Salvation

Psalms 130:1-8   Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.  (2)  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  (3)  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?  (4)  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.  (5)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.  (6)  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.  (7)  Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.  (8)  And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

INTRODUCTION:           The writer of this Psalm is unknown, and is generally classified as a “Praise” Psalm.  There is another classification of this Psalm, giving it another classification name based upon it’s general content.  It is called a Pauline Psalm, not that the people who gave it this classification think Paul wrote it, however, it shows the methodology of salvation without the law as Paul described salvation. (Martin Luther gave this designation to these psalms; 32^nd, 51^st, 130^th and 143^rd.)

I.            LORD IF YOU MARK SIN                                                 (vv 1-4)

              A.           Who Shall Stand?

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

1.               Who…

a.               Will Wait?  (abide)

b.               Shall stand?

Isaiah 59:2          But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

2.               Our sins have

a.               Separated us from God.

b.               He has hid His face from us.

c.               He will not hear us.

3.               If God cannot forgive

a.               What are we to do?

b.               Where do we go?

B.           The Good News

Ezekiel 18:21-23 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. ²²All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.  ²³Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

1.               Turn from our sins

a.               The kicker

b.               ALL our sins

2.           Keep His statutes

a.               Live righteously

b.               Do right

3.           We will live

a.           Our sins will not be mentioned.

b.           God has no pleasure in the death of a soul.

II.           WAIT ON THE LORD                                                        (vv 5-6)

Proverbs 20:22    Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

              A.           In His Word I Do Hope.

Psalm 31:23        O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.  ²⁴ Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

1.               Be of Good courage

a.           He preserves the faithful

b.           He rewards the doer

              B.           Patiently Wait On The Lord

Jeremiah 17:7                   Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

1.               Trust Him

2.               Know Him

Joel 3:16             The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

3.               He’s coming

a.               Don’t know when

b.               But He is coming

4.           Wait on Him

III.         LET US HOPE IN THE LORD                                          (vv 7-8)

              A.           He Will Forgive All

Romans 3:24       Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

1.           Forgive our Sins

              i.            (Redemption; Green Stamps

                             Redemption centers)

              B.           Accept Him

1.           Acknowledge that you are a sinner.            

Romans 3:23

2.           Understand the Penalty of Sin.     

Romans 6:23

3.           Understand that Jesus Paid the price of your sin.

Romans 5:8

4.               Do You Believe…

a.               Jesus died for you

b.               God raised him from the dead

 Romans 10:9

                             5.           Repent

Ezekiel 18:30      Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

a.           So sin won’t be our ruin.

b.           Turn you heart to Jesus

Accept Him now.

Be Prepared

Colossians 1:12-14  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  (13)  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  (14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

INTRODUCTION:           We as Christians, to use a tried and true phrase from the Boy Scouts, must “Be Prepared.”  The Boy Scouts teach good morals and life skills.  Things as Christian we all must also have.  Not just to have but use and have them re-enforced by our Christianity.

              However, our reason for being “Prepared” is for that coming day in which either God calls us Home, or that day when Jesus returns to retrieve His Church.

              We in our past as children of the devil, found the way of qualification and to receive the eternal inheritance with God.  All through the Blood of Jesus being on that Cross.

              According to [1] Matthew Henry “Here is a summary…of the Gospel concerning the great work of our redemption by Christ.”

              These three verses constitute 1 message of five in verses 12 through 23.  I will use the next 4 Sunday evening for the remainder of these verses.  I will be gone one of those Sundays.

I.            WE ARE PARTAKERS OF AN INHERITENCE                  (v 12)

              A.           We Must Be Prepared

                             1.           Our preparation is through Jesus

                                           i.            Our channel to Jesus is the Holy Spirit

                                                          a.           We cannot do it on our own

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2.               It is God who made us qualified

i.                By putting His only Begotten Son

              a.           On that Cross to die

              b.           For our sins

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

ii.               Whosoever believeth

B.              Walk In The Light

1.               Set ourselves apart

              i.            For God’s service eternally

C.              God Has Made Us Heirs

1.               Heirs to what?

              i.            Eternity

Titus 3:7  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

                                                          a.           Our Hope

                                                          b.           Is eternal life

                                           ii.           The promises made to Abraham

Galatians 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

                                                          a.           We are now Abraham’s Heirs

Romans 4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

                                                          b.           Heirs of the promise

                                                          c.            All by faith in Jesus

                                           iii.          Heirs of reward

Colossians 3:24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

                                                                                               

                                                          a.           The reward of inheritance

                                                          b.           Because we serve Jesus

                                           iv.          Heirs of immortality

1 Corinthians 15:50-54  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  (51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (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.

                                                          a.           Incorruptible

                                                          b.           That “Victory In Jesus”

II.           GOD HAS DELIVERED US                                                   (v 13)

              A.           From The Power of Darkness

                             1.           A place, a realm, a kingdom

Matthew 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

                                           i.            Where sight does not exist

                                           ii.           A lack of knowledge

2.               An active power

              i.            That enslaves men

John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

a.               To sin

b.               To rebel against God

c.               To rebel against the church

B.              God Has Rescued Us

1.               He gave us the life

              i.            The light

John 1:9-10  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  (10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

                                           ii.           The true light / The truth

                                                          a.           To all men

C.              God Transferred Us

1.               To His Son Jesus

John 6:65  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

                                           i.            Only from God

                                                          a.           Is Jesus available

III.         WE ARE FORGIVEN                                                              (v 14)

A.              God Redeemed Us

1.               With the Blood of Jesus

Luke 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

2.               We were forgiven

              i.            From His Cross

                             a.           While in agony

CONCLUSION:  Isn’t it amazing what God’s only Begotten Son gave us by His selfless death on that Old Rugged Cross.  In His agony we were on His mind.  While on the Cross He forgave one and all who would trade their world for His through the Blood He shed.

