AN INGLORIOUS RUIN

Psalm 39:5: Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

The human race does not realize nor recognize its ruin. Unregenerate people naturally cannot see their lost condition for they are spiritually dead to God. For the most part, people see themselves in a rather glorious light. However, this is not how God sees the human race. God sees the human race as it is, lost, dead in trespasses and sins and in constant rebellion, and the way God sees it is the way it is. Take any man at his best state, when he is praying, giving, reading God’s word, it is altogether vanity apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is my worth and my completeness before God. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Col 2:10). Pastor John Chapman

Is Our Message Offensive?

Paul called his message “the offence of the cross” (Gal. 5:11).Again and again he warned that the true gospel of God’s grace and glory would meet with great opposition from the religious world and the natural world. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness.” “The natural man receiveth not the things of God.”

Our Lord said, “Marvel not if the world hate you.” He also said in John 16, “They will cast you out of organized religion, and whosover killeth you will think that he serves God in doing so.” If what we preach is NOT offensive to the religionist and to the worldling, then it is NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I repeat, it is not the gospel!

1). GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY in creation, providence, and redemption offends man’s claim to a freewill! “WE WILL NOT have this man REIGN over us.”

2). The preaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY and INABILITY offends man’s dignity and claim to personal righteousness. “We be not born of fornication”, that is, “we be not (they say) born in sin.” “We may not be perfect, but we are not totally corrupt in God’s sight.”

3). The gospel of Christ comes by REVELATION and this offends man’s natural wisdom. The college professor knows as much about the mysteries of grace as the farmhand, which is nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

4). EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute and sin-offering, offends man’s pride. Men would have God do all that He wants to do or can do; but, there must be a work left for the sinner to perform, that we might share somewhat in the glory.

5). The LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST offends man’s desire for recognition here and the hereafter. “Grant, Lord, that we may sit at Thy right and left hand.” “Let us have a system of rewards to distinguish us in some way from the beggar.” We have established our social levels here and choose to continue them in heaven.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin article 1984)

Behold The King Cometh

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zech. 9:9-11)

God gave to His prophet the very exact description of our Lord Jesus Christ as He entered into Jerusalem to accomplish our salvation, 550 years before it actually happened (Luke 19:28-40). Zechariah not only describes for us the circumstances how Christ would come but also gives us a very vivid description of Who this is and what He would accomplish.

Notice these vital things!

1). Jesus Christ is the King of our salvation. "Behold thy King cometh unto thee." The wise men ask, where is He that is born King (Matt. 2:2)? Our Lord as God incarnate, is King of Kings (Rev. 19:9-16; Psa.2:6; Acts.2:36). As King He is sovereign in salvation (John 17:2; Rom. 9:12-16).

2). Jesus Christ is the Just God, "He is just." That means He is righteous in all His ways and Holy in His character. Stephen and Peter called Him, "the Just One" (Acts 3:12-15; 7:52).

3). Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, "having salvation." He is not only a Just God but also our righteous Saviour (Isa.45:21). Paul often calls Christ God our Saviour (Titus 1:3; Luke 2:30). He came to give His life as a ransom to purchase His covenant people (Matt. 20:28; Acts 20:28).

4). Jesus Christ is also identified with our humanity, "lowly, and riding upon an ass." Totally, fully God Almighty, yet also a real man (Jn.1:14; 1Tim. 3:16; Phil.2:5-9). As the Godman He honored the law and perfected righteousness for us (Isa. 42:21; 2Cor.5:21; Heb. 9:12; 1Peter 3:18).

5). Jesus Christ is our Peace with God, 'he shall speak peace unto the heathen" (Zech. 9:10). Surely, no one else has the authority to speak peace unto the sinner, but Jesus Christ Himself (Eph.2:12-17; Rom. 5:1). He made peace with God for His people through the blood of His sacrifice (Col. 1:19-22).