chapter 16 and we'll finish up the book of Romans today. Romans 16, greetings and love is expressed, and Paul sends this letter to the Romans, and I think Phoebe is the one that carried it to Rome. And as we go down through here, we're going to mention a lot of names, and I'm going to butcher up the pronunciation of most of them, so we'll get that out of the way first. But a thing that struck me as I was reading this, these people that are mentioned here with all these names, they're regular people. They're real people. And most of them, we don't know anything about them. But you know, these people are like us, aren't they? Basically, we're nobodies. and we're doing the Lord's work and we're serving him in the best way we can. And so these very well could be our names written in this Bible. I mean, could you imagine these people, did they know that their name would be in the scripture and the inspired word of God? And I just think that's interesting. Some of them we do know about, but I think the majority of them we do not. So let's follow along beginning at verse one. I commend you to our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church, which is at Centuria. And you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you. For she herself has been a helper of many, and myself as well. Greek Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Also greet the church that is in their house. Greet, now here we go. Ipenaetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junius, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. Greet Amphileus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ. And Statius, my beloved. Greet Appellus, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Asterbulus. Greet Herodian, my kinsman, and greet those of the household of narcissists who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Philagon, Hermes, Petrobus, Hermas, and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus, and Julia, and Eurus, his sister, and Olympus, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learn, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves not of our Lord Jesus Christ, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own appetites, and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. For the report of your obedience has reached to all. Therefore, I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Suspiter, my kinsmen. I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greet you. Erastus, and the city treasurer, greet you. And Cordus, the brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God has been made known to all the nations leading to obedience of faith. To the only wise God through Jesus Christ be the glory forever. Amen. As we seek our God together this morning, we do want to remember the Grace Baptist Church in Islamabad, Pakistan with Pastor Danielle. So as we pray, we will be remembering them in particular this morning. Let us pray. Our Father in heaven, what a wonderful reminder it has been for us this morning as your word was read to us. that you do not forget the labor of love that's done in your name. And though these individuals may be insignificant to the world, yet Father, you remember them and you remember the work and the labor that they performed for your glory and for your honor. And may that encourage us all the more to be diligent in that work that you've called us to do as the people of God. Father, we pray that you would help us to pursue even those things that we considered together in the Sunday school hour, that we would be a church that is marked out by those things that you have set before us as the important elements that ought to be seen within us. And we pray that we might be known even as a family that truly care for one another and love each other and desire to see each other pursuing the things of God and being a benefit one to another with regard to those things. And so Father, we pray that as the people of God, you will come and you will minister unto us this morning. Minister unto us through your word and through the work of your spirit, making that word effective. We thank you that as we gather, you have not left us alone, but we have the spirit who will be our helper, our guide, and we bless you for that. Father, we pray that you would be with your word, not only as it goes forth from here, but wherever men stand and proclaim the word, May you, Father, use it for your glory and honor. And we think of our dear brothers and sisters there in Islamabad, Pakistan. We thank you for that church. And we thank you for their zeal to see the gospel go forth there in that country. And we know that in the midst of that country, to be zealous for the things of God places your life in danger. And so we just pray that you would continue to watch over them, care for them, give them a boldness, but give them protection as well. Father, we're thankful for the various ministries that you've given to them. We think of that small congregation. And yet how you've blessed them with being able to host a pastor's conference where many men come and hear the word of God and are refreshed so they might go and preach that word to their people as well. You think of the many Bible studies that they're engaged in. We think of the