The Truth Shall Set You Free

 

 

 

"¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. ¹⁶ Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

I Timothy 1:12-17

 

Good Morning my beloved,

 

Welcome to worship this Lord's day!

We're so glad to have all of you here.

 

 

Today there are so many people who claim a vague love of God. Sadly, it’s not usually reflected in any change in their lives. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, there will be many will hear Him, "Depart from Me, I never knew you!" Those claiming to know God will be judged more severely than those claiming no faith. 

 

How gracious is our Lord Christ Jesus! Not only is He Ruler over all that He has created, but He receives sinners, like you and I, though we have rebelled against Him; He pardons us and appoints us to His glorious service. 

 

How unlike our own experiences in life! How unlike our own actions! When we have surrendered to those against whom we have waged battle, we do not anticipate promotion to positions of trust and service. Even when we have gotten the best of an opponent, we are often wary, cautious, hesitating to have anything to do with that one we have gotten the best of, even after they have yielded to us and ceased their opposition against us. 

 

When we accept one who fails, we want time; though they are restored by the Lord, we often err on the side of being overly cautious. However, God moves relatively swiftly in appointing those whom He redeems. I an in no way suggesting that we should immediately accept into positions of responsibility, those who recently surrendered to the faith. Even God allowed time for a Saul of Tarsus to mature. However, if God Himself is watching over the maturation process and urging those who have submitted to His reign to grow up so that He can employ them in His service. God will never be satisfied with mediocrity; but God will train us and use us powerfully to His glory.

 

In John 9;41, Jesus said "Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains." I was studying Mark chapter twelve the other day, when in verse 40, I was stuck by the last half of the verse "...these will receive greater condemnation."

 

There are degrees of punishment, These who had claimed to be God’s representatives and then failed to live out His truth will receive a greater punishment. I believe that this makes a point that is remarkable and worthy of meditating on. There will be those who have spent their whole lives in church who will not only not be in heaven, but who will receive a greater condemnation and punishment from God. Wow. What shock it will be, for many in that moment. What a tragic turn of events. This should, at the very least,  cause us to be attentive to our motives and to the truth, to ensure we do not just have an outward image of a life of faith, but that we are truly living our faith, following Jesus Christ. The consequence of getting that wrong is not just a slightly smaller reward – it is a complete reversal of what you think is coming.

 

This brings to mind the passage in Luke chapter 12, which tells us "but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."

 

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required" What a sobering truth.

 

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

 

Heavenly Father, 

 

Father, thank You for this Word. This incredible truth. Lord, give us a thankful heart. May there be no one among us, who is not grateful for the grace we have received. That no matter how wretched, how sinful our past, you have called us to salvation through Christ. Lord, I pray that You would touch the hearts of every hearer, that they may be found holy, spotless, blameless before You. 

 

Father, we pray for those who remain in darkness, help us to speak truth, with gentleness and love, as we ourselves have been shown by You, as we point them to the cross of the One who died for their sin, and rose on the third day, that they too may have life everlasting. All for Your increase, for Your glory and for Christ's sake.

In His name we pray

Amen

 

Today's Message: The Truth Shall Se You Free

 

I believe that we should be in awe in the knowledge of God's grace and mercy. I further believe truly, every believer should be both humbled and in awe at the very thought of God’s grace revealed in His great salvation. I am struck by the seemingly ubiquitous arrogance witnessed in the lives of far too many who are called by the Name of the Son of God. The utter tendency to wear their salvation and redemption, as if it were a badge of merit. Many often project an air of superiority among the faithful, imagining that God was exceptionally lucky when He redeemed them. How wonderfully blessed He is to have them on His side. As though they are doing Him some sort of favor. Beloved, I believe that this is not only a disturbing perception, but the reality of this however, is far different than some would expect!   

 

I am reminded of Luke 17:7 and following which says "Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’"

 

I believe we would all do well to remember His Words!

 

Open with me your Bibles to the Book of I Timothy, as continue in our study of the instructional book, nearing this close of this particular chapter, we come to verses 12-17. I would like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read to set the text. I Timothy 1:12-17.

 

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,  even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;  and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."  

 

I am struck by the words of Jesus at the end of the verses in Luke 17, that read you earlier, Allow me to just repeat those to you. "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’"

 

Verse 12, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service."

