Oh, may this glowing heart rejoice And tell its raptures all abroad Happy day, happy day When Jesus washed my sins away He taught me how to watch and pray And live rejoicing every day Happy day, happy day When Jesus washed my sins away O happy bond that seals my vows To Him who merits all my love Let cheerful anthems fill this house While to that sacred shrine I move Happy day, happy day When Jesus washed my sins away He taught me how to watch and pray And live rejoicing every day Happy day, happy day when Jesus washed my sins away. It is done, the great transaction's done. I am my Lord's and He is mine. He drew me and I followed on, charmed to confess the voice divine. Happy day, happy day. when Jesus washed my sins away. He taught me how to watch and pray and live rejoicing every day. Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away. Silent night. Holy night. All is calm. ♪ All is bright ♪ ♪ Round yon virgin ♪ ♪ Mother and child ♪ ♪ Holy infant so tender and mild ♪ ♪ Sleep in heavenly peace ♪ Silent night, holy night. Darkness flies, all is light. Shepherds hear the angels sing. Hallelujah, hail the King. Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night. Guiding star, lend thy light. See the eastern wise men pray. ♪ Gifts and homage to our King ♪ ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ ♪ Christ the Savior is born ♪ ♪ Silent night ♪ Holy night ♪ ♪ Wondrous star ♪ ♪ In thy light ♪ ♪ With the angels let us sing ♪ ♪ Alleluia to our King ♪ Christ the Savior is born. Christ the Savior is born. Go tell it on the mountain Over the hills and everywhere Go tell it on the mountain That Jesus Christ is born While shepherds kept their watching O'er silent flocks by night Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light. Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Down in a lowly manger, the humble Christ was born. And God sent us salvation, that blessed Christmas Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Amen. We certainly thank our young men for those songs. As a matter of fact, those songs go right along with our message today. The reason why I think it's so important for us to remember the birth of Christ is because of some of the things that these young men just sang about. Our salvation comes through that virgin-born birth of Jesus Christ. And without that, I mean, we would not have salvation. We wouldn't have forgiveness of sin. We wouldn't have the fact there's no more condemnation upon us. We wouldn't have a home in heaven. Look at how many things we would be without had it not been for the virgin-born Son of God. I'd like to invite you to turn your Bibles to Luke chapter 1 and then also John chapter 3. And these next two Sunday mornings, God willing, We're going to be speaking on the birth of Christ. We pray that the Lord will lift up His name through song and through the Word. While you're turning to the scriptures I've given you, I want to welcome our radio audience. Once again, this is Brother John Lightbrook, pastor of the Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church at Old Town. That's just inside of Greenup County out of Carter County. You can get to us by taking Route 1 or Route 7. We do have a sign on either end of what is known as Laurel Road, giving you directions to the meeting house known as Emanuel. We're also very thankful that you've taken time today to tune in to WGOH, share a portion of God's Word. In the day and time in which we are living, I believe that with the commercialism and everything that is going on about Christmas, Oftentimes people lose track of what the real joy is all about. Oftentimes in the gift giving and everything else we forget to look at the Savior who came from glory, who left everything. Sometimes we forget that God gave us the greatest gift ever, His Son, His Son dying in our place. his son dying in our stead. Today, verse 26 of Luke chapter 1, if you'll look at this with me, we're going to read this whole portion of scripture. The Bible says in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto the city of Galilee named Nazareth, to averge in the spouse to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, And the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hail thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, O child of God. Fear not. Fear not of what holds tomorrow, but remember who holds tomorrow. The Bible says, Fear not. And as you look at this, you think about what Mary's mind must have been thinking about. He said, Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus. And he shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? But the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the high shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste into the city of Judah. And entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass. Now listen to this. You know, our kids sing joy to the world. We think about the silent night that we just sang about. We think about the reason why we should go tell it to all who will hear. Because there is joy. The Bible states this. Now get a hold of this because I think it's so important. And I want you to think about what is being said here. And again, the Bible says in verse 41, And it came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. She spake out with a loud voice and said, Blessed are thou among women, blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, What did the babe do? What did John the Baptist in the wound of his own mother do? The Bible says the babe leaped in my wound for joy. And blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told of her from the Lord. We stop there for just a moment and we look at John chapter 3. In John chapter 3, a scripture that I use all the time and have over the last 20-some years, especially if I'm pastored here. The Bible says in verse 15 and 16, you want to know why that there's so much joy? You know why there were glad tidings here? Look at this. Speaking of Jesus Christ, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world. Now here's the greatest gift that man will ever receive. I don't care if you knew the richest person in the world was able to buy you the world. It's not going to be a gift like what this gift is. Oftentimes you hear people talk about, Oh, if I could just win the lottery. Oh, but this is far greater than any chance that you will ever take. This is not even a chance. This