              God’s Amazing Grace, Jesus, look to Him, and serve Him.

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[1] “Matthew Henry Commentary”  Volume 5, page 752.

The New Birth

John 3:1-8  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:  (2)  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  (3)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  (4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  (5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  (6)  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  (7)  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  (8)  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

INTRODUCTION:           In our text we find Nicodemus a Sanhedrin ruler coming to Jesus, in the night, to ask or interrogate Jesus. 

John 7:50-51  Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)  (51)  Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?

In this one verse Nicodemus defended Jesus, yet he would not proclaim Jesus outwardly.

              Nicodemus was a Pharisee of the Sanhedrins, the ruling body of the Jews.  He was a master teacher; we suspect he held a very high position within the Sanhedrin.

              He was either a leading official or the leading teacher of Israel.

It is considered he was a wealthy man; he spent a great deal of money for Jesus' burial.   Nicodemus is thought to be a silent believer. 

              He was silent at Jesus trial, and may have absented himself from the trial, yet, he stepped forward with Joseph of Arimathaea to claim His body from the Cross.  Both Nicodemus and Joseph were secret disciples.  They both came forward publically and acknowledged Jesus by collecting and burying His body.

I.            WE KNOW                                                                                 (v 2)

              A.           Thou Art…Come From God

1.           They wondered if Jesus was the Messiah.

2.           Some eventually became followers of Jesus.

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

                                           i.            Many became followers

B.           Jesus Was Claiming To Be The Messiah

1.           He was performing spectacular works

i.            These works were prophesied by the prophets.

ii.           Jesus was the talk of the nation.

(Matthew 21:8-9)  And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. ⁹ And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

                             2.           The rulers were asking the question

                                           i.            Is He really the Messiah?

C.           Because Of This Question; Is The "Why" Nicodemus Came To Jesus.

1.           Nicodemus only acknowledged Jesus as a teacher from God.

i.            They knew something.

ii.           They knew that only a man from God could do such miracles.

2.           Nicodemus was asking another question.

              i.            Who are you?

D.           We Should Note That Jesus Failed To Answer Him Directly.

              1.           Jesus knew something also

i.            He saw an empty searching heart.

ii.           He saw the honesty in his question.

2.               Jesus cut to the quick

II.           EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN                                       (v 3)

              NOTE:  The word “Again” has three meanings

·       From the first; = From the beginning

·       Again;               = One more time

·       From above;     = From the top; from God

              A.           Born Again

                             1.           From God

                             2.           He must be:

                                           i.            Born completely and fully

                                                          a.           A full change

                                           ii.           All over again

                                                          a.           A second time

                                           iii.          From above

                                                          a.           From God

              B.           Cannot SEE the Kingdom of God                               (v 3)

                             1.           Ye must be born again

              C.           Cannot ENTER the Kingdom of God                         (v 5)

                             1.           Ye must be born again

(John 3:18)  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

                             2.           He that believes

                                           i.            Is not condemned

                             3.           He that believes not

                                           i.            Is condemned already

Acts 3:17  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

(Acts 3:19)  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

                             4.           Change from following the devil

                                           i.            Change your mind

(Romans 12:2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

                                           ii.           By renewing your mind.

5.           Accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

III.         IT IS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH.                                                    (v 5)

A.           Nicodemus Was Confused By The “Again.”

                             1.           The second time

                             2.           He didn't understand the How.

              B.           He Understood He Was Born Of Water.

(John 1:12-13)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

                             1.           “Which were …born of God”

              C.           Jesus Illustrates By Using The Wind                         (v 8)

                             1.           We can feel it

                             2.           We can see its results

                             3.           But where it comes from

                             4.           Where it goes

                                           i.            Only God knows

CONCLUSION:   In verse 9 Nicodemus continues to ask, “How can these things be?”   We all asked the same question before we were saved.  I cannot give you an answer of the physical means of our Salvation.  However I can show you the timing.

              But some who are saved continue to ask these questions.

              If they were in church and under the Word of God they would understand better.

              Maybe we will never have a good understanding of all that Nicodemus looked for.

              But God, never asked us to understand, He asked us to Believe.  Have the faith to go beyond understanding.

                                    You see, it is still 

                  THE BLOOD,                              HE BOOK, 

                  THE BRIDEGROOM,     and     OUR BLESSED HOPE

                                     Which is    JESUS, THE CHRIST.

Are you covered by God’s Blood?  Jesus died so that the necessary blood would be available.

Leviticus 17:11  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

Jesus’ Blood was provided for your sins, Jesus was the atonement [the payment] for your sins.

                  Jesus is our Bridegroom and our Blessed Hope, all that He has done was for you.  Do you know Him?  

                  If you died today, would heaven be your home.  Or do you fear the hellish fires of hell will be your eternal abode?

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

John 3:16   Romans 10:9, 13  

If you are waiting to know Him, you will never know Him.  If you put off Jesus today, you may have no more today’s after today.

              Call on His name the most wonderful name, that name above all names Jesus (Jehovah Saviour)