A multitude followed a man, a prophet who spoke words of wisdom. They listened, trying to understand the paradox of his great truth. He said, blessed be those who are poor. For you shall inherit the kingdom. And blessed be those who are weak. For you shall inherit great strength. Blessed be those who are children. For you shall be counted as wise And blessed be the blind man You shall see with new eyes Behold now the kingdom Behold now the kingdom Behold now the kingdom, see with new eyes. Blessed be those of compassion, for you shall inherit compassion. And blessed be those who forgive. For you shall be forgiven You shall receive consolation Only in reaching to give And only in dying for others Can you be reborn to live Behold now the kingdom. Behold now the kingdom. Behold now the kingdom. See with new eyes. A prophet wanted to follow the man A prophet who spoke words of wisdom They listened yet could not understand ♪ The paradox of His great truth ♪ Who is that lady? Well, we know her so well. That's our dear Judy Seligman, who will be presenting once again for the 11th year in a row, by the grace of God, her Ladies' Seminar. It starts September 1st, which is coming quickly, 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th, five Thursday nights, 7.30 p.m. right here at church. Please plan to attend. Thank you. The message today, and I'm sure it's from the Lord, so pay careful attention. Under Grace, Part Six, subtitled, You Are Not in the Flesh. as a believer, never again in the flesh. You'll see why I say that. It's a very important message. As to how you see yourself and conduct your life in grace, Romans 6.14, that's Sunday, August 14, 2022. Our touchstone verse, Romans 6.14, it started this whole mess. It's not a mess, it's a wonderful thing. It says, "'For sin shall not be your master, for you are not under law, but under grace.'" See, works, law works, are directed toward the flesh, and the flesh is too weak to keep the law, so it always results in sin. But grace, on the other hand, is of the Spirit, and the commandments of the Lord are not grievous. In 1 John 5.19, that means every command under grace has with it the enablement, the wherewithal to do it and to keep it. That's how gracious our God is. So you have no excuses. There are no excuses. There is no middle ground where grace is concerned. One is either under grace, according to this passage, or under law. If you're a believer in Christ, you're under grace, you're not under law. It says elsewhere, either under grace or under sin. Romans 3.9 says this. What then? Are we better than they? That is, Jews better than Gentiles? He says, not at all, meganoito, may it never be. For we've already charged that both unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Greeks all under sin. Galatians 3.22 says, But the scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith, which was later to be revealed. Therefore, the law has become our tutor, schoolmaster, to drag us, lead us, bring us under compulsion to Christ, so that we may be justified, that is, made righteous, declared eternally righteous, justified, dikayo, through faith, by faith, in Jesus Christ. So, according to this and other passages, you're either free from sin or a slave to sin. You're either saved or lost. There's no place in between. You're either plus R or minus R. What's that mean? You either have God's righteousness as a free gift, 2 Corinthians 5.21, or minus R, you're still in your sins. You are either darkness or light. As a believer, you are light in the Lord. Here's what it says in Ephesians 5.8, you were formerly. Formerly means you used to be and you're not anymore. You know what formerly means? You were formerly darkness. But now you are light in the Lord. Therefore, start walking like children of light. Walk as though you're children of light. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth. You had no capacity or capability of doing that before, but now you do. You have a new nature with a new inclination. trying to learn. This is one thing we try to do. We try to learn what pleases the Lord. Then he says, do not participate in unfruitful deeds of darkness anymore, but instead even expose them. There's lots of those to expose in ourselves and others. Look, first look, and see if you're in the faith. Examine yourself to see if you're in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13, 5. He says, "...do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them, for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret." You don't have to go into detail about what they do. It's vile, dirty. Here's a good one next. You are either in the flesh or in the spirit. This one sticks in my craw. If you are a believer, according to the Scriptures, and I'll give you the Scripture, we'll look at it in some detail. If you're a believer, you are never again in the flesh. So stop saying you are when you're not, because you can't be anymore. I'm going to prove it to you, so just hang in there. This is very important. Turn to Romans 8.6. You say, but I still sin. That's because you choose to. You don't have to anymore. The new man can't. So you have to forget that you're a new person to do it. You have to go outside to smoke. We don't allow you to smoke in a building, in the building, in the church. You have to go outside. We prefer if you quit altogether just for your health, for the sake of your health. But, smoke on if you wish. What did Greg say? He said, I'm going to go out and have a sin stick. Oh, okay. That's how he's looking at it. Then he says, one day I'm going to say, I don't need these sin sticks anymore. Not that it's necessarily sin. Definitely a health issue. I'm just waiting until you get to Romans 8. Romans 8. