Amen. If you would, turn in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 1. 2 Peter chapter 1. I remember several years ago, as a matter of fact, it was during the time I was getting my master's degree, I had gotten a substitute to teach Couples Serving Christ. That was the name of the class I had at the time. And so I really didn't have a responsibility to prepare a lesson, and I could do whatever I wanted to for my devotions. And I decided I was going to read through the book of Ephesians. And as you know, we read Ephesians 1 earlier in our Bible reading. And what a blessing it is when you read it through and give thought to the depth of meaning in that chapter. Tonight we're going to conclude the message reading Ephesians chapter two. But 2 Peter 1.1, let me say this, that my original intention was to bring a message from this text that deals with the virtues that we are to add to our faith. And as I began my preparation, I couldn't get past verse one. And if you'll look at it with me, 2 Peter 1.1, Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We're going to look at three questions tonight. What does it mean to obtain faith? What does our faith have in common with the faith of the apostles? And what makes faith precious? Let me say this, the first question will take 80% of our message. The second question could probably be a series of messages. But tonight, for the purpose of the message, most of our time will be centered around what does it mean to obtain faith. By way of introduction, I want us to look briefly at the attitude and the mindset of Peter, the human author of this verse. Notice 2 Peter 1.1, the first part of this verse. Simon Peter, a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. If you were to look at 1 Peter 1.1, you would see that the salutation is this, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. And yet when he starts the second book, the second epistle, he says, Simon Peter, a bondservant and an apostle of Jesus Christ. Commentator D.A. Carson states that the use of Simon and Peter together reminds us of the change grace had brought about in the apostle's life. He calls himself a servant and an apostle. He was a slave, yet he was fully commissioned to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever titles I may ever get, the title of pastor, for one, I hope I never forget that I'm first and foremost a bond slave. That makes all of the difference in the world. Jesus set the example for us, beloved. Listen to Philippians 2, 5 through 7. Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." The only way we can fully appreciate that is to try to think about what it was like before Jesus came to this earth. What was it like for him in heaven? And he did not only come to earth, but he came and took upon himself the form of a bondservant. Peter was not the only human author of our scriptures that saw himself first and foremost as a bondservant. Just listen to these, if you would. Titus 1.1, Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and acknowledgement of the truth, which accords with godliness. James 1.1, says James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1.1 says Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James. And I might add, James and Jude could have said the half-brother of Jesus, but they didn't. What was foremost on their minds, they were bondservants of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Tonight, we need to be reminded, as we look at this text, that all of us who are in Christ Jesus must have the mentality of full surrender to Him. Ephesians 5.8 says this, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Fellow believer, do you think about what that means? Walk as children of light. I have heard this statement before, the darker the night, the brighter the light. Our culture is growing darker by the day. Will we shine forth as light? Are we walking as children of light? And then this familiar text, Mark 8, 34, when he had called the people to himself, with his disciples also, he said to them, whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. And believe me, those disciples knew what the imagery of a cross meant. Serious consideration. We've been redeemed from the marketplace of sin. We've been chosen for adoption by the King of Kings. We've been made joint heirs with Christ to serve in his kingdom. And something that the Lord impressed upon me some time ago is that I need to live like holy nobility. And I think that you as an individual, if you are in Christ, need to think about what that means. What does it mean to be holy nobility? 1 Peter 2.9, you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, holy nobility, a holy nation, His own special people that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. And then Revelation 1.6 states that Christ has made us kings and priests to God and Father. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Holy nobility. And there is that twin sides of the same coin. We're bond servants of Christ. We're joint heirs with Christ. We are sons of God, holy nobility. Our first question that we'll consider tonight, what does it mean to obtain like precious faith? And like I said, this will take 80% of the message, so as we progress, not to panic. Before we look into the meaning of the word obtained, we need to be reminded of something. And that is that faith is on the same footing as repentance when it comes to salvation. Faith is on the same footing as repentance when it comes to salvation. What do we mean by that? Well, in Acts 20, 21, Paul spoke of testifying to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. I've read some commentators, and I've used this. I certainly did not coin the phrase of repentant faith. What does that mean? It is a faith that is inseparably tied to repentance. It's inseparably tied to repentance. We realize that we are wretches, and apart from God's grace, we deserve hell. And we need to understand that repentance and faith are on the same ground, so to speak, the same footing. Conversion consists of faith and repentance. And I'm going to give you some text to show that. Just listen to them if you would. Repentance is a gift granted by God. Speaking to Israel's religious leaders, Paul said of Jesus, him God has exalted to his right hand to be prince and savior. Notice this, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, Acts 5.31. Acts 11, 18, Peter spoke to the Jews about the Gentiles and he said this, when they heard these things, they became silent and they glorified God saying, then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life. Repentance is a gift of God. Romans 2, 4, or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Have you come to understand that it's the grace and goodness of God that has you here tonight, and if you are in Christ, that led you to repentance? 