family Bible study, the nurses Bible study, the children's Bible study and others. We think of the book ministry they have and the opportunity of not only distributing good books in the Pakistani language, but also publishing them. And we pray you'll continue to bless that as a means of getting out the truth of your word to Pakistanians. Father, we're thankful for them. We thank you for the partnership that we enjoy with them in the gospel. And may you continue to be with Pastor Daniel, help him to be a faithful shepherd to these people. Bless him, we pray, help him to guard his heart above everything else. Father, we again would ask that as your word is open, that each of one of us have hearts that are prepared to receive the seed of your word on good soil, that it might bear fruit for your glory and for your honor. For we ask these things in Christ's name, amen. Now, before we come to open the word of God, take your hymns of grace once again, 143. All hail the power of Jesus' name, 143 hymns of grace. Let's stand together as we sing. ♪ O hail the power of Jesus' name ♪ Let angels prostrate fall ♪ Bring forth the royal diadem ♪ And crown him ♪ Gloria Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all. The chosen seed of Israel's grace be ascended. Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all. Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all. ♪ And every kindred, every tribe ♪ ♪ Of his terrestrial home ♪ ♪ To him all majesty ascribe ♪ ♪ And crown him Lord of all ♪ ♪ To him all majesty ascribe ♪ ♪ And crown him Lord of all ♪ Oh, and with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall. We'll join the everlasting song and bow with Lord of all. We'll join the everlasting song and bow with Lord of all. Amen. Take your Bibles and turn with me to Matthew chapter 1. Matthew chapter 1. Some of you who are very studious may be saying, wait a minute, the bulletin says 1 Timothy chapter 1. We'll get there, OK? But we're going to start in Matthew 1. Matthew 1, starting in verse 18. And now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. where the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Now all of this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. Behold a virgin, shall be with child and shall bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which translated means God with us. And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife. We'll stop our reading there. Most of you know that I really enjoy this time of year. I enjoy this season. I enjoy the special time that I'm able to spend with my family, not only my wife, but my children and grandchildren. I enjoy turning on the radio and hearing songs about the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The very fact that Jesus Christ has come into the world, and I find it somewhat amusing that even secular stations who play a lot of garbage most of the time, They play wonderful hymns. I don't think they even stop to realize they're playing hymns about Jesus Christ coming in to the world. They play O Holy Night, which has a stanza that says, fall on your knees. Oh, hear the angels' voices. O night divine. O night when Christ was born. They play songs like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, in which there is a stanza that says, peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Now that message beats Rudolph any day of the week. They play Oh Come All Ye Faithful. which has a stanza which says, Jesus, to thee be all glory given. Word of the Father. What? Now in flesh appearing. They play, O come, O come, Emmanuel, which says, and ransom captive Israel. And as we think of the messages of those songs, one might ask the question, what's the big deal about the birth of Christ? What's the significance of Christ being born? How exactly does Christ being born bring about a reconciliation between God and sinner? How does that happen? What does that mean? What child is this? What does it mean the word became flesh and dwelt? among us. So if you ask the question, why did Jesus come? And why is his birth so important? Well, the Bible answers that question for us. And it answers that question in several places. It answers that question for us here in the passage that I read in your hearing when the angel of the Lord speaks to Joseph and tells Joseph, she shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, because names have significance, and Jesus means Jehovah's Savior, Call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. That's why he came. Or Jesus himself even answers that question in Matthew chapter nine in verse 13. Jesus says this, I did not come to call the righteous, but I've come to call sinners to repentance. And again, Jesus says in Luke 19 in verse 10, for the son of man has come, why? To seek and to save that which is lost. But there's another important text of scripture that answers that question. And now I want you to take your Bibles and turn to 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy chapter one, it's a familiar, verse of scripture to most of us. And I pray, even as we opened our service this morning, that familiarity does not breed contempt. And that when we hear some of these texts that we've heard so many, many times, we don't simply find it a dull