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Verse 7, Romans 8, 7, "'Because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so. And those who are in the flesh cannot please God." See, those who are in the flesh, those who have their minds set on the flesh, are unbelievers whose minds and hearts remain uncircumcised. Still having the flesh flap, the pen cap, the hoodie on, hasn't been removed. Who, because they cannot feel or sense Anything spiritual can only think fleshly thoughts and do fleshly deeds in accordance with fleshly lust. 1 John 2.16, all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Fleshly and worldly. They are, here's a big word, dichotomous, meaning? They were born in the natural state with biological and psychological life. They have bios and psuche, but do not have a human spirit, having never been born of the spirit. and not having the Holy Spirit permanently dwelling within. In John 14, 16 through 17, and Jude 19, like the false teachers, having not the Spirit. Romans 8, 9 says, however, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If, indeed, the Spirit of God indwells you. You say, of course He does. The moment you believe in Christ, He indwells you. Permanently. If you're a believer in Christ, He does indwell you. And if you're not, He does not. That's what it says next. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, He does not belong to him. He's an unbeliever. He's never come to Christ, never believed in Christ. For the free and irrevocable gift of eternal salvation, with God's righteousness, to be made light in the Lord and a spiritual man from now on. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ, whom everyone receives in a moment at regeneration. That's Titus chapter 3, verses 4 and 5. They're washed in regeneration by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if one does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. He is not a child of God. Galatians 3.26 says, we are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Never forget that verse. It's an important one. That's how God determines who His children are, and He knows everyone that's His, 2 Timothy 2.19. If one does not have the Spirit of the Son, which we're told, by which we cry, Abba, Father, which only a child of God can do. He doesn't belong to him. John 6.44 says, No one can come to me, Jesus said, unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day, every single one of them without exception. John 6.65, and he was saying, For this reason I have said to you, No one can come to me You didn't do it, unless it has been granted him, graciously provided for him to do so, by the Father. You didn't even know the Father. You can't see the Father. You can only know and see the Son. 2 Timothy 2.19, nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His, and you should know also, without any question of doubt. Those who are His are indwelt by the Spirit. Now verse 10, if Christ is in you, if you believe in Him, He is, and His Spirit is, though the body is dead because of sin. Only by the ministry of the Spirit are you inclined and enabled to do the will of God. You otherwise have no ability in your fleshly body to do what is good or right in God's sight. You say, really? Yeah, I'll show you. Paul said it like this in Romans chapter 7 verse 18. He said, I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh, in my body. For I want to do what's right, that's present with me, but the doing of the good is not. If I say I'm going to do this or do that, I end up doing just the opposite. That's human nature. That's the fleshly nature of man. Yet the Spirit is alive, he says next, because of righteousness. The Spirit can't sin! And neither can you when you're filled or controlled by the Spirit, when you're walking in dependence upon the Holy Spirit. Listen to 1 John 3.9. And go today, and in the future days, in a few days hence, and learn what this means. It's a very important passage of Scripture. 1 John 3.9. No one who is born of God practices sin. So you say, oh, then I doubt my salvation because I know I practice sin. That's not what it's saying at all. Because His seed, God's seed, abides in that person. And he cannot sin, who? The seed cannot sin, because he, the seed, and the one that he's in, is born of God. Or Galatians 5.16, I like this one even better, it says it a little more clearly, I think, for most people to understand, unless you take it apart. But I say, walk in dependence upon, walk by means of the Spirit. Here we have date of agency. Walk by means of the Spirit, by the agency of the Spirit. And you will not, you will not, you cannot, you will not carry out the lust or desire, epithymia, of the flesh. You can't. Walk in dependence upon the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire or lust of the flesh. Get it? You're not in the flesh, you're in the Spirit. Romans 8.11 says, "...but if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead," that's the Spirit of God, same Spirit, Spirit of Christ, "...dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal body. Your mortal body is this body right here, the one you live in now, that's going to die. Body subject to death is the mortal body. Through His Spirit who dwells in you, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the living and powerful Word, He will animate and activate your mortal body and enable you to do His will by the power that He continually pours into you. Philippians 4.13. In grace, the demand is met by the enabling power to perform it. Therefore, the commandment is never grievous, but rather ever gracious. It is. 1 