Glory! Glory! Glory!<\/p>\n
Do you ever read the Bible, the holy scriptures, and think, \u201cHmm. Can\u2019t mean that.\u201d So you read it again. \u201cWow. That\u2019s pretty amazing.\u201d Then you read it again and think, \u201cOh! Maybe that\u2019s exactly what it means.\u201d<\/p>\n
It happens a lot when I read John 17. For example, in John 17:1 Jesus says to His Father, \u201cthe hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee\u201d. What hour is this? It is the hour of Christ\u2019s death, the hour of cursing, separation and judgment. Yet, this hour of shame glorified the Son of God, our Lord Jesus, and allowed the Son to glorify the Father.<\/p>\n
How is it possible? How can the hour of cursing also be the hour of glory? For one simple reason. Though shameful and bitter, this hour was the culmination of a great work, the accomplishment of a mighty mission and the achievement of a unique task. <\/p>\n
In the hour of His greatest shame the God-man became the sin substitute for His people. He fulfilled the will of God for the salvation of sinners. He honoured the Father by satisfying divine justice. He perfectly demonstrated eternal love, and completely vindicated true holiness. In this way the Son glorified the Father.<\/p>\n
But how was the Son glorified in sin, suffering and separation? The answer is in verse 2. He gave, by His death, \u201ceternal life to as many as thou hast given him\u201d. <\/p>\n
These happy, blessed recipients of eternal life were given to the Godman in covenant obligation. Christ as God needed nothing to be given to Him but in the everlasting covenant of peace we see the Lord Jesus stooping and accepting the role of Redeemer for God\u2019s chosen people. He willingly did this for the giving of eternal life \u201cto as many\u201d as were given to Him, given into His charge to save.<\/p>\n
In these verses we discover sovereign election, limited atonement, and the unconditional free grace of God. And we see the end of God\u2019s purpose in the salvation of sinners. In doing everything necessary for our redemption and deliverance the Lord Jesus accomplished a great salvation, earned for us eternal life, and demonstrated Himself to be both wonderful and glorious. The Father was glorified and the Son was glorified. And we are glorified in Him.<\/p>\n
Oh! what will it be like to enter into eternal life? The Lord Jesus said in John 17:3, \u201cAnd this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.\u201d What joy, what marvellous prospects! Perhaps you have some ideas as to what eternal life will consist of when we enter heaven. It is probably best to leave definitions to the One who knows. God the Holy Spirit here tells us that eternal life is to know God. Eternal life is to know God as holy yet merciful, just yet gracious, good and loving to the people of His care, and the Lord Jesus Christ as the fulfiller of all righteousness for us. In this way our blessed Saviour both honoured the Father and was Himself exalted. So He could say, \u201cI have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do\u201d John 17:4.<\/p>\n
We brethren here at Nowra wish again to express our gratitude to our gracious sovereign Lord for bringing our friends Peter and Gill to our fellowship again. Those spiritual blessings are ours through the covenant mercies of our dear Saviour are often veiled from us in this wilderness journey. Your visit has been a reminder yet again of the everlasting faithfulness of our God to His promises of drawing His people to Himself as the Son of His love is raised up in our presence. Faithful is He that promised He will do it \u2013 all that He has promised.
\nAs you leave be assured of our gratitude, love, thankfulness to our Lord for His word preached so faithfully and eager desire that you might be returned to us again soon. <\/p>\n
\u2003
\nDo You Have Precious Faith<\/p>\n
It is a pleasure and a privilege for the Lord\u2019s people to be here to worship today. It is a privilege and a pleasure to worship God in spirit and in truth and to fellowship with the blessed people of God, \u201cwho have obtained like precious faith with us\u201d. <\/p>\n
Only those of faith can truly worship the Lord and fellowship with His people. Do you realise what a privilege this is? Do you know your faith is precious faith? Do you comprehend just how rare and precious it is?<\/p>\n
Permit me to ask, \u201cHow did you obtain it?\u201d Do you possess precious faith because you earned it? Then it must have been a mighty task you performed to gain such a rare and precious prize. Did it come by reward? Then you must have accomplished some great feat of outstanding value to be deserving of this precious possession from God. Did it come because of your good and holy works? Your dutiful and fulsome obedience to God\u2019s commands? Then you truly are a worthy and wonderful person! You have much to boast of.<\/p>\n
Or perhaps your precious faith was not of your doing at all. Perhaps it is a gift from God, received in mercy, bestowed by grace. Perhaps it was granted not because it is what you deserve but by pure, unmerited grace and the very last thing you deserve?<\/p>\n
The apostle Peter says in 2 Peter 1:3, \u201c \u2026 his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness\u201d. Do you see this? \u201cAll things\u201d means all God\u2019s blessings of eternal and spiritual life. This gift of everything good and precious from God we call sovereign grace. It comes from heaven as a free gift.<\/p>\n
Our Almighty God, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, gives grace and peace to His beloved people out of His sheer goodness and kindness. He freely bestows it in love upon those who are unworthy, undeserving and unable to do anything for themselves to merit God\u2019s blessing. Paul says, in Romans 9:16, \u201cSo then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n
If God gives grace there is nothing in it of works. Again, Paul says in Romans 11:6, \u201cif by grace, then is it no more of works\u201d. If to any degree or to any extent grace and works are mingled, moulded or merged together for justification, sanctification or reconciliation with God; it is no more grace. <\/p>\n
If God gives peace, then there is no more labour, effort, wearying, worrying or dutiful obedience required in order to be righteous, holy, and acceptable to God. Why? Because the Lord Jesus Christ has made us righteous, holy, acceptable, and faithful; for these are amongst the \u201call things\u201d that pertain unto life and godliness. As He is well-pleasing to God we are well-pleasing to God in Him. The Lord Jesus gives rest from labour. Rest is peace and His peace is perfect.<\/p>\n
Perfect peace is the end and object of our precious faith. In Isaiah 26:3 the prophet of God declares, \u201cThou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.\u201d We trust in Christ by faith. Faith is a gift. It is rare and precious and it stays our minds on Christ.