thing, but it ought to stir up our hearts concerning the message that is found in such a verse as 1 Timothy chapter one and verse 15. It says, it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am for most of all. And it's this verse of scripture that I want us to settle on this morning. And I want you to consider three things from this statement. First of all, notice the supremacy or the significance or the importance of this statement. Then secondly, we will consider the realities found in this statement. And then thirdly, we will note together the message of this statement. So these three things, the supremacy of this statement, the realities, and then the message. So first of all, notice with me the supremacy of this statement. Notice what the apostle Paul says at the beginning. Before he actually gets to the statement, he gives this introduction. And the introduction is this, it is a trustworthy statement and deserving full acceptance. Now, when you first read that, a question might come to your mind. Isn't everything that the apostle Paul says under the inspiration of God trustworthy? This is an introduction that Paul gives in his writings Not only here, but, but four other times. In first Timothy chapter three in verse one, when speaking about the leadership in the church, he says, this is a trustworthy statement. He, he who desires the office of an elder desires a good thing. In chapter four of 1 Timothy, in verse nine, he tells, this is a trustworthy statement, and what he deals with is our striving after godliness. In 2 Timothy, chapter two, in verse 11, again, another trustworthy statement, it's the promise of eternal blessings. And then in Titus chapter three in verse eight, another trustworthy statement is a call to focus upon our good behavior, our good conduct or deeds. So Paul, and I think he's the only one that uses this introduction to a statement. This is a trustworthy statement. But I don't want you to think that what Paul is doing is what we sometimes do. You're talking to someone and you say something like this. Now, to be honest with you, as though, oh, most of the time you're not. Or you might say, well, you know what? To tell you the truth, oh, you mean most of the time you're not? But when we use those words to introduce what we're about to say, what are we doing? We're saying, listen, what I'm about to say is really important. And I want you to pay attention. It is a statement that emphasizes what I'm about to say. This is the language Paul uses to draw his reader's attention to something of significance. It's the same way when we hear Christ say this, truly, truly, I say unto you, And so when Paul says this is a trustworthy statement, he's trying to get our attention. And remember when we went through the book of Hebrews, I mean Hebrews, Deuteronomy, when we went through the book of Deuteronomy, and Moses would often tell the people of Israel, listen, And the term that he used, if you remember, I'm sure most of you do, the term that he used was a term that meant don't let it just vibrate your eardrums, but listen to what I'm about to say. I mean, listen, hear it. You know how it is. You're driving down the road and you're looking around and seeing all the sights. and your wife is next to you and she says, she says, did you hear me? And you say, oh yes. And she says, what did I say? Uh, I did my, my, my, the eardrums did vibrate a little bit. I knew you were talking. I don't know if that ever happens in your home. And what Paul says is this, I want you to hear me. Listen. It's important. Because in the original, there are eight Greek words in which Paul is about to confront his hearers with the best of news. With the best of news. So he says it's trustworthy. It's important. In fact, it's interesting that in the original, the word trustworthy is how this verse begins to even more emphasize the importance of what he's about to say. But he also says this. It's deserving full acceptance. It's something you can rely upon. I didn't do it as I was thinking about something that's reliable and deserving of full acceptance. I thought about that. Again, one of those phrases that we use that I'm not even sure exactly what it means. I think I understand a little bit, but you say something to somebody and you say this, you can take that to the bank. Now, what does that mean? Well, I guess as I was thinking about that, I guess if I wrote you a check, if I wrote you a check for a million dollars, my next statement would not be, and you can take that to the bank. If I wrote you a check for a dollar, I can say, you can take that to the bank. It's reliable. And I believe that's what Paul is emphasizing here. Listen, what I'm about to say, the statement I'm about to make, it's not confusing. It's not difficult. It's pretty clear. And even what I'm about to say can be traced back to the lips of our Lord himself. That's how reliable it is. Mr. Linsky in his commentary says this, when Paul uses these words, He meant that the gospel deserves our complete acceptance in every way, without reservation, without hesitation, and without the least doubt. Paul is saying, what I'm about to tell you, you need to accept without reservation, without hesitation, and without the least of doubt. So that's the supremacy of