John 5.3, For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous, But whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world. Even our faith. That's it. Without it, you can't please God. Verse 12 says, So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, not to our bodies or the signals that our body sends, to live according to those signals, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die." What does that mean? One of the things it means is carnal death, in some instances, dishonorable discharge, or early dismissal from life on earth, when self-induced misery and disgraceful conduct warrants one's removal. Read about it. 1 John 5.16, that's what he's talking about there, and in other places also. Then he says, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. He's saying you will experience eternal life. Even a foretaste of glory in time in Romans 6.23, which says, the gift of God is eternal life. The wages of sin is death. You don't get paid those wages. You die. But the gift of God is eternal life. Days of heaven on earth. A foretaste of glory divine. How many have experienced that? It doesn't matter if you experience it or not. That's not what we go by. We go by this. We go by the Word. I have and do often rejoicing as we do with joy inexpressible and full of glory in knowing Christ and living with our minds focused and occupied with Him, the happiest life possible, this side of eternity. Also, 2 Corinthians 3.17, "...but we all, with unveiled faces, behold as in a glass, a mirror of the glory of the Lord, and are changed into that same image from glory to glory." Is that your experience in time, or are you barely getting by, wondering if you're going to make it to see another day, or if you want to end it all, or knock back the pain with some substance, abuse? Why do you talk to believers like that, Scott? Because they're in great peril by these very things. They're everywhere. and almost everybody's doing something. So stop it. Find the answers, because you think you're in the flesh. You think you're just a natural, normal person, and that you have no advantage over others who are unbelievers and unsaved individuals walking around every day that you're rubbing elbows with, bumping into, as it were, sharing, and never mind. You're not. You don't have enough of the Word. You don't have a personal sense of identity. Do you have a personal sense of security? Are you absolutely certain where you're going when you die? You better be. Thus saith the Lord. How about a personal sense of identity? Knowing who God says you are. Knowing yourself, seeing yourself, and loving yourself, even as God sees, knows, and loves you. Do you? I hate to tell you, most do not. And that's a big problem. There you go. I'm almost done on my soapbox, and we'll get on to other things. Verse 14 says, for all who are being led, I go, by the Spirit of God, carried along, by the Spirit of God. These are the sons of God. That is, those who cooperate in these things, who get this word and this personal sense of identity, processing the word in their soul, are functional, responsible, and honorable adult sons of God. No longer children carried here and there deceived by those who lie in wait, with every wave of doctrine." Now you know what the Word says, and you live not by bread, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Therefore every believer is required to grow in grace, 2 Peter 3.18, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and unto the eternal ages. Every believer is required to grow in grace and knowledge, and should he refuse or fail to do so, he will surely groan in disgrace. If you don't grow in grace, you'll groan in disgrace. There's no fluff in grace. God says, here's what you have. Take it and invest it. So when I come back, you'll say, oh, look what I did. I took the one talent and made it into five, 10. Not, here's the one that you gave me and I hid it. That's what he's talking about in the parable of the talents. But the grace that he gave you when he went away. When he comes back, he's gonna say, what'd you do with it? be no condemnation, but the fact remains you'll be incapacitated for the greater blessings of eternity that he slated for each and every one of us. Read all about it. Ephesians 1, 3, and 4. So according to this passage that we read in Romans and other passages, it's a matter of life and death. It can be. Now what comes next is very important, and if you don't get this, what's coming next, you won't get it at all. You won't know what any of this is about. You may not know now. It's not because it's not being communicated clearly, it's because you don't have your spiritual thinking cap on, which is the concentration provided by the Holy Spirit and the skills of being filled with the Spirit continually and focused upon Christ and His Word. Grace is the heart, the very heart of Christianity, without which, take grace away, it's just another world religion. But with it, by it, it is infinitely distinct and separate from all world religions because it's not a religion at all. Really? That's right, it's not. All religions have the same thing in common. Man, by his own ability, attempting to please or to attain favor or salvation from God by what he does. That's not what Christianity is. Christianity is the Son of Man coming to seek and to save the lost. Big difference. It's redemption, not religion. Anyway, grace is the watershed doctrine that declares that difference between Christianity and all religions. What all religions have in common are human works and rituals that accrue by performance favor with God, which you cannot do. Whereas Christianity is favor without effort or