2 Timothy 2, 24-26, And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. If God perhaps will grant them Repentance. Repentance is a gift. And the last one that I would share with you, 2 Peter 3, 8 and 9, and this is a text that often is taken out of context. Think about to whom he's talking when he says this first, but beloved. 2 Peter 3, 8 and 9, but beloved. Do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish. but that all should come to repentance." God wills that all should come to repentance. Is that universalism? No, it is not. Well, to whom do the words beloved and us refer? Who is He talking about there? They refer to the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. If you were to look at 2 Peter 3 verse 1, It says this, Beloved, I now write you this second epistle, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder. So he's writing to the same people. I write you this second epistle. Well, to whom was he writing in 1 Peter? It clearly states that Peter's writing to the elect, that means chosen or picked out, according to the foreknowledge of God. God gives repentance to those chosen before the foundation of the world. Repentance is a gift of God. He talks about the foreknowledge of God in this verse. Pastor Kay did a message, as you know, last Sunday night on this. Foreknowledge in this context refers to an intimate knowledge and relationship with those beloved and chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. It's the type of knowledge that Adam had with Eve, and Adam knew his wife Eve. It is an intimate knowledge. And let me say this to you, I'm awfully afraid that there are people, even at Beacon Baptist Church where the Word is carefully exposited, that don't understand the depth of that love relationship. I might have used this illustration before from this pulpit I have with the teens, to be sure. God's intimate love for those chosen before the foundation of the world. I have appropriate relationships with several women in my life. Teenage girls in my youth group that I value their souls and I invest my life in. Relatives of mine who are ladies. A daughter, daughter's-in-law. But my relationship, appropriate as it is with each of those women, will never match the relationship that I have with my wife. It is exclusive and entire. I am part of the Bride of Christ, and He knows me intimately, and the wonder of it all, before the foundation of the world, He knew me intimately. Beloved, that's true for all of us who are in Christ. If repentance and faith are both indispensable to the gospel, and they are, and repentance is a gift of God, then surely faith must likewise be His enabling gift. Now, I'm here to tell you not everybody believes that. Well, what sayeth the Scripture? Notice our text again in 2 Peter 1.1, and he says, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us. Sometimes we have a problem in reading the English translation without digging in, as pastor said this morning. And I'm going to tell you, this is a great example of what he was talking about this morning. The English word, meaning obtained, means to gain, usually by planned action or effort. Think about that. To those of you who have gained by planned action or effort, that's what it would mean if you're reading it in English. Some of the synonyms for obtain are these, acquire, attain, capture, gain, garner, get, earn, reap, secure, win. Yet all of these words obtained in the English, they show purposeful effort on the part of the person doing the obtaining. Is that what it means? That we go after faith? It's something that we grab onto? If you're reading it in the English, and unfortunately a lot of people don't take the time to see what the meaning of the word is, if you're simply reading it in the English, it'd make you think that. What does the word obtained mean in the Greek? And notice the difference. One of them is man-centered, the English understanding. But listen to the Greek meaning of the word obtained. To gain by divine will or given by allotment, as in the biblical practice of casting lots to earn God's will. It's not talking about God casting lots to see who's going to be saved and who isn't. It simply means it's out of our hands. That's the illustration. It's all in God's hand to gain by divine will or given by allotment. MacArthur says this clearly. It refers to something not obtained by human effort or based on personal worthiness, but it issues from God's sovereign purpose. And let me give you one example of this. When I talked about God intimately knowing me and any that he's given to Christ before the foundation of the world. Listen to this example that Paul gave about himself, Galatians 1, 15 and 16. He said, it pleased God who separated me from my mother's womb, notice this, and called me through his grace to reveal his son in me. His son in me is salvation. Why did he do that? That I might preach him among the Gentiles. That's service. Salvation precedes service. Before Paul was ever born, he is saying, because it pleased God, He separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace to reveal His Son in me