is that which is going to bring joy to your heart. This is something that's going to be bringing joy to you because God gifted His very best The greatest gift ever given. He says, For God so loved the world that He did what He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I want to bring a message this morning. God's gift brings joy to the world. Almost gracious and divine Heavenly Father, Lord, once again as we bow before Your throne, we do so with thankful hearts. We thank you, dear God, that you have saved us and called us to your side. We thank you that so long ago, Father, you introduced that sweet son of yours to our hearts. You saved us by your grace. Lord, it has turned out to be the greatest gift I have ever been given or ever shall receive. And I know all those that are saved by your grace, Lord. They know this to be so in their lives. The greatest gift, the gift that brings joy to the world. Dear God, we have Thee to thank for that. It wasn't anything of our own doing. It wasn't anything of our own works. It wasn't even us to make up our mind to do so. But through Your infinite mercy, You, as our young people sing, moved upon our hearts. Lord, you made us to have a happy day. You made us to realize the joys of salvation. So Father, today I pray in this season in which we are now in in this world, a season that is commercialized that is hardly recognized, but yet to thy children, the redeemed, we understand what the greatest gift ever was, and that was the gift of your son, taking our place at Calvary, dying in our stead, so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Lord, I pray, Lord, open up the minds of this people. Father, touch the hearts of each and every one that have gathered in this house this morning. Change the way that we are viewing things and help us, dear God, to know as Thy great Holy Spirit dealt with the heart and the mind of Mary, may it also deal with our hearts and minds today. May this be the day that salvation comes to this house. And impart unto that lost sinner that's here today the gift of salvation, the gift of faith. Something that we are vacant of until you give it to us. Oh God, today save souls and save lives. And Father, forgive us our sin in Christ's name, and amen. Silent Night, page 292, if you want to look at it, is a song that ought to make each and every one of us contemplate this very night, the very night when Jesus was born, there on the hillsides where the shepherds were tending their flocks, the angels came. And they told them something miraculous. It wasn't just any babe born. It was the virgin born Son of God. It was the Savior of all who will come unto Him and He imparts unto them the greatest gift. Silent night, holy night. All is calm and all is bright. Round young virgin, mother and child, holy infant, so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night, the darkness flies, all is light. Remembering now, our message today is about the greatest gift ever given. God's gift and how it brings joy to the world. When the darkness flees, listen, the Bible speaks of it in John chapter 8 as a time of freedom, a time when we are freed from the obsessions that we once had. Freed from the darkness because the light has come into our lives. Shepherds hear the angels sing. Hallelujah, hail the King. Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night, guiding star, lend thy light. See the eastern wise men bring gifts and homage to our King. Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night, wonder star, lend thy light. With the angels let us sing hallelujah to our King. Christ the Savior is born. And you know, these songs that we sing from time to time, and it's not just in December we sing these songs. Brother Jared has our young people to sing these songs oftentimes throughout the year. And it's songs that should remind us of what it is that we celebrate and why we celebrate. Why do I celebrate the birth of Christ? I'm not necessarily celebrating Christmas, but I'm celebrating the birth of a Savior. I'm celebrating Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And that, my friend, is what brings joy to my heart. Joy unspeakable and full of glory. These songs that we sing are songs that ought to remind us Why it is that we do celebrate this time of year. This song says in page 285, Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare hymn room and heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns. Let men their songs implore as these young men were singing these songs this evening. And they were singing the songs that ought to make us think about why we do this. While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat their sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. You know there's coming a day because of our Savior, there's going to be a new heaven and a new earth. A time when the lion and the lamb shall lay together. A time when the child shall sit upon the den of an asp. A time when thorns and thistles will no longer be infesting the ground. I remember some of the things that Brother Jerry and Brother Jamie used to talk about, how that they would go along the hillside and grub the hill to take out all the thistles. You know, today's bird seed, all you've got in it is thistle. You've got thistle seed everywhere and all of a sudden you've got thistles everywhere. There's coming a day those birds are not going to thrive on the thistle seed. Because this heaven and earth is going to be changed dramatically all because of the greatest gift God ever gave, the gift of His Son. God's gift brings joy to the world because number one, He saves us from our sins. Now if you can't amen about that, you need to think about what we just said. He has saved you from your sins. In Matthew chapter 1, we'll go back here and we'll look at these scriptures. In verse 18 to begin with, we'll read the account of the birth of Christ again from Matthew and see what he says about it. In verse 18 of Matthew chapter 1, the Bible says, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make a public example, was minded to put her away privately. