R sbc
September 19, 2004
Sunday Morning
Series: “Christ The Sum & The Substance of The Bible”
Subject: “ The Gospel The Hope of Sinners”
Text: Matt 11: 1-6
Intro: I am sure that I used this text recently but not sure when. But it is the passage that God that strongly put on my heart for this service today. This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible.
John the Baptist now in prison the sunset of his life is on him, he posses a question to ask of Christ. “Art thou he that should come or do we look for another?” Never one I judge John for making such an inquiry, because we must make sure ourselves.
Peter said:
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: It behooves all of us at times make sure. The reason from the text is clear. John was setting in jail for preaching the truth, in his heart of hearts he knew to defy a King meant death for him.
The men of John’s company set out to find the LORD and they tell him what John’s question was. The reply of Christ is astounding. Look at his answers to him. Verse 4-6 one may have their blinded eyes open and only live in life to die without Christ would not be a blessed thing, one can be healed to walk again, and not have Christ and the blessings of the gospel and not have anything. One may hear what they have not heard before and not have Christ and what will it profit them, the answer is nothing...
One may be raised from the dead and die again without Christ and the miracle would not mean a whole lot. Most people want physical blessings, but few want what is most needful for them that is for Christ to come into their heart.
Christ in his answer specifically names a group of people that he intends that the gospel go to. It is clear that the majority of those who are save and believe the gospel is poor people. They are the most likely of humans to at least give an hearing ear to.
Psalms 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
In this text we have Christ thinking on this poor sinner needed to hear that even though he or she may not have the goods of this world, he or she can have Christ if they are made to hear the gospel of grace.
I... “IT IS SAID IN THE BIBLE THAT THE POOR ARE CHOSEN OF CHRIST RICH IN FAITH”
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Men may scoff at the wonder of this great truth, preachers may avoid it, Christians may not believe it, nor understand it, but the bible is filled with it. The apostle Paul said that we are bound to thank God for our election.
This infinite God who created the world and all things in it, who chose us rich in faith is worthy of thanking and praising for such a great work. My friends believe this day GOD HATH CHOSEN US RICH IN FAITH.
II... “ JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE BEGAN HIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT PREACHING THE GOSPEL”
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Both the condition and the blessing is render in this text. Without Christ coming there would be no need to say this.
The poverty of the spirit is the great condition a sinner finds himself in when he is made to see his condition. He has nothing, nothing whereby to pay the debt he owes, nothing to offer, nothing to recommend...nothing to fall back on. He is bankrupt, he is dead and he is without hope unless Christ act upon him.
1st. The gospel that is to be preached to the poor proceeds upon this principle that men are mortals.
Job 4:17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
So what Christ is saying when he says to John’s disciples there is an urgency that we must face, sinners are dying every day, and we have a mandate to preach the gospel to them. What ever it takes, whatever it cost, we must preach Christ to this lost and dying world.
The Lord Jesus Christ said: John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is always ready. Keep in mind here today, you are here by divine appointment, the Lord hath brought you here, so plead the mercy of the LORD.
Psalms 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
2nd. That this wonderful gospel that is preached to the poor is about our Lord:
Paul in preaching to the church at Corinth clearly makes the assumption to them that the gospel is about Christ.
This is why he is the sum and the substance of all things. Not just the scripture but all doctrines that are contained in the written word. John said it like this: “ And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21:25 AV)
In defining the gospel of Christ Paul says the following things:
(1.) That the gospel is a declaration: 1 Cor 15:1 “ Moreover brethren I declare unto you the gospel”
The word “ declare” is a defining word when it comes to what we are to do with this good news of Jesus Christ. It does not say that he made an offer of the gospel, he made an declaration of it, which means to make a formal announcement. When a president or foreign leader makes a declaration of war doe she make it known that we are in war, or does he make it a choice or a proposal? No he makes it a formal announcement.
The great prophet Isaiah said these words: Isaiah 12:4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
(2.) That the gospel is that which we stand on, that is the person and the work of it: “Which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, wherein ye stand” 1 Cor 15:1
This is why Paul uses the language he uses in the armor of the child of God. Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
We stand on it because there is nothing else to stand on: Jesus preaching says these words concerning the gospel of grace: Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
(3.) That the gospel that we preach to the poor is the about Christ and his work:
Truly he is the sum and the substance of it. Take him out of it, you have no good news at all. Him in it and being what he is makes it perfect. I know that you know what I am preaching without me going over all the time... but what more should I preach, I know there is plenty but still it is about Christ...
a. Christ died for our sins: 1 Cor 15:3
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified
Not just what man says about him, but according to the scriptures. Which would at this point cover the Old Testament and what its many types and pictures showed the coming of the Lord to die for his people..
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
B. That he was buried and rose again: 1 Cor 15:4
Let me fill you in on this event, I know you know it, but listen to the actual event itself. Make no mistake he was really buried.
Matt 27: 57 ¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Our sins were taken into that dark tomb that day never to remembered any more. They did dd not come out with him. Here a picture of the fit man taking a goat into the wilderness and there leaving the goat and returning back to the camp without even the sent of the goat on him.
Note only buried, but rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor 15:4 what a great and glorious thought.
Romans 6- 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
C. That he had witnesses of his resurrection: 1 Cor 15: 5 “ And that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve. 6. After that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present but some are fallen alseep.
The women at the tomb: Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The Lord was seen of his disciples of Peter, he was with his church according to the Acts of the Apostles... “ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” (Acts 1:3 AV) “ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.” (Acts 1:4 AV)
We have hope and secuirty today because Christ rose from the dead and is coming again one day, but until he does, we must serve him. He told his disciples these words: “ And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13 AV)
I would close this morning by saying a few things about the practical application of this message and the others that I have preached to you.
1st. Make sure your conversion is real..
2nd. Make a determination to serve him more if you are truly his.
3rd. Ask yourself what can I do in the spread of this wonderful gospel?
To the lost!
1st. Is God calling you this morning?
2nd. If he is then surrender to him.