that I might preach Him among the Gentiles. What does that word grace mean? And you've heard a lot of different illustrations or definitions, I should say. But the word grace in the New Testament Greek lexicon, think about this. It means the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ. That's grace. Listen to it again. It's the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ. And once we are saved, He not only turns us to Christ, but He keeps us, He strengthens us, He grows our faith, increases it, if you will. And you've heard these statements about grace before, but they bear repeating. Grace is unmerited. We don't deserve it because of who we are. Grace is unearned. We can't secure it because of what we do. Grace is unconditional. Why we receive grace is bound up in the eternal counsel of God and the exercise of His will. It's unmerited, it's unearned, it's unconditional. And listen carefully to Ephesians 6.23-24. Paul writes, Peace to the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Peace, love, faith, and grace are all in those verses, and all of them are gifts from God the Father. and the Lord Jesus Christ. And something that the Lord has impressed upon me, and that is this, God's grace or the merciful kindness of His holy influence is pervasive in my salvation. I believe I'm saved by grace alone, but just as I have learned that the love I had for Jane Johnson in 1973 was genuine, it's not like the love I have for her today. We've grown closer over the years and both of us, in spite of ourselves and our shortcomings, have better learned what it means to sacrificially love each other. You see? And it's the same thing here. I've always believed that I was saved by grace. But how pervasive is the grace? How pervasive is the grace? Pretty pervasive. Because in me, there's nothing worthy. In you, there's nothing worthy that God should save us, that He should give His Son for us. Now, I want to give you three words tonight that shows how pervasive the grace of God is. God grants grace. The Greek verb translated granted is from the noun for grace. What does it mean? To give graciously, to give freely, to bestow. Now, with that in mind, listen to a couple of verses. Philippians 1.29. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. Now if I insert that definition in there, what does that read? For to you it has been given graciously on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. That's pretty powerful. Another verse, and I believe that Pastor Barkman said something along these lines this morning. John 6, 65-69, listen carefully to this. And he, Jesus said, Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to me No one can come to me unless it's been granted to him by my Father. Unless God is graciously given or freely bestowed, no one can come to me unless it's been granted to him by my Father. From that time, many of his disciples went back and walked with him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, Do you also want to go away? But Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the son of the living God. Well, Peter, how come you twelve and truth be known, you eleven? How come you eleven have come to know? and believe that Jesus is the Christ? The answer is grace. He had people following him, folks, and I'm afraid at Beacon Baptist Church, I'm afraid in our youth group. There are people following, because it's the thing to do. You know, if you're a teen, maybe you're doing that because your parents say, as long as your feet are under my table, you're going to worship at my church, or be present. Because as I'll mention at the end of the lesson, or the message tonight, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. You want your kids saved? Expose them to the Word of God every time you can. Faith comes by hearing. It's a gift of God, but He gives that gift through the Word. God grants. Grants is the first word. Gives graciously. The second word, God qualifies, or gives the right. Colossians 1.12, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. What does that word qualified mean? To make sufficient, to render fit, notice this, to equip one with adequate power to perform duties. What is that duty? Repent and believe. Repent and believe. You won't do it unless God qualifies you or gives you the power to do so. I'd like you to turn to John 1 12. John 1.12. And the reason I'm having you turn this to this passage, you need to look carefully at this verse in its context, immediate context, to really get its meaning. And I do pray that the Lord will enable me to explain this clearly to you. John 1.12. And again, when you read this in the English, it can give you one meaning until you really see the context. John 1.12, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become the children of God to those who believe in his name. That word right, as you look at that verse, means the ability or strength with which one is filled or saturated. the ability or strength with which one is filled or saturated, but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name. Now I've got a question for you, two of them. Do the words, as many as received him, and those who believe in His name determine the reason why God gave them the right? And think about that. I wish you had this question in front of you. Let me read it again. Do the words that you see in front of you, as many as received Him and those who believe in His name, do those determine the reason why God gave them the ability or the power of choice to become children of God? If that's the case, if that is true, then man becomes the determining factor in conversion. If those two phrases determine the reason why God gave, why did He do it? Because they received Him and they believe in His name. But here's the second question. Do the words received Him and believe in His name describe the reaction of those whom God gave the power of choice? And think about that. One of them, do they determine the reason or do they describe