this statement. Notice, secondly with me, the realities found in this statement. The reality is, as he mentions here in verse 15, that Christ Jesus came into the world. Christ Jesus came into the world. That's the focus he wants us to consider Christ Jesus came to this world. Now with that focus, two things he's emphasizing. Number one, he's emphasizing the incarnation of Jesus Christ. And number two, he's emphasizing the identity of Jesus Christ. So you have the incarnation and the identification of the one who has come into this world. Paul speaks about the incarnation of Jesus Christ as a reality. When it says that He came into this world, there is implied in that statement that He existed even before He came into this world. You and I didn't. He existed. before that moment that the Holy Spirit conceived within her a child. He came into this world. Galatians 4.4 tells us it was at the exact time that God had planned. In the fullness of time, God sent forth his son made of a woman. And the miracle of miracles is the reality that this one, born of Mary, was God incarnate. He is God, God in the flesh. And I don't wanna steal Pastor Micah's thunder, but I think over, next Sunday and then Sunday afternoon the following on the 22nd, he's planning on opening up John 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. And he came to earth. He left all the glories of heaven and the wonderful Smell of heavenly incense to be born in a stable. To take on the form of a bond servant and to be made in the likeness of men. He came into this world. That's his incarnation. But also identified is his identification. Paul identifies him as Christ Jesus. It's another interesting thing to note that Paul uses this title, Christ Jesus. Most of us think of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul refers to him as Christ Jesus some 25 times. As compared to the use of Jesus Christ, he only used six times. In this name is bound up all that the son of God is. It identifies who he is. It identifies what he came to do. Names are important. Biblical times. not necessarily so much today, but to refer to him as Christ Jesus, again, has some significance. Christ means the anointed one. It is the Greek term of the Hebrew word in the Old Testament, the Messiah. He is the one anointed by the Father for a particular mission. He was sent by the Father to fulfill a purpose. He is the one that the children of Israel have been waiting for. He's the one that was promised back in Genesis 3 and verse 15. After Ab and Eve fell there in the garden, And God says to Satan, the seed of the woman will crush you. He's the same one that Isaiah refers to many years before he comes to earth. But Isaiah says, for unto us, a child will be born. Unto us, a son will be given. And the people waited and waited and waited and then waited some more until that night when Christ came in to the world and he was sent here by the father for a purpose. And that's why we read in John 4 in verse 34, my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. That's my food, to do his will. In John 6 in verse 38, for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. I am the sent one. And again, we referred to it earlier, but Galatians 4.4, in the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law. He's the Messiah. He's the Christ. He is the one sent by the father for a mission, for a purpose here on earth. He is the Christ. But he is Jesus. He's Jesus. And Jesus means Jehovah saves. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He was God in human flesh who has come in his own words, he says, I have come to seek and to save those who are lost. You shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. Here we see the humility and the humanity of this one sent by the father. He came to be a savior. He has come to save. And so we see here the realities of what Paul's statement is, the reality of his, first of all, incarnation, and then secondly, of his identification concerning the reality that he was sent by God and he was sent for a purpose. Well, then that leads us thirdly. to consider what I've simply called the message of this statement. Again, simply eight little Greek words. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Jesus did not come into this world to be a good example for us to follow. Jesus did not come into this world in order that we might have a national holiday and you can have some days off work. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. It's his mission to bring deliverance to a people. To bring deliverance to a people who have left to themselves would face sure destruction. He came into this world to do something that individuals themselves could never, ever accomplish. In and of ourselves, none of us can ever be reconciled to a God. None of us can ever be found right with God. Left to ourselves, we have no hope of ever being declared innocent before a thrice holy God. It would be an impossibility. No man can ever save himself. George Whitefield said, it would be easier to pull yourself up to heaven with a rope of sand than for you to pull yourself up by your own works. That caught my eye. It would be easier for you to pull yourself up to heaven with a rope of sand than to pull yourself up by your own