 

I believe that in order for us to truly comprehend what God has done, we need to remember what we were when we were saved. In verse 13, the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles looks back, recalling what he was when he was called. "even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief," he says. As a summation of his past life, Paul's assessment is comprehensive, though not exhaustive. In order to ensure precision, an accurate account, let’s quickly review his own statement delivered before the Jews in Acts 22:3-5. No need to turn there, I'll just read it to you. 

 

"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished."

 

As the Apostle Paul related these details of his past, in Acts 7:54-60, I have no doubt that he was recalling a day when he participated in the execution of a man of God.If you would follow along with me as I read Acts 7:54-60.

 

"Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.  But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. "But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them! "Having said this, he fell asleep."

 

I believe that Luke undoubtedly received this information first-hand from Saul. As awful as this recitation may be, the opening words of the following verse are more horrific still. "Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death." The Greek word Paul used is "suneudokōn," meaning to join in approving." And the Greek word "anairesei," meaning "a taking up, a destroying, slaying," which conveys the idea of murder. Therefore, the opening words of the verse could be translated, "Saul joined in complete agreement to destroying him."

Now, let's pick back up in the middle of the first verse and through the third verse, of the eighth chapter. "And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison."

 

I'd like to direct your attention to the third verse "But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison." Saul of Tarsus was as a wild boar in the vineyard of the Lord, seeking to do all he could to destroy the people of God.

Listen as I read to you from chapter 9, verses 1 and 2, "Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem."

By Paul's own estimate, he had clearly reached at this point, the nadir of wickedness! In Acts 22:17-21, remembering his baptism and subsequent appointment to divine service, Paul provides us with this account  "It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’ And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You. And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’ And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’"

 

I imagine that some of you are saying to yourselves, "What does that have to do with me? I am not a terrible sinner. I never arrogantly placed myself in opposition to God!" Are you sure about that? Are you able to declare, with all certainly, your sin has never placed you in  opposition to God? Are you prepared to stand before Him and testify to that fact, perhaps today? It could happen you know! Because we know, it's true that everyone has sinned; are you merely attempting to justify yourself?  

Paul goes on to say in verses 14-15 of our text, "and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all."

 

I believe we can agree,  we know we sin; no one needs to convince us. In Ecclesiastes 7:20, Solomon affirms this same truth, when he says "Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins." 

 

In Psalm 55:5, David tells us "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me."

 

And in Romans 3:23, Paul succinctly states "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

 

In I John 1:8, John tells us " If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."

 

I believe we have now established the fact, that you do sin, but because you sin, are you a sinner? Or do you sin because you are a sinner? Of course, if you have listened to the various passages we just cited, you know that you sin because you are a sinner. Sin is intrinsic to the fallen condition of mankind. That fact that you commit sins does not make you a sinner; the fact does however, reveal that you are a sinner. 

 

I am often deeply disturbed at many of the testimonies that I have heard over the years. It is as though those who are relating their past life, go into exaggerated detail of how they once lived. It almost seems as if those delivering the testimony take special delight in detailing specific sins that once marked their lives. Such individuals appear to want to go into great detail concerning their wicked and sinful acts. I question the necessity of wading through the mud of past sinful behavior. It is not enough for one to say, "I was a sinner, saved by grace." 

 

While we may be prone to grade sins, especially those of others, the truth is, all sin offends the True and Living God. Since God is infinite in holiness, of necessity any sin, regardless of how small we may adjudicate that sin to be, all sin is infinitely offensive to God. Therefore, there can be no sin, no character flaw, no error in judgement that is not offensive to God. We must always remember that Christ  died because of sin, our sin and that each sin was equally offensive, and since sin requires the payment of death,  the Son of God died in our place to expunge the offense. 

 

I can still recall what it was to be lost. I am certain, that most of do too. Beloved, you and I, are redeemed by the mercies of God. And, as one who has received mercy and new life in Jesus Christ, I am qualified to point to Jesus who "is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."- Hebrews 7:25. The same holds true for each one who is saved by His grace. 

 

In Matthew 9:12, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees when He said "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick."  Now, I'd like to draw your attention to the next verse, 13 "But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." I'd like you to note that last statement; it reveals Christ's great purpose in coming to earth.

 

Jesus often taught using parables, they served to express truths that could be easily overlooked. One parable that He told, was the one about the lost sheep. Jesus used to this story in Matthew 18, to emphasize the Father’s will concerning the lost.  "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish." 