the reaction? Now, how are we going to get the answer to that? We've got to look at the context, the immediate one. John 1, 11-13, and when we read this, I pray that it just jumps off the page to you, because it's permeated with the grace of God. Starting with verse 11. He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. But, as many as received Him, to them He gave the right, the ability, the strength, the power of choice, to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, notice this, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Beloved, God is the determining factor. God is the essential determining factor. It's not up to me to initiate anything. Praise the Lord, in His grace and mercy, He is the initiator. He's not a reactor. Nothing surprises Him. He has a sovereign purpose for my life, and part of that, praise the Lord, has been salvation. We've seen that God grants or freely bestows the ability to believe. We've seen that God qualifies or empowers individuals to believe. And finally, God appoints. He grants, He qualifies, He appoints. Just one verse and it speaks for itself. Acts 1348, now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord, listen to this, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. And again, what does that word appoint mean in the Greek? To put in order, to assign, to ordain. Wow, I don't think it gets any clearer than that. The word believed in this Verse is from the same root word as faith. God grants, God qualifies, God appoints. If you were to read 1 Peter 1.1 or 2 Peter 1.1, In the New American Standard Version, this is what it says. To those who have received like precious faith. And that gets the sense of it. You know, when we read obtained, that smacks of something that I do. But when you read, to those who have received like precious faith, makes all the difference. It correctly emphasizes God's initiative. D.A. Carson. echoes what John MacArthur said earlier that I quoted. He says, received is a word meaning obtained by lot and implies grace, not merit, as the source of this gift. The faith referred to here, and I like this definition, folks, the faith referred to here is the God-given ability to respond to his grace by personal commitment and trust. Let me read that again. What is faith in this? This light, precious faith? It's the God-given ability to respond to His grace by personal commitment and trust. Why did I respond in personal commitment and trust? God in His grace gave me faith. And I'm going to tell you something, folks. I still need that grace today. Do you mean to tell me you're standing up there preaching to us and you say you doubt your salvation? No, I didn't say that. But boy, I have questions and doubts in my mind about myself and my growth. I don't know how to put that. Do you ever struggle? How long does it last for me? About 12 seconds. Why? Because the Spirit of God overwhelms me with assurance again. I gave you the faith to believe and to repent. And when you fail and when you sin, you can't stand it. You have to flee to the throne of grace. You have to plead the blood of the Savior. And then he reminds me of what Paul said, O wretched man that I was, not was, a wretched man that I am. I need the grace of God. I need him continually to support me through the faith that he's given me. Saving faith has three essential components, and there may be some here tonight. that you really don't understand what saving faith is. It's not just head knowledge, beloved. The demons know probably more about God than most of us because they've been in His presence at one time. It's far more than head knowledge, but it does require substance and head knowledge. Saving faith has three essential components. God-given knowledge of who Christ is and what he accomplished. God-given knowledge of who Christ is and what he accomplished. Romans 10, 17, I quoted earlier, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Several commentaries Several versions of the Bible, the English Standard Version, New American Standard Version, MacArthur's Commentary, several others, say that this could be translated the Word of Christ. The Word of Christ. So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ, a reference to the Gospel. There's got to be knowledge, God-given knowledge, about the Gospel of Christ. But here's a problem, folks. Why does it have to be God-given? Here's the problem. The Bible makes it very clear that no man has within himself the desire or ability to understand the gospel. Just a couple of verses, and as I read this first one, I'm going to ask you to turn to 1 Corinthians 1. If you'd be turning there and listen to me as I read a couple of others. There's a problem. No man has within himself the desire or ability to understand the gospel. Romans 3.11, there's none who understands. There's none who seeks after God. 1 Corinthians 2, 14, familiar text, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. That leaves us on pretty shaky ground in and of ourselves, doesn't it? There are either natural men or there aren't. It's pretty clear the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they're foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they're spiritually discerned. Now the text that I asked you to turn to, we're going to read 1 Corinthians 1, 18, down to verse 23, and then I want to make a statement before we continue. 1 Corinthians 1.18, For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it's the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." Now notice this, for Jews request a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness. Stop there for a moment. Jews and Greeks. Greeks in this word, commentators tell me, refers to all non-Jews that made the language, customs, and learning of the Greeks their own. What is my point? Then how is it that any natural man who will not and who cannot understand the things of God come to have like precious faith? Jews and Greeks, that's pretty inclusive. How is it that anyone who's a natural man and cannot understand the things of God comes to receive like precious faith. Second question, how is it that any perishing woman who looks upon the preaching of the cross as foolishness comes to trust in the death and resurrection of Christ? And finally, how is it that anyone who is by nature a child of wrath becomes a child of light? Verse 23, notice again, it stated that Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. But now notice 24 through 31. