do to sort of disabuse it of that no notion that you're you're you're free to take it or or or leave it but in he when he says come to me in verse 28 Gil makes the observation he explains that Jesus kindly invites he uses invites and encourages souls to come unto him but it is to be understood of believing in Christ see Brethren the rest of scripture makes that very clear come to me now we'd see a historical application in his Earthly Ministry according to his human ity he's standing there he's actually verbalizing these words person standing on The Fringe could come to him they could be physically in proximity to him the emphasis is on faith come to me he says Skil continuing it is to be understood of believing in Christ the going of the soul to him I like that language the going of the soul to him and the exercise of Grace on him of Desire after him love to him Faith and Hope in him believing in Christ and coming to him are terms synonymous he he cites John 6:35 listen to ma he says the true reason why faith is given such an exclusive place by the New Testament so far as the attainment of Salvation is concerned over against love and over against everything else in man except things that can be regarded as mere aspects of faith is that faith means receiving something listen to this this is profound it means receiving something not doing something or even being something the center of the Bible and the center of Christianity is found in the grace of God and the necessary correl of the grace of God is salvation through faith alone when Paul comes to deal in Romans 3 and 4 and five and six and seven and eight and the Book of Galatians what's the theme what's the note what's the battlecry we are justified by faith alone that launched the Protestant Reformation now there were forerunners to that to be sure but that was the emphasis it's not our faith plus works it's not our faith plus our faithfulness it's not a Roman Catholic scheme it's not the new perspective on Paul's scheme it's not the Federal Vision scheme it is rather grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone that's the emphasis in this come to me now as we look back at 11:28 we notice who he's addressing the the the babes are sort of further explicated or explained here notice in 28 come to me and then he says all you who labor and are heavy laden all you who are labor and are heavy laden I'm sorry uh verse 28 all you who labor and are heavy laden he's not addressing somebody who's physically weary he's not addressing somebody who's had a hard day at work 60 70 80 hours at at work this week shlepping whatever it is they schlep and they're tired and Jesus says come to me we'll have a spa time and I'll I'll rest you that's not it he's dealing with the sin problem that affects man he's dealing with the the the the heavy ladness and the labor and the burden of sin in Psalm 384 to6 the psalmist writes for my iniquities have gone over my head like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me my wounds are full uh foul and festering because of my foolishness I am troubled I am bowed down greatly I go mourning all the day long Brethren that's who he's addressing here not the wise and The Prudent and the wise or the guys that think they're they're righteous in the sight of a thri holy God psalm 38:18 for I will declare my iniquity I will be in anguish over my sin Psalm 130 A Psalm we looked at I think two months ago in our S at the supper out of the depths I have cried to you oh lord lord hear my voice let your ears be attented attentive to the voice of my supplications that's again not sorrow and distress because it was tough to be a king he says if you Lord should Mark iniquities oh Lord who could stand but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared the distress and the sorrow of David's heart wasn't the external enemies it was the internal enemies and Jesus says come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and then notice the promise that he gives there it's very specific it's very clear I will give you rest and I think in the context it's certainly rest from your sin it's rest from that overwhelming burden it's rest from that wretchedness that ball and chain that drags you down but I would suggest as well in the context it's rest from physical religion these guys that were fidus about tithing mint and Anis and Kum but neglected the weightier matters of the law Justice mercy and Faith the kinds of guys that would load up burdens upon people's backs that they themselves could not carry Jesus rebukes them in in Matthew chap 23 in so far as they tell you Moses correctly do it but don't follow them in their practice don't follow them in their manner don't follow them in their course the Pharisees were not the promoters of True Religion they were not the promoters of a healthy rest in God most high they were the kinds of guys that would complain when Jesus would heal somebody on the Sabbath day six days you shall labor and do all your work come to the sa uh come to the synagogue on the on that day to be healed what kind of a monster is that Jesus says you know if you have a an an ox or a donkey that falls into the ditch you fetch it out you're going to show more more regard for a beast of burden than you are for a for a daughter of Abraham for a son of Abraham these were not men that were calculatedly promoting rest in religion and again we need to guard our heart s against that mindset the gospel isn't good advice it's good news it's not get up do your job be faithful be healthy all that sort of thing it's to come to Jesus for salvation now that's the encouragement or invitation the effectual Divine invitation notice the exhortation in verses 29 to 30 he says take my yoke upon you what does that mean it means when we come to Jesus when we believe the gospel soteriologically or theologically we see that sanctification follows justification we're not justified freely by God's grace receiving the Forgiveness of sins and imputed righteousness alone we I mean we get all that but we have a new mindset we have a new desire the new will we're new creatures in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:17 we want to do the will of him who saved us there's the Gratitude response to God's grace that overcomes our guilt and so Jes Jesus says take my yoke upon you remember our confession says faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness the coming to me is the alone instrument of justification yet it is