The Gospel message is not some new story that you have never heard before. The Good News that has been presented repeatedly, in every generation since the Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. However, this Good News begins with the bad news of man’s fallen condition. When we were lost, we had no hope and we were without God in the world.

Before Jesus Christ came to present Himself as a sacrifice for a sinful humanity, we looked to God in anticipation, in hopes that He would provide a means to be cleansed from sin. When Jesus came, He presented His life as a sacrifice for sin. Paul speaks of this presentation on multiple occasions. In Romans 5:8-10, he tells us "Before the Christ came to present Himself as a sacrifice for sinful man, we looked to God in anticipation that He would provide a means to be cleansed from sin. When Jesus came, He presented His life as a sacrifice for sin. Paul speaks of this presentation on multiple occasions."

Jesus said in John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

 

Consequently, the redeemed individual shall never come into condemnation. God’s salvation is free. No one can earn the salvation God offers through Jesus Christ, the Lord. This is the clear statement of the Word. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

The cost of salvation, the forgiveness of sin, the setting aside of our sin so that we can be accepted in the Beloved Son, requires a price that is too great. One cannot go to church enough times, one cannot say enough prayers, nor consume enough of the elements at the Lord’s Table, not wash away sin through dipping into the waters of baptism—if there is to be atonement for sin, it must be provided by One who is infinite and altogether righteous. 

 

Since salvation delivers from condemnation and from death, the wrath of God is assuaged. No man can provide a sufficient price to secure his salvation; however, God freely offers His salvation. The cost of salvation, the forgiveness of sin, the setting aside of our sin so that we can be accepted in the Beloved Son, requires a price that is too great. One cannot go to church enough times, one cannot say enough prayers, nor consume enough of the elements at the Lord’s Table, not wash away sin through dipping into the waters of baptism, if there is to be atonement for sin, it must be provided by One who is infinite and altogether righteous. Since salvation delivers from condemnation and from death, the wrath of God is assuaged. No man can provide a sufficient price to secure his salvation; however, God freely offers His salvation. 

Not only is salvation free, but Salvation is full. By this, I mean that when God saves, He saves completely. If Jesus died and presented His life as a sacrifice for sin, it might be a noble story of divine love; but it would be an incomplete story. For if He died because of our sin, and His body now lies mouldering in a dark tomb, how can we know that He can deliver us from death? It is precisely because He conquered death and was raised from the death that we have life. If His resurrection was a secret resurrection, or some sort of a spiritual event, then how can we know that He will do all that He has promised to do? The reality is Christ did conquer death, having been raised from the dead and coming out of the tomb.

The Good News of the Gospel tells that Christ died because of our sin, that He was attested to be dead and was buried, and He broke the bonds of death and came out of the tomb. The Risen Savior was witnessed by multiple people, including the Roman guards, who stood guard over His tomb, who testified that it was him and not another. 

 

The Good News is a continuing story, however; Christ ascended into the heavens where He is now seated at the right hand of the Father and from whence He is coming again to receive His people to Himself. Now, through faith in this Risen, Living Savior, sin is forgiven and life is given and the one who believes shall never be condemned.

The redeemed are saved from the bondage and power of sin, having received the Holy Spirit, which indwells in us, supplying His power to please God. We will be saved from the presence of sin when we receive our glorified bodies at the rapture. Therefore, we have been saved, we are being saved and we will be saved!

Just meditate on this truth! We have been saved from the penalty of sin, being delivered from condemnation. We are being saved from the power of sin through the power of the Spirit of God who lives within each believer. We shall be saved from the presence of sin when we are transformed into the image of God’s own Son. This is a glorious thought to realize that God provides full salvation.

 

The Apostle tells us this in Titus 3:3-7, "For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." 

In Closing...

In our fallen condition, our spirit is dead; and we ourselves are dead in our trespasses and sins. God saves the soul of those who are redeemed, so He gives them a new spirit. The spirit of man was created to commune in fellowship with God.

False teachers are always adding "something more." Prosperity preachers are always teaching more than what God's Word promises. God's Word is truth. The Good News of the Gospel is complete. It leaves nothing out, there is nothing more to add! God’s salvation is full, saving body, soul and spirit. He saves completely. Salvation is final. Rejoice in the knowledge that God saves the soul, gives a new spirit and promises a new body. 

 

We can rest secure in this knowledge, the security of the believer is the will of the Father.

 

May it be so...

 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;


the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen

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