works. Why? Because left to ourselves, Paul says, there's one way I can describe you. You're sinners. And what's a sinner? Well, I believe the apostle Paul gives us a pretty good description of what a sinner is. Turn over to Romans chapter five. Romans chapter five. Starting at verse six, let me just read a portion of this down to verse 10 or 11, but notice what Paul says. It's while you were still helpless, At the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates his own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. I say here in this passage of Scripture, the Apostle Paul gives us a fairly clear picture of our true condition. And we're not going to brush it. You know, I guess you can now take the photo of yourself and then brush it up and make yourself look younger or whatever else you might want to do with that picture. Paul doesn't, he doesn't hold back. He says at the end of the day, left to yourself, you're helpless. You're helpless ever to be reconciled by God to God by yourself. Not only that, He says, you're opposed to the things of God. You're ungodly. You really don't love the things of God. You're more love with yourself than you are anyway in love with God. Not only that, you stand guilty of breaking God's law. You're a sinner. Here's God's standard. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. You ever break that law? And the second is like it and to it, love your neighbor as yourself. Is there anyone, and be careful, is there any one of us that could say, I'm not guilty, we're all guilty. In fact, the Apostle Paul says, we've all sinned and come short of the glory of God. So you're helpless, you're ungodly, you're a sinner, and you live every day as, verse 10, an enemy of God. So you want me to paint a picture of your portrait this morning? Let me get the brush out, here it is. You're helpless, ungodly, sinner, and an enemy of God. What do you think you can possibly do to be reconciled to this God who is absolutely without sin and has a standard for you to live by in which he requires absolute righteousness? The answer, he sent his son into the world born of a virgin, born under the law, and he's the perfect, the absolute perfect substitute I need to stand before a holy God. I mean, isn't it interesting? that when Jesus Christ came into the world and was born of a virgin there in Bethlehem, that God didn't immediately take him. He had to continue to walk on this earth because as Paul says, he was born under the law. He was born under those same standards that we are born under. And he walked on this earth absolutely perfect, without sin. And because of our condition, because we are helpless, ungodly sinners and enemies of God, what we deserve is the wrath of Almighty God. I know you're not supposed to talk at Christmas time about the wrath of God, you're supposed to talk about his goodness and his love. But dear people, Christ coming into the world points us to the reality of God's wrath. That's why he sent him into the world. Because what we all deserve is God's wrath. You want to know what it looks like to continue on without ever being united to Christ? Read Luke 16. There was a rich man who died and went to hell, and in torment he cries. There's another man in Luke. who was a Pharisee, who did all the right things. He fasted, he gave his tithe, but he was never made right with God. Christ came to save and deliver his people from their wretched state. Remember what Paul says in Romans chapter one, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and all unrighteousness. But Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. Jesus Christ came into this world to save the ungodly. Jesus came into this world to save those who were helpless. He came into this world to save those who were enemies of God. That's why he came. That's why we sing God and sinners reconciled. Jesus Christ became sin for us. the one who knew no sin, that we might receive His righteousness. God the Father poured out His wrath. He emptied the cup of His wrath upon His Son for all those who the Father has given to the Son. That's why Jesus came. Jesus Christ, or Christ Jesus, has come into the world to save sinners. That's why he came. Now think about that. Just for a moment, think about that statement. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Can I ask you some questions? What does that statement mean to you? What does that statement mean to you? Do you believe it? Have you embraced it? I was talking to a pastor friend of mine yesterday, and he made a statement. And at first, I said, what exactly does that mean? And his statement went something like this. There are some in the church who are 13 inches away from truly being saved. Okay, what does that mean? And he said, especially in the church, the average distance between your head and your heart is 13 inches. And a lot of people know these things in their head, but have never believed them in their hearts. That's a good explanation. At first I thought, this guy's gone off his rocker. Now I understand. And so the question is, not only do you believe these things, but have you embraced them from the heart? Is Jesus Christ truly your only hope of salvation? your only hope of being reconciled to God. Can you say that this