not alone in the person Justified but is ever accompanied with all other saving Graces and is no dead Faith but worketh by love so Jesus says very simply take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light the idea of yoke according to Davies and Alis said it came to be a metaphor for obedience subordination or servitude the Lord Jesus uses it to speak of discipleship come to me in faith you're Justified freely by Grace you receive the Forgiveness of sins you receive an imputed righteousness and now in the life of sanctification you willingly take to you the Yoke of Jesus but that yoke of Jesus isn't some all encompassing Joy killing life sucking you know drudgery look at how he explains it he says learn from me and then goes on to say for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls see John tells us this way in 1 John 5 he says the Commandments of God they're not burdensome I mean they are the world tell the world that they're in sin today because they didn't go to church on the Sabbath are they going to say thank you give me more no they're going to roll their eyes well probably many Christians would do that too I don't want to just pick on the world but you start showing the world the law of God and what do they do do they receive it happily joyfully oh yeah that's such a no they despise it it's a burden to them there was a comedian when I was growing up and he had this bit and he said I believe in seven of the Ten Commandments ha everybody laughs that's such a joke we just pick and choose what we want from God's Buffet what we want to do God's law is not burdensome to those who are Justified freely by grace to those who take the yoke upon themselves by Grace placed upon them it's not a burden it's not Grievous it's not Ponder punishment is not torture it's why it really isn't the case that pastors should have to Harang people or scold people if you are blood-bought children of God who have the Holy Spirit in you you should want to do what God calls you to do it really is that simple I realize there's a lot of mitigating factors in there and I'm not picking on you I've got those same mitigating factors as well so he makes this statement learn from me gives this enticement for I am gentle and lowly in heart gives this blessed promise you will find rest for your souls I think possibly background is Jeremiah 6:16 thus says the Lord stand in the way and see and ask for the Old Paths where the good way is and walk in it then you will find rest for your souls and then he describes or ends this with a description of his own yoke for my yoke is easy and my burden is light it's not oppressive it's not pheric it's not judgment Al it's not neonian or legalistic it's not papist it's not New Perspective is it's not Federal Vision my yoke is easy and my burden is light Turan says before it the law was an instrument of the spirit of bondage to throw down and Bruise man but afterward it becomes the instrument of the spirit of adoption to promote sanctification thus the law leads to Christ and Christ leads us back to the law it leads to Christ as the Redeemer and Christ leads to the law as the leader and director of life I think that's a great way to express the normative use of the law and we ought to praise God for this Motif justification by God's grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone but that Faith the instrument of faith is not alone it's always accompanied with all other saving Graces and we have sanctification well in conclusion I think that what we ought to appreciate in the passage is that there is a remedy for overwhelming burden of sin come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest whatever non-rest you may be going through presently whatever hardship or trial or Affliction you may be undergoing whatever difficulties May face you be them in the home be them in the church uh Church yeah sometimes we have issues in the church be them in in in work or Society no know this you have rest spiritually you have peace with God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ you have every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus conferred upon you by a god of absolute glory and grace and mercy so whatever your issues find rest tonight in the means of Grace that God has ordained for the encouragement of your soul as well we ought to appreciate in the passage the exclusive ity of Jesus Christ wanted to read one more quote from ma listen to what he says the Christian religion is intolerant to the core don't let this get out because we'll be shut down because if there's one thing you cannot be in today's world is intolerant unless you're intolerant against the Christian religion that's perfectly acceptable so man flips it on its head well actually he didn't have pride flags all over his City when he wrote this I'm sure so he says the Christian religion is intolerant to the core there lies the whole offense of the Cross and also the whole power of it always the gospel would have been received with favor by the world if it had been presented merely as one way of Salvation the offense came because it was presented as the only way and because it made Relentless War upon all other ways wow that's the kind of religion we need today that's the kind of proclamation we need today that's the preaching of an exclusive Christ to the Glorious father in the spirit that is going to be blessed of God we cannot play games with the Godless we cannot play games with the Heathen we don't uh capitulate we don't accommodate we tell them the truth 16 ounces to the pound knowing that it's that truth that ultimately brings gospel rest if we love men will preach the biblical Christ in all of his fullness to every sinner under Heaven if we actually love men we will tell them the truth as it is in Jesus I would suggest it's not loving and dare I say it is hateful to tell people things that are lies about the Savior to try to make them feel good our purpose isn't to try to make people feel good our purpose is by God's grace to set forth the glory of Jesus Christ such that Sinners may come to him and find rest for their souls take his yoke upon Him learn from him and understand that he is the Most Blessed the altogether lovely and the chief among 10,000 well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for this wonderful emphasis by our Lord Jesus Christ on on the Simplicity of the Gospel coming to Jesus in Faith Lord on the one hand it is so simple on the other hand it is