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. You see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty, and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that as it is written, he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. I hope in the amount of time that we've spent studying this first verse, that your sense of gratitude is increasing for the grace of God in your life. I know studying this, even though I've known I've been saved by the grace of God, my gratitude has increased exponentially when I look at what God has done in me and for me. Saving faith requires God-given knowledge of the facts about the Bible, but it also requires assent. In other words, you agree. Assent that what the Bible teaches about who Christ is and what he accomplished is true. In Matthew 16, listen to what Christ asked the disciples. Simon Peter answered and said, you are the Christ the Son of the Living God. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood does not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." Beloved, tonight, as he did with Peter and Paul and all the others who have received Christ, God enables them. He's enabled any of us to give assent or agreement that the facts about Jesus Christ are true. He gives us a knowledge of the gospel. And then he gives us the ability to assent to those facts, that knowledge that it's true. And then finally, as we all know, personal trust in the truth of who Christ is and what he accomplished in his death and resurrection. Knowledge, God-given knowledge, assent that it's the truth, and then personal trust. The Hebrew for trust, to seek refuge. to flee for protection, to confide our hope in God. One of the verses in the song that Greg let us in, Hail Sovereign Love, talked about being protected in Christ, the text did. The great for trust, means to hope, to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence, to trust in hopefully, to rely on. Beloved, trust is an exclusive and entire confidence in Christ as your refuge and protection. I want to give you an illustration of trust that is pretty, pretty clear cut. In October of 2012, Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian pilot, parachutist, and daredevil, broke the record for the highest parachute jump by leaping from a capsule 128,097 feet above the earth. That's just a scooch below 24 miles. He demonstrated trust in his air pressure suit and the parachutes that he would deploy after free falling, four minutes and 20 seconds, and breaking the sound barrier at an estimated top speed of 834 miles an hour. I got news for you. He trusted that suit before he ever jumped. He'd have never jumped if the suit had failed because it was 70 below zero up there, nearly 24 miles above the earth. He demonstrated complete irreversible trust in the means for a safe descent. And once he jumped, there was no return. That, in a sense, is what we're doing when we place exclusive and entire trust for our eternal souls in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. There's no turning back. And this has happened a couple of different times to me. I've talked to former students of mine. One of them used the term deconversion from Christianity. And this particular person had been a Bible major in college. Deconversion from Christianity? You do not understand what Christianity is. It's a state of being. You're a new creature. And by the way, you don't undo what God has done. You see? If you think about that, you don't undo what God has done. If you think that you had a big hand in salvation, maybe you can tweak things. But if you understand that you did nothing, that the grace of God did everything, we don't undo what God has done. What does it mean to obtain faith, to gain by divine will, or to be given by allotment? The answer to our last two questions are very brief. As I said, the second question is this. What does our faith have in common with the faith of the apostles? And as I said earlier, this could be a series of messages. But in 1 Peter 1.1, Peter speaks of like precious faith. The word like means of equal value or honor as the apostles' faith. Think about that, folks. Of equal value. or honor as the Apostle's faith. I want to ask you a question. How much faith does it take to save a person? Now, if it's coming from me, that is going to be a variable. If it's coming from God, how much faith does it take to save a person? The amount that God gives to all of His elect, that's how much it takes. were all on equal ground. The common element in the lives of all who trust in Christ is God's gift of faith that is precious beyond words. Let me give you two illustrations. Saving faith was a free gift of God that transformed a high-brow, Christian-killing Pharisee named Saul into a humble servant named Paul. And remember how Jesus met Saul on the road to Damascus? He saw the light and heard the words of life. The rest saw the light and didn't hear the words of life. Second illustration, saving faith was the free gift of God that transformed a Samaritan woman with a sordid past into a wise mouthpiece. And she introduced many to Jesus and the providence of God. And remember how Jesus met the woman at the well? John 4 states he needed to go through Samaria. Why? You tell me why he needed to go through Samaria. The Jews despise the Samaritans, and as a matter of custom, often would skirt the whole country. Jesus goes to this well. Most commentators feel that it was the heat of the day. He goes to this well, and he, a Jewish