merit on the part of man who is rendered helpless, hopeless, and useless by his genetic connection to the first man, Adam. Fallen humanity. by and because of the merit and effort of God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, operating under the kenosis prescription. Anybody know what that is? Kenosis prescription? That was the contract Jesus was under when He volunteered to be that One who would come and pay for the sins of the world and redeem mankind as a kinsman redeemer where He would not use the power and prerogatives of His deity for His own deliverance. Therefore, He would go to the cross and breathe out His last and accomplish our redemption for us. to offer himself as a ransom for the many, and that he did. So, operating under the kenosis prescription and nth degree obedience, he never once disobeyed the Word of God. Nobody else can say that, except in him we have that righteousness accounted to us, to no account believers, no account sinners who are now believers. He fulfilled all righteousness as our kinsman. That means He had to be a relative of ours. He had to be a human being, and He was pure humanity. He was also a deity, undiminished deity, but He was pure humanity. He fulfilled all righteousness as our kinsman, Redeemer, our surrogate and substitute, and died in our place. satisfying justice once and for all, putting an end to the law of commandments, and making any and all rituals worthless. They're all gone. Romans 10.4, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 10.4, good buddy, over and out. By fulfilling the law for us and as us, instead of us, because it was something we could not do, the law has nothing left to do, nothing more to prove. and must give way to the new covenant of grace salvation brought about by the death of the testator, who is Jesus Christ, by the effort and merit of God in the flesh, and his finished work, sacrifice, by which he put away sin, put it away once and for all and forever, by the offering of himself, Hebrews 9.26. Early on, In the first century, Christianity was rightly called The Way. Acts 9.22, 19.9, 19.23, 24.14, and 24.22. That is, the only way. That's why it was called The Way, because they said it was the only way. So it got the nickname The Way. Hodos, the road, or the only road, in John 14.6, to God, to salvation, and to heaven. Therefore, it is absolute and exclusive. But likewise, it is universal in that all are equal candidates who must only turn and look, look and believe. in order to be saved. In John 3.14, Jesus said, as Moses looked as he lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up on the cross so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. That involves a look and a change of thinking from unbelief to suddenly realizing this is God in the flesh dying on the cross for me. by deathbed conversion. There's been millions and millions of them, deathbed conversion. Doesn't matter to God, as long as it happens. Like those who looked at the serpent on a pole. These people were dying, they're dead. They got bit by the serpents, they're going to die. Momentarily. So it's a deathbed conversion, like those who looked at the serpent on a pole and lived. Like the thief on the cross, who died only moments later. or those given more time, a lifetime, where grace is experienced gradually, which can happen because the Word is experienced and learned gradually, and they have much longer time. As simple as that. It's the same for one and all. If you came some other way, you'll never be sure. Then by faith alone, in Christ alone, you'll never be sure if you came some other way. There is no other way. It's the way. None of these could help themselves or save themselves like all of us. They had nothing to offer God. But God had something to offer them and us. Grace, salvation, plus more than enough grace to live on for the rest of our natural lives. Let's hit a few more Psalms here at the end, like we did on Tuesday night, and then we'll get back to the New Testament. How about Psalm 96? No, not 96, 69, 16. We're not going to ask Ty if he knows that one, because he knows them all. Right, Ty? Doesn't know that one. Good. I found one you didn't know, that you haven't memorized. It's quite a feat to memorize so many verses from the Psalms. Psalm 69, 16. Hear me, O Lord, for thy chesed grace, loving kindness, is good. Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies." I told you what that is, that's the word racham, which means compassion toward one who is helpless, hopeless, useless. Those are the ones he helps. He helps the helpless. He doesn't help those who help themselves, he helps the helpless. Like you, and like me. Helpless, helpless, helpless. That was a song somebody did once. I don't remember who it is. You'll have to ask Terry. He knows all the songs. Lovingkindness, here, is chesed, which is the Old Testament equivalent of charis, which is grace. It's God's multifaceted goodness. There's a facet of grace for everything you'll ever encounter. kindness and favor that is unto and upon everyone who only believes in Jesus as God and Savior." That's Romans 10.9. Titus 2.13. Raham is translated here, compassion or tender mercy, often translated tender mercy, which comforts and consoles by removing sorrow and sin's consequences. Isn't that wonderful that God does that? He hasn't let you stew in your own soup. The world says, you made your bed, now lay in it. Jesus says, rise, take up your bed and walk. Wow, He's so gracious. Psalm 88.11, shall your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or your faithfulness in destruction. Here the psalmist is reasoning with God, who is very reasonable, who said, come now, let us reason together. Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow, and crimson like wool, as white as wool. Therefore we're preserved and protected, kept alive, that we may extol the goodness of the Lord, glorify Him by grace, which is nothing more than gratitude. Our love for Him is gratitude. Gratitude always results in love. It's the field where love grows. Gratitude is the field where love grows. People who are grateful are not disappointed, dejected, or depressed. Are they? Grateful people? They're happy and grateful. Gratitude, gratefulness is happiness, great happiness. That's what we're called to. Grow in your gratitude, your recognition and appreciation of all that God has done, and learn more and more about it, and you'll be happier and happier and happier until you're happier than thou, rather than holier than thou. That's how it works. Such things are for the living only, he says in this passage. Psalm 88, 11. Those who die cannot extol, express profound gratitude and love for the Lord. Psalm 89.33, Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him," this is spoken third person, or first person, as though the Lord was saying, as David's, another psalm of David, nevertheless, my loving kindness, I will not, I think it is, I will not utterly take from him, and if I'm wrong, excuse me. I will not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail." He's saying this is the sure mercies of David. He says, even if he forsakes my word and my ways, so that my grace is obscured or neglected, if it is frustrated. In Galatians 2.21, missed, failed, or fallen short of. In Hebrews 12.15, even if you drift away from it. as the Galatians did, so soon after they received Christ in Galatians 5.4, or if it's despised by one who goes back to offer ritual sacrifices again after they believed in Christ and His finished work sacrifice in Hebrews 10.29, or received in vain in 2 Corinthians 6.1. That means to no end or no purpose. For the sake of Christ, and according to the unfailing faithfulness of our God, it will not fail in the end to glorify God. He says, Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from Him. Nope. It will not fail in the end. Remember, grace cannot be earned, deserved, worked for, or repaid. It cannot be increased or decreased by one's behavior, canceled or forfeited once it is received. It can't. It's not from you. Therefore, whether you like it or not, whether you see and believe it or not, like salvation, once you have it, you just can't lose it. And that's the way it goes. Now that's impossible with man, but with God all things are possible. And that's what He's done for us. We can be so sure and secure. Unless you're stronger than God, or more willful than he is, and I assure you, you are not, then you cannot lose what you never earned, deserved, and or maintained of any spiritual significance or where salvation is concerned. Here's a quick reminder. This will be important to some people that are here today and elsewhere. 2 Timothy 2, 11 to 14, it is a trustworthy statement. It literally says, faithful is the word. That's what it literally says. If, or since, third-class condition, since we died with Him, We shall also live with him. When he died for us, we believed in him that his death became ours. Since we died with him, we shall also live with him. If, first class condition, we may or may not, if we endure or suffer, we may decide we don't want to suffer. We'll avoid suffering. You can't really avoid it, but you can miss the purpose of it. If we endure, we shall also reign with him." That's great. But if we say no to him about reigning, he'll say no to us about reigning in the end. He's not going to make you do anything you don't want to do. Then he says, if you stop believing, even if you stop believing, he remains faithful For he cannot say no to himself. You believe in Christ, you're in. And you can't get out. So stop trying to. Forget about it. Why should you suffer so greatly at your own hand? He says then, he says to the pastor, to Timothy, the prototype pastor teacher, the apostolic legged prototype pastor teacher, remind them of these things. I'm reminding you of these things. It's important to remind you and for us to remind ourselves. And solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless. and leads to the ruin of the hearers. That it does. Don't argue with people, especially in public. John 6.37, all that the Father gives me, remember you can't come to Him unless the Father who sent Christ draws you. All that the Father gives me will come to me. That means every single one of them that the Father gives to Christ will come to Him. Sooner or later. and the one who comes to me I will under no circumstances whatsoever cast him away cast him out never under any circumstance for I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me this is the will of him who sent me that all that of all that he the father has given me I will lose not even one nothing but raise all up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I myself will raise him up on the last day." You haven't read that in a while, have you? Verse 41 says, Therefore the Jews were grumbling about him, because he said, I am the bread that came down out of heaven. They were saying, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, I have come down out of heaven? Jesus answered and said to them, Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me. unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God." People didn't show you any of this. You're not interested because people said something to you. You're interested because God did something in your heart. He drew you to himself. He wants to show you these things and certify these things in your life so that you never question them again. Look at the cross and you'll know what the love of God is all about. John 10.27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they will never perish. Did you hear that? And no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater, more powerful than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. You think? I don't think. And I and the Father are one. Whoo! Okay. Wonderful, isn't it? We're almost done. Psalm 89. 