morning? My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and his righteousness. And God forbid that any one of us thinks that by our performance we have been reconciled to God. Being a pastor, I get that on occasion where people say, if anybody's going to heaven, you're going to heaven, Pastor Walden. How do you know that? Well, look at what you do. Yeah, everything I do is tainted by sin. My hope is in Christ and in Christ alone. So my first question to you this morning is, Do you know this reality in your own heart and life? My second question to you is, do you still stand amazed at that reality? Do you still stand amazed at that reality? Or has that become sort of dull? You know how that works, right? I mean, even in other relationships. Remember, remember when you first met that spouse? And when I first met my wife, I thought, whoa, she's even talking to me. Wow. But if you're not careful, that can burn out. And the same is what with Christ. Remember when you first believed? You're like, oh, I love him so much. He has done so much for me. And now it's almost become just another day at the office. I'll be honest when I was sitting at my desk this week and I was considering preaching this message and I was going through this and I thought about who I'm preaching to that I've preached to for so many years. I thought they're going to think, man, pastor, you've become lazy. There's nothing brand new in what you've preached this morning. You've taught this for years now and you'd have a point. But my question is, does it still excite you? Do you still stand amazed? As the hymn writer said, amazing love, how can it be that thou, my God, should die for me? You still know something of that zeal and amazement? My third question is this with regard to the statement. You profess to know the reality of this statement Is your life so demonstrated in your conduct every day? Is your light shining to those around you that there's something different about you? I mean, you're a nice guy, but there's something else to this. There has to be. As Dr. Ferguson mentioned in Sunday school this morning, they began to ask, man, what is it about you? What, what do you have? And to be able to say, I have a savior who gave it all for me. And therefore I now live for him. I live for him. My purpose in life is living for him. in everything that I do in light of all he's done for me. Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Here's my last question. Do you share that reality with others? Do you share it with others? There's some who have not the knowledge of Christ Jesus and the apostle Paul says, I speak this to your shame. Speak this to your shame. You go to Walmart tomorrow and find out that everything is 50% off. What do you do? Hey, guess what? Get over here. This is great news. You've got to be a part of this. Are we that eager to share the best news of all? There's one way to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and Christ alone. We ought never to be ashamed of the gospel of God. Often we are. Often I am. I won't speak for all of you. Often I've not opened my mouth when I should have. May God give us a testimony that says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. Why? Because it's the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. So why did Jesus come into the world? Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Paul says, of whom I am foremost, And that's what many of us confess. And even in your bulletin, I put this statement in by C.H. Spurgeon, but it's basically saying, Paul's saying, if he can save me, he can save anybody. And you have no excuse not to run to him, even this morning. He gave his life that we might know forgiveness. Let's pray. Father, thank you for giving us your word. And we pray that you would make it effective that there be those who said among us who do not know that their sins are forgiven through what Christ has accomplished, that today would be a day of salvation, that if they have questions, would seek out help and want to know more about this glorious message of being reconciled to God. And Father, for those of us who have tasted of the grace of God, oh, may we never lose the wonder of that. May we never lose the excitement of that. And may you use us to proclaim these truths to others that we might see the kingdom of God expanded for your glory and for your honor. As we ask all these things in his name, in his name alone, amen. Well, as I sat in my desk thinking, how shall we close this service? That's him that came to mind was in the hymns of grace to ninety six man of sorrows. What a name. Call his name Jesus, why he'll save his people from their sins, but he became the man of sorrows for the son of God who came ruin sinners to every one of us to reclaim. Hallelujah. What a savior to ninety six hymns of grace. If you're able, let's stand together as we sing. there is still With His blood, Alleluia! What a Savior! Guilty, vile, and helpless He, Shocked us and overcome us He, ♪ Full atonement can it be ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, what a Savior ♪ ♪ Lifted up on sea to die, it is true ♪ When He comes, our glorious King, All His children come to drink. Well, we will be having lunch together and then an afternoon service about 145. You're dismissed.