Good News for Sinners - Part 2 of 2

Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the worries of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace.

This is L. S. Bradley, Jr. welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible Hour. We continue the message today entitled, Good News for Sinners. That's what the Gospel message is indeed. The message we bring is not one of hard conditions that you could not meet. It's a message of a work complete through Jesus Christ. I pray the message will be a blessing to you today. If it is, we'd like to hear from you.

Our address is the Baptist Bible Hour, Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. It's not a matter of somebody just saying, well, yes, I feel unworthy. I feel that I am a sinner. No, it's for sure enough sinners. Not just somebody who mouths the right words. Not just somebody who has a few minor flaws. We're talking about some significant sinners here. We're talking about people whose lives were not pure, were not clean.

We're talking about people over a long period of time, had a terrible reputation, were known as a sinner. This Gospel is not for the honest. Somebody says, well, I tell you, I may have had some other faults. But one thing about it, I'm a truthful person. I'm honest.

You can depend on me. My word is my bond. But the basis of salvation is not your character, not your superior walk, not your conduct. What would have been the plight of the dying thief when Jesus said, today shalt thou be with me in paradise, if honesty was a requirement? This man had been dishonest.

This man had taken that which didn't belong to him. He was dying on the cross because he was this thief. But he had come to understand that the one that was next to him, the man on the cross in the middle, was no thief. He was a perfect man. He was the son of God. He was the Lord. And therefore he said, will you remember me when you come into your kingdom?

And Jesus said, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise. All the self-righteous would say, hold up, wait a minute, how can that be? I thought if you were good enough you'd go to heaven. I thought if you did everything right you'd pay for your ticket. I thought if you were really sincere and zealous you'd make it. And you mean that here's a thief, a man that's dying for his crime and Jesus says, you're going to be with me in paradise? That's not the way I see it.

Well I pray your eyes will be open and you'll see it like it is. Because the truth is that salvation is by grace. It's for sinners, for sinners. Somebody says, well there's a lot though to be said for being faithful, standing firm, living up to your commitments. Oh absolutely.

It's something all of us ought to be concerned about. But this gospel message is not for the faithful. For Jesus' own disciples, his own followers, those who had been most intimate with him, forsook him and fled. It wasn't just Peter that denied the Lord.

The whole group forsook him. You see the salvation we're talking about is not based on your faithfulness but on the faithfulness of God. On the basis of an everlasting covenant that is ordered and sure, a covenant between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So we see the condition of those for whom Christ died. Not the innocent, not the good, not the obedient, not the pure, not the honest, not the faithful, but he died for the ungodly, he died for sinners. And then the next thing we see in the text is the love of God displayed. Verse 8 of Romans 5 says, but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God loved us. Why would we get sinners? Christ died for sinners. And that is followed up also in the Ephesian passage to which we've already referred. In Ephesians chapter 2, after describing in the first verse that we were dead in sins, describing in verses 2 and 3 that we were walking according to our sinful nature, fulfilling our own desires and lusts. Verse 4 then says, but God who is rich in mercy for his great love, wherewith he loved us.

What made the difference? Not our action, but God's love. Not our merit, but God's grace. What turned the point, but God, but God who is rich in mercy. Doesn't have just a small amount of it. Doesn't just dish it out with great reserve.

He's rich in it. For his great love, a marvelous love, an abundant love, an abounding love, wherewith he loved us. God loved us. He made his love manifest. He didn't just talk about it.

He didn't just declare it. He didn't just speak of it in his word, but he revealed it. He displayed it because he gave his son. Romans chapter 8 verse 32. He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? You talk about the love of God. God gave his son. We talked recently about the experience of Abraham when he was called of God to go up on the mountain and offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. You can imagine the emotion that this man experienced thinking about giving his own son that he loved dearly.

Words in the scripture mean something. God has presented to us as being the father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is described as being his only begotten son. God gave his son. Maybe that's hard for us to fathom, but to think about God becoming man and the person of Jesus Christ, God giving his son, giving him to go to the cross, to be made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him is something beyond our ability to fully perceive. What it meant for this one who was perfect, spotless, no sin, to have our sin put upon him so that there was a separation between the son of the father and the son cries out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Oh, what a display of love. God spared not his son, didn't hold him back, but delivered him up. God orchestrated the whole event because it was his design and purpose that Jesus Christ should go to the cross to redeem his people. Seeing this is so, shall he not freely give us all things, all things that we have need of? The love of God is displayed because he loved us while we were yet sinners, because he gave his son, and because it says he delivered us from wrath. Now this is a point that many have not come to grips with in our thinking today. There's a new interpretation of what God is like, read after one man recently who said that the baby boomers are not going to accept the terminology of the past. If you start talking to them about guilt and sin, talking to them about punishment and wrath, they're just not going to tolerate it.