49. Lord, where are your former loving-kindnesses?" I've kind of lost track of, and kind of got this, kind of like lost my way, drifted away. Where are your former loving-kindnesses which you swore unto David in thy truth? They're always there. You may have just missed them or forgotten. That's why I'm here. That's why you go to church. You'd be reminded of these things and have a place where you can work them through, work them out. The Word is near you, according to Scriptures, in your heart and in your mouth. That's how close they are. The Word of God's grace and the grace of God's Word. Therefore believing, therefore the receiving, therefore the taking. The green room, which is the throne room of grace, is open 24-7-365. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may have mercy, may receive mercy and find grace to help. Eureka! I found it. Find grace to help in time of need. Then there's Psalm 92 too. It says, To show forth your lovingkindness, that's grace in the Old Testament, in the morning, and your faithfulness every night. Grace like rock around the clock, grace around the clock, that's what he's saying, coming boldly each morning to the throne of grace, thanking God each evening for his faithfulness and for his grace that sustained you, got you through another day. Psalm 103.4, who redeems my life from destruction and who crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercy. The story of our lives. Grace and mercy, kesed and racham. Psalm 107.43, Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. Wisdom is know-how. In this case, understanding how grace works, solving life's problems with God's grace solutions, that which meets and exceeds the need, the answer to every question, the solution to every problem, in 2 Corinthians 12.9, your grace, my grace is sufficient for you. So, Psalm 119, 149, we're skipping over a whole bunch of stuff. We'll get to it later. Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness, O Lord, quicken me according to your judgment, by the favor and kindness you have toward me because of Christ, because of him, by my association with him, moreover my union with him, that you hear and answer my prayer, my cry, and decree life continuously to these dry bones. Read about that in Ezekiel 37.1. That's what he's talking about. That's exactly what he's talking about. And so, indeed, the Psalms of David will orient us to grace, but even more so, and to an infinitely greater degree, the New Testament, when it's seen, read, studied, and understood from a radically gracious perspective, will evoke great faith and gratitude in order that, like our Lord and Savior, yet to a lesser degree, we should become ever more grateful, graceful, and gracious, filled full with grace, for, instead of, and upon grace," as he said in John 1.16. From His fullness we've all received grace, upon grace, against grace, instead of grace. And as Peter said, may it be multiplied to you in 2 Peter 1.2. I just want to give the gospel here as we close. And let's pray. Father, thank you for your Word, with every eye closed and every head bowed. If you are listening today and heard the part that I spoke from the Scriptures about the free gift of eternal salvation, and you'd like to have it, And if you think about it, who wouldn't? If you could have it and it was free, why wouldn't you take it? It's yours for the taking right now, right where you are. You don't have to do anything or go anywhere. God sees you and He's inclined to hear your prayer. The Savior is waiting to answer your call and to enter your life and to make you brand new. You're one decision away from having a remarkable life. and a guaranteed eternal future destiny in heaven. God did it all. Christ paid the price and penalty for your every sin when He hung on the cross and died as your substitute. By believing in Him, God accepts His payment on your behalf and legally credits the righteousness of Christ to your account along with the gift of eternal salvation. You can pray and tell the Father you're believing in Christ as God and Savior, and that will be the moment that changes everything for time and eternity. That's how it works. It's as simple as that. It starts this way for everybody! Nobody came any other way. And from there, Christ Himself will guide you to His Word, and through His Word to a remarkable life of goodness, kindness, blessing, and favor, and grace, salvation. And now, for anyone who has believed, here's a verse that will apply to you, and you will suddenly understand it. I just want to read this, and then we're done. It's Ephesians 2.8.9. It says, For by grace, free gift of God, you have been saved." You didn't do anything, God did it. Through faith, you simply believed it and received the gift. And that's not from you. It is all graciously given. It's a gift of God. Not of works. No works involved at all. Not of works. Did you hear me? Not of works. That's nothing to do with works. so that no one will be able to boast. Thank you, Father, for the message today. May it go down into deep places where the deep calls unto the deep. And we thank you for that in Jesus' name. Amen. Please stand.