rabbi, talks to a stranger, no, no. Talks to a woman, no, no. Then the disciples find out later, it's not just a strange woman who is a Samaritan. She's had five husbands and she's living with a man. What do you say to that? Amazing grace. What do you say to the Christian killing Saul? Amazing grace. Folks, the faith that God has given us is like the faith of the apostles. What do you say when it comes to God saving you? Amazing grace. Amazing grace. This brings us to our last question, and before I deal with that, let me make this one comment. Your conversion might not have been as dramatic as that of Paul or the unnamed woman at the well, but friend, it was just as divinely determined. It was just as divinely determined. Our last question, what makes faith precious? And I think really just repeating a couple of things, because for me it's already been answered. It's precious because it's a gift of God. God's gift of faith is precious because God's grace is preeminent and pervasive in every aspect of salvation. God's gift of faith is precious because faith, and listen to this carefully, It's precious because faith is not some human element sandwiched between the divine elements of God's grace and the crosswork of Christ. Can I say that again? It's precious because it's not some human element sandwiched between the grace of God and the crosswork of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's gift of faith is precious because it enables enemies of God, who are children of wrath by nature, and who look upon the things of God as foolishness, to embrace Christ. And here it is in a nutshell. And I believe the Reformers believe this. We are saved by the grace of God alone, through the gift of faith alone, and the cross work of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. We are saved by the grace of God alone, through the gift of faith alone, and the cross work of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Before I close with a couple of applications, I want you to turn to Ephesians 2. I'd mentioned at the start of the message that we would close with this. And without a whole lot of comment, I'm going to simply read Ephesians 2, 1 through 10. And folks, as you listen to this, keep in mind all that we've said about the pervasive grace of God and the gift of faith. Ephesians 2, 1 through 10. And I'm sure you've read this many, many times. And you he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who was rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved, and raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand. that we should walk in them. Amazing grace. Three applications for Christians. Number one, praise God for the merciful kindness by which he exerted his holy influence upon you and turned you to Christ. and granted you the ability to respond to the gospel and personal commitment and trust." And just get a feel for what that statement is. Praise God for the merciful kindness by which He exerted His holy influence upon you, turned you to Christ, granted you the ability to respond to the gospel and personal commitment and trust. You know, there's an aside to this. I can be eternally secure in believing that truth. He enabled me to turn to Christ. He granted me the ability to respond to the gospel in personal commitment and trust. Not only praise God, but the second thing, folks, petition God for his grace to grant faith and repentance to those for whom you're burdened. Pray for them. Petition God, not only praise him, but petition him to do a work of grace in the lives of your loved ones. And then finally, present the gospel with a realization that the word of God is the vehicle to which he bestows faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. Three things for Christians. Praise God, petition God for your loved ones, and present the gospel. The simple, if you will, straightforward, clear gospel. Look to Christ. Trust Christ. Repent of your sin. Rest in Him. One application for those who are not trusting in Christ tonight. Some of you may be sitting there and asking yourself, am I one of God's elect to whom he will give the gifts of faith and repentance? And let me suggest that maybe a better question is this, what is your response to the gospel? That's really the issue, not you getting a headache or heartache over whether you're one of God's elect. The issue is, what is your response to the gospel? In Acts 17, when Paul was talking to the intellectuals in Athens, there were three different responses. One, scorn. And beloved, let me tell you something. If your reaction to the gospel is scorn, you ought to be greatly afraid. If it's scorn, But a second reaction, some of them were curious, and they had a desire to hear more. And I'd like to say this. I hope that this is true for everyone here tonight. The fact that you're here should indicate something to you. Because the natural man can't stand the things of God. The natural man thinks that this preaching is foolishness. If you're here, and you're not in animosity toward what you hear, you're at least curious. You have great hope. You had great hope. The third response was conversion. So what do you do if you're here tonight and you're not offended, if you will, or you're not against the gospel? Plead for the grace of God to enable you to heed the commands and embrace the provisions that God has made. Plead for grace. There's three things. Knowledge. Keep exposing yourself to the careful preaching of the gospel. Ascent. Pray for grace to understand. And finally, trust. With God's enabling, place your confidence exclusively and entirely in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, how we praise you for your grace and how we marvel at the depth of your word and how we can grow in the grace and knowledge of thee for a lifetime and still fall short of fully understanding what you've done through Christ for all who will place their trust in him. And we say with Paul, O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.