Although these principles may be true, you've got to come up with some new innovative way to get them to accept it, that they might embrace the gospel. My friends, I believe that the terms and words that are given us in scripture were adequate for us today. And the fact is not just terminology, the fact is that man in his own nature as he likes to develop a God according to his own imagination does not want to think about a God of wrath. It may be pleasant to think about his love, and his love is wonderful and marvelous, and we've already talked about that, but God is also a God of wrath. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 10. Paul is speaking of what took place when the gospel was preached to these at Thessalonica saying that you turn from idols to serve the true and living God and to wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Jesus Christ did not die just to make life easier for you, to give you a better improved life here on this earth. He died to deliver his people from the wrath to come. There is wrath coming. There is a day when the wrath of God will be clearly manifest.

Chapter 5 of the book of 1 Thessalonians says in verse 8, but let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for in helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him. You see wrath and salvation are put here as two contrasts. God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation but there are those who will face suffer the wrath of God.

2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 7. And to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day. Can you imagine the horror of such a day? Due to the fact that you have a sinful nature it's possible that at some point in your life you could commit a crime that as you look back upon it you would shake your head in disbelief and say I can't believe that was me. I can't believe I did that.

How could it happen? And now you stand in a court of law and you hear the judge say guilty and pronounce the sentence. Can you imagine the terrible sinking feeling when you found out I'm going to jail?

Never in your wildest imagination did you ever think that in your life you would have to go to jail. Now that's a terrible scene to envision is it not? But think of something far worse. Think of that notable day when the Lord comes back. Comes in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God. He's coming back to be admired in all them that believe but he's coming back with wrath upon the wicked. Can you imagine anything more horrible than understand I'm not just appearing in a court of law.

I'm not just hearing a local judge say guilty. I'm hearing the God of heaven declare you are the recipient of my wrath because you are a sinner, a rebel, ungodly, a violator of my law. Revelation chapter 6 verse 16 and said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. Oh you see I've always thought about the lamb being slain for sinners.

The hope of that thought, the beauty of Jesus Christ being the fulfillment of all the types and shadows of old. The lamb slain but here it speaks of the wrath of the lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand. But you see the love of God is displayed in that he delivered his people from the wrath to come.

He died for the ungodly. If you are a sinner saved by his grace this is good news to you because he says much more than being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him saved from wrath. The third thing we see in this text is the person and work upon which this salvation rests. Notice the emphasis upon Christ. When we were without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly in due time at the appointed time.

