The hallmark of the Protestant Reformation, sola gratia, is a glorious truth about God's absolute freedom in saving a people for Himself. This foundational truth can be found throughout the pages of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and this "sola" proved to be the key issue of the sixteenth century Reformation. The following sermon was delivered in Nigeria earlier this month in which the truth of God's saving grace was proclaimed.
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"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
In a brief but brilliant biography of a famous English preacher, one of the greatest preachers that ever preached in America or England, it is told that he had some very strange habits. One of these habits was to carry in his pocket a handful of precious stones such as a diamond, a sapphire, a ruby, an emerald, and so forth. He would walk into a park and take one of those precious stones and hold it up to the light of the sun, moving it around, seeking different shades or different illuminations from it as the sunlight hit it. And as the people would go past, particularly the children, they would all shake their heads indicating that they thought this fellow was just a little bit odd.
The preacher that I am referring to is Jonathan Edwards, and back in the 1700's he preached one of the greatest sermons ever preached in America. It was called "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The people fell off their seats and clung to the pillars that were holding the gallery up while crying out in despair. And he did not say, "Oh friends, please excuse me. I never meant to embarrass you like that."
There was a reason for his power and anointing that day, because before he preached, he prayed. Over and over and over again he prayed, "Oh God, stamp eternity on my eyes." If God "should" stamp eternity or even judgment upon our eyes, I am quite convinced we would be a very different nation of people. Thoughts of eternity sober the soul.
Someone once asked a former great statesman named Daniel Webster a question. "You have a colossal mind. What is the greatest thought that you have ever had?" He replied, "I've thought about many things, but the most awesome, the most terrifying, the most shattering thought I've ever had, is my personal accountability to God one day."
There are 788, 280 words in the Authorized KJV translation of the Word of God so that one hymn writer calls the Bible, "A golden casket where gems of truth are stored; the heaven drawn picture of Christ, the Living Word." I suggest, like Jonathan Edward, we select a special word out of this "golden casket" and hold it up to the light of eternity—and that word is "grace." Before the message is over today, I trust you will know what it means to be the object of God’s redeeming grace.
When Jesus cried out on Calvary, "It is finished!" He was stating the greatest fact in all of human history for this was a divine pronouncement that the work of redemption was now accomplished. Christ had come into the world to redeem souls unto Himself and now that act of purchasing them from the power, pollution, and presence of sin was a spiritual reality.
That the sons of Adam need redemption should be obvious for there is much sin in the soul. Jesus said "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornication’s, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness" (Mark 7:21-22).
The worldly wisdom that teaches man is innately good finds no confirmation in either the Word of God or human experience. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom 3:10). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23).
Man has earned death. He deserves to die, not only a physical death but an eternal death as well for his transgression is great. So heinous is the sin of a soul that only the Sovereign of the universe can help. The plight of man is desperate. But who will be man’s advocate? Who will defend his case before the bar of divine justice and plead for mercy and grace? It is obvious that man is guilty as charged for the Moral Law of God, as summarized in the Ten Commandments, has been violated as set forth in Exodus 20:1-20. The Law says:
- "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
- "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image"
- "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain"
- "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
- "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
- "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
- "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
- "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."
Before the Just Judge of the Universe the accused is brought. You are the accused and so am I. If we are both honest we shall say that Isaiah the prophet is right. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;" (Isa 53:6). Now the heavenly verdict is rendered. "Guilty as charged!" And the sentence is awarded, eternal separation from the face of God. The prisoner is to be taken away.
to be continued...