so perplexing and we know God that apart from Grace apart from your Sovereign Grace and the power of the spirit men don't see this we pray that as We Gather for preaching as other churches in our community do so throughout this country throughout this world that the spirit of God would attend that he would make effectual and apply these truths to the hearts of men women and boys and girls for God we have great expectations that from every tribe every tongue every people and every nation a great multitude will be assembled in that that church triumphant and we look forward to that and we bless you for that so God help us to be faithful help us to be servants help us to embrace that yoke of Christ with joy with Thanksgiving and always always delighting in the rest that we have in our blessed savior and we pray in jesus' name amen we can turn to Matthew 26 as we now move into the supper Matthew chapter 26 just a couple of reminders before we pass out the elements and participate in the supper first the ordinance or Sacrament is for believers only if you're not a Believer we would encourage you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved listen to Matthew 11:28 come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and he will give you rest as well the ordinances for believers who are dealing with their sin and by that I don't mean Perfection absolute positive Holiness because nobody would ever take the supper on this side of Glory we're not going to have absolute positive Holiness and Perfection until that side of glory and so for now we need to seek by God's grace I think Paul summarizes it well in Acts he says I try to live with a conscience void of offense toward God and men in other words you're maintaining short accounts with the Lord in your sin you're maintaining short accounts with others in your sin this was the problem in Corinth there were sins going on in the life of the church there there were the halves excluding the Have Nots and there was no repentance there was no remorse there was no sorrow over that so Paul rebukes them Paul upbraids them Paul chides them for that conduct in connection with the supper it is not right to live at odds with your brother with your sister with your family as well the ordinance is a means of Grace to be sure but we need to remember the elements are not changed the bread does not become uh the actual body of Jesus the the wine or grape juice does not become the actual blood of Jesus Jesus speaking metaphorically when he says this is my body this is my blood it's not transubstantiation is the papist teach it's not consubstantiation as the Lutheran teach both of those models introduce christological heresy difficulties to to to divinize the Flesh of Jesus means that he doesn't redeem us from our sins he must assume our humanity and our humanity is not divinized Humanity so to do that or to teach the ubiquity or the everywhere presence of the physicality of the body of Jesus is not good so we do not embe that but as well we need to understand that God in this is gracious and merciful strengthens and builds us up and nourishes US according to his mercy and then I would suggest finally the ordinance points us to Christ it's not wrong to take a moment to reflect on how bad you are but always go back to how good he is we often times get preoccupied with ourselves oh I'm so bad I'm so wretched oh you can use that for the rest of your life but the G the goal is to remember Jesus his life his death his resurrection his broken body and shed blood so those reminders given we will read the section After we receive the bread the brothers will come and pass out the bread and while they do that we will remain seated and we will sing 340 340 again remain seated as the brothers pass out the bread [Music] children all guil my my [Music] my of [Music] love [Music] and be might and [Music] I'll s your power to my the gra I in the my in [Music] the L his till all the church to S no to S no to sing all the of Church of he s Matthew 26 at verse 26 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 well let us pray our gracious and our blessed God we thank you for the provision of our Lord Jesus Christ that in the fullness of the time you sent forth your son born of a woman born under the law to redeem those under the law and we know from our Bibles that he does that by by giving his own life on our behalf we thank you that he took the Wrath and the punishment of God Almighty in himself on the cross for us men and our Salvation we bless you we praise you and we thank you and we pray now in jesus' name amen we'll take together well you can turn again in your hym books to 352 just a reminder the juice is in the outer ring if you're inclined to take juice instead of wine the juice is in the outer ring of the dish we will remain seated and sing 352 [Music] for the son of one who came through s TOA hallelu what [Music] a seal my with his hallelujah what a of [Music] God [Music] hallelu to die his his ex [Music] hallelu our glorious all his to r s will sing hallelujah what saor e continuing 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 gracious God we know that the blood of Jesus Christ your son cleanses us from all sin and we rejoice in that we ask that you would help us to continually reflect upon these truths what we have in the gospel and who we have in the gospel may this be a help to us and may it promote to us or promote in us that that happily taking the yoke upon us and following our blessed savior we give all glory and praise and honor to you now and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we'll take together well after the Passover the Lord and his disciples went to sing A Hymn and that was most likely from the Suter Psalms 113 to 118 so we'll close our service tonight with 117b as in bravo intriguing that they would SE sing of Gentile inclusions in the Covenant promis of God we'll stand as we sing Psalm 117b together all nations all his PR for his TR forever and his of his is hallelu praise the Lord oh 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 God I pray that you would go with us now that we would be uh uh pleasing in your sight and that you would bless and strengthen us each and every day again look with favor upon the sick amongst us bless and encourage all of us who are going through any spiritual difficulties or trials help us to glorify you and we pray through Christ the Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation e e e e