This was something that God had arranged, God had purposed and decreed from before the foundation of the world. It was going to come to pass at the exact time God had designated it. Back to Isaiah 53 the 11th verse it says he shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall bear their iniquities. The prophet knew in advance that Jesus Christ would be satisfied not undertaking a work that he could not finish but gloriously successful fighting a battle winning the victory satisfied because he would secure all of those that were given to him by the father and the covenant of grace. He was coming all the types all the shadows all of the prophetic references of the old testament pointing to the coming the son of God all fulfilled in the new tell us that Jesus Christ was coming to do a work. Matthew chapter 1 verse 21 says and thy shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins that's why he was coming. The angels came singing glory to God in the highest on earth peace good will toward men the time had come. Galatians chapter 4 verses 4 and 5 says this but when the fullness of time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law for what purpose to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons when the fullness of time was come. There were times that they attempted to take Jesus but he said repeatedly my hour is not yet come but when the hour came at the exact moment Jesus gave himself willingly when they came to take him away he laid down his life willingly upon the cross you deserved to die there you were the sinner you were the ungodly soul you deserved the wrath of God but Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners he was the substitute and God's wrath was poured out upon him because the sins of his people were laid upon him and he suffered and he put them away he came at the appointed time at the right time see our salvation is all in Christ. Salvation is not a reward for the good not a reward for good conduct obviously that's the thinking of many people I can just do the best I can I had somebody say to me one time I'll take my chances oh I'm telling you about something better than chance this morning I'm telling about something that's sure I'm telling you about a salvation that's in the person of Jesus Christ and therefore all saved by him but in joy heaven forever. Second Timothy chapter 1 verse 9 said that he has saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began so it's not according to our works it's not a reward that's given to those who are good it's a gift of free grace it's not reformation it's regeneration somebody said okay I see that I've come short yes I've got some things in my past that I'm ashamed of I've got some things in my life now that need to be straightened out I'm going to turn over a new leaf I'm going to make it better no it's not reformation it's regeneration it's not you giving your filthy heart to the Lord it's the Lord by his grace giving you a new heart when you're born again you're made a new creature in Christ Jesus it's not your repentance somebody said well is it not in order that men repent should not men repent absolutely the apostle Paul preached at Mars Hill that God commands all men everywhere to repent but your repentance is not the basis of your salvation Titus chapter 3 verse 4 says but after that the kindness and love of God our savior toward man appeared not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost how did he save us according to his mercy according to his mercy I've known of people who have struggled for years trying to determine if they had adequately repented it was evident they weren't looking to Christ they were looking to the quality of their repentance they're still working at it I'm not sure I've adequately grieved I'm not sure that I've repented like I should have repented yes God grants repentance and an evidence of his grace is that you're brought to deep conviction of your sin you're no longer trying to defend yourself excuse yourself make an argument that God ought to do something for you because you're worthy no in true repentance you take God's side of the question you say like the hymn writer if thou my soul should send to hell thy righteous law proves it well if God should cast me off and I should suffer his wrath forever I could lift no hand in opposition and could not raise any single complaint that's what I deserve in true repentance you acknowledge then that God should cast you off in true repentance you admit I have no righteousness of my own in true repentance you turn from your idols to serve the true and living God but the basis of your salvation is not your repentance it's Christ the basis of your salvation is not your tears somebody said well I I did have an experience some years ago I was deeply moved I wept uncontrollably but you're not washed by your tears you're washed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ Peter talks about the precious blood of Christ it's precious because it's of great value it's by his blood that our sins are washed made clean by the blood of the lamb somebody says well what about my faith should I not believe absolutely Paul and Silas said to the Philippian jailer believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved you ought to believe but I'll tell you salvation is not based on your believing it's not based on your faith faith itself is the gift of God but Hebrews chapter 9 verse 26 says for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the end of the world he hath appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself how did he put sin away by his own sacrifice verse 28 says so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation somebody else is constantly examining looking at their own evidences you hear blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled you search and you examine and you try to determine am I adequately poor am I mourning like I ought to mourn am I hungering and thirsting like I ought to thirst well it's a great source of encouragement when we can see some evidence of God's work in our life the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long suffering when we can see that there is love when we can see that God has given us peace when we see that there's meekness of spirit we take courage in that but I want to tell you your salvation is not in your evidence it's in Christ you could misread your case sometimes there are those that are much too hard on themselves they in spite of the fact that others may see clear evidence in them they can never see it no doubt that there are times that we tend to be too easy on ourselves we try to make all kinds of excuses for our own flaws and faults yes when God does a work of grace there's going to be some evidence of it but salvation is not in the evidence salvation is in Christ and then the writer says seeing what he's done for us by his death now we're going to be saved by his life isn't that a wonderful thought he says considering what all Christ has done for you through his sacrificial death at the cross now that he is alive look at the further blessings and deliverances that are going to be yours back to Romans 8 verse 34 who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again so he's now alive this is something that's going to happen now through the life of Christ who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us seeing then what he has done for you by his death now be encouraged according to the 10th verse of the fifth chapter for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son you were an enemy opposed to God but you were reconciled by his death much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life by his death you're reconciled by his life life in that the grave did not hold him he came out of the grave he's seated on the right hand of the majesty on high for what purpose he lives ever lives to make intercession for us oh then the blessings that are yours because he lives i ask you the question do you see yourself as a sinner the gospel message is good news to you if you do you find hope and comfort and courage by it you see he came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance as long as someone is offended as long as someone objects to the idea well i just don't like that terminology i can't see myself as a wretch i'm no worm i'm no great sinner they're not going to be comforted with this gospel but if you see yourself as a sinner lord i know that in myself i have nothing i have no righteousness to plead i have no worth i have no merit i'm ruined i'm done for loss forever without thy grace this gospel is for you they that are whole need not a physician but they that are sick he died for the ungodly do you believe that do you believe on him john 5 24 says verily verily i say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me half everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life the one that believes has already passed from death unto life are you a believer in the son of god today do you rest alone in him because you see that left to yourself there would be no hope none whatever the gospel is good news for sinners christ died for the ungodly today we have brought you the concluding part of a message entitled good news for sinners if you'd like to get the complete message on cd request it when writing us at the baptist bible hour box 17037 cincinnati ohio 45217 we depend on our listeners for support to keep the program on this station if you can help we'll certainly be thankful for it till we greet you next time this is lacerre bradley junior bidding you goodbye and may god bless you die in my savior watching and waiting looking above will live this goodness lost in his love this is my story this is my song praising my savior all the day long this is my story this is my song praising my savior raising my savior raising my savior