\n_________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n
The Highest Imaginable Love<\/p>\n
I doubt eternity itself will supply sufficient time for us to discover the depth of God\u2019s love towards us in Christ Jesus. I want to show you one short passage to whet your appetite to further explore the height, breadth, depth and strength of God\u2019s love to us in the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
In John 17:23, the Saviour tells us God loves us with the same love with which He loves the Son. Consider that! He loves His people as He loves Christ Himself! Our Redeemer desires a worldwide declaration of God\u2019s faithful love for His people so that, \u201cthe world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me\u201d. This ought to astonish us. The love of the Father to the Son is the very same as the Father\u2019s love to us. In its nature, degree, quality extent, depth and provision we possess the same love wherewith God loves Christ.<\/p>\n
The psalmist says in Psalm 63:3 \u201c \u2026 thy lovingkindness is better than life.\u201d Do we know this lovingkindness, this wonderful divine love? Then let us, with the Psalmist, praise His holy name. \u201cFor I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38, 39). <\/p>\n
Exceeding Great And Precious Promises (2 Peter 1:3-4)
\nThere are many sweet and exceeding great and precious promises given to the Lord\u2019s people. But none are sweeter than what the Lord Jesus Christ says concerning our sin and how He made complete satisfaction for them with His precious blood. Look at these precious promises again.
\nPsalm 103:10-12\u2026He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
\nIsaiah 38:17\u2026Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
\nIsaiah 44:22-23\u2026I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it.
\nJeremiah 50:20\u2026In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
\nMicah 7:19-20\u2026He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob.
\nMatthew 1:21\u2026And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
\nRomans 4:7-8\u2026 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
\nHeb. 10:17-18\u2026And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
\n1 John 1:9-10\u2026If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
\n1 John 4:10\u2026 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
\nYes, the Lord\u2019s people are a sinful people and full of iniquity (Isa. 1:5-6; Rom. 7:24-25) but do not despair, thanks be unto God; the Lord Jesus Christ came to save sinners (Rom. 5:6-8; 6:23). Oh what a glorious God and Saviour we have (Matt. 9:13; Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15).
\n\t\t\t\tTom Harding<\/p>\n
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP<\/p>\n
\u201cA friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.\u201d
\nProverbs 17:17<\/p>\n
The Lord Jesus Christ is the \u201cFriend of sinners\u201d, Who loved His own
\nbefore the world began, loved them while they were yet sinners and loves
\nthem to the end. Christ is the Son of God and the firstborn among many
\nbrethren. He is the Elder Brother Who was born for adversity; born to
\nbear the sin of God\u2019s people. He is that Friend that sticketh closer
\nthan a brother. He will never forsake His friends and brothers. May we
\nbe the same friend and brother to our brethren, loving them in the depth
\nof their sins, loving them fervently, loving them when they need it
\nmost, loving them when they are experiencing great adversity and
\ntrouble. Let us love at all times, for we were born again for these
\ntimes. ~Paul Mahan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Glory! Glory! Glory! Do you ever read the Bible, the holy scriptures, and think, \u201cHmm. Can\u2019t mean that.\u201d So you read it again. \u201cWow. That\u2019s pretty amazing.\u201d Then you read it again and think, \u201cOh! Maybe that\u2019s exactly what it means.\u201d It happens a lot when I read John 17. For example, in John 17:1 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5121","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5121"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5122,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5121\/revisions\/5122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5121"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5121"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}