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And look at verse 21. This is the greatest verse that you can ever get a hold of. Now I want you to think about this now. It says here, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. This is the great gift that I'm talking about today. Sometimes, you know, as we often do when I gather with our family at my mother's And whether it's Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter, whatever it is, she wants to make sure the Bible's brought out. She wants to make sure that we talk about the reason why we're celebrating whatever it is we're celebrating. Yesterday as I gathered with our family and we sat there and we talked about this Savior that I'm mentioning here. We like to give gifts, but every time you give a gift, you need to remember the greatest gift that was given you. You know, every one of us, I know we don't buy gifts so somebody can re-gift them. We buy the best that we can afford or what we have to do with. You know why? Because we want to give a good gift. But there's no gift like the gift of Jesus. There's no gift like the gift that God gave of His only Son. And the reason why it's such a great gift is because the Bible says He saves us from our sins. That's what makes Him so special. The Bible goes on to say in verse 22, Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which were spoken of the Lord by the prophets, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. Now, what a Savior. Matthew chapter 1 talks about the reason why that this Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given. It's the greatest gift God could ever give each and every one of us because it brings about our salvation. It brings about the forgiveness of our sins. It brings about the ability that we have been saved from our sins. In the book of Acts, all through the book of Acts, you see a great deal about this topic, but I want to look at Acts chapter 4, and I want you to think about this now. In Acts chapter 4 and verse 12, the Bible says, Neither is there salvation in any other For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Jesus. Here a few weeks ago, maybe it's been a month or two ago now, I brought out about the name of Jesus. What it means. Last week I spoke on the name Christ. And as we broke those letters down and began to give definitions for each letter, something special about that letter and what it means, we understand that we have a great Savior in the gift that was given us. But there's no other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved. There's no other means by which you can be saved. There's no other gift. that you could even begin to offer that would even come close to what God has given you. You know, oftentimes we look at our lives and we think, well, preacher, I'm not that bad of a person. I've got some pretty good things going on in my own life. But you didn't have the Immaculate Blood. You didn't have the virgin-born birth that Christ had. You didn't have the blood that was free from all sin. Listen, that's what Jesus Christ can offer us. He saves us from our sins. Acts chapter 5 verse 30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you slew and hang on a tree. Him have God exalted with His right hand to be Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses of these things, and so is also the Holy Ghost whom God has given to them that obey Him. Brother Jerry was speaking this morning about who it is that has the Holy Ghost. Listen, it's every born-again believer of God has the Holy Ghost moves inside of them the very moment that they're saved. The very moment they trust the Lord as their Savior, it's not when they walk a mile, it's not when they're hitting the waters of baptism. It's the moment that faith is imparted unto them and they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, I will take my abode with you. That, my friend, is a wonderful thing to have. In Acts chapter 13, going over just a little bit more. Look at chapter 13 and verse 22. The Bible says that when they had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king. To whom also he gave testimony and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man's seed hath God, according to his promise, raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus. And when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel, and as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But behold, there cometh one after me whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of salvation sent." You see, it wasn't just to the Jew. It was also to every one of us who would believe. You Gentiles, you were not of the household and the lineage of David, but you've been grafted into that beautiful family. family of Jesus Christ. And folks, that is the reason why that when God gave the greatest gift, it should be a gift that makes joy come to your heart. Joy, unspeakable and full of glory. Verse 37 says, But he whom God raised saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. That's why the coming of Jesus should bring joy to your heart. That's the reason why as we go out next week, God willing, and we sing the songs that speak about the birth of Christ, when we come to joy to the world, we ought to be realizing what joy is in our hearts because of what He's done for each and every one of us, the joy of salvation. God's gift brings joy to the world because, secondly, He gives eternal life. You know, we go back to our text in John chapter 3 and verse 15 and 16. And as you consider this, you consider the fact that when we are taken to the cemetery, when we are placed in the ground, it isn't all over. Amen? You're saved by the grace of God. There's something special, miraculous going to happen for you. You've been given salvation. The soul is saved. At the very moment that you die, the soul enters in to its rest with the Almighty Savior. Paul stated to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. He was speaking about his soul. And the good thing about that is that we don't have any waiting period. There is no time that people can set aside to pray you through into heaven. There is no purgatory. There is no waiting around. Listen, you're not going to be in the cemetery for three days like so many believe today and then go somewhere. Listen, to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord. The very moment The very moment that you die in the Lord, your soul enters into that heavenly abode, that long home called heaven. Now look at this with me. In John chapter 3 verse 15 or 16, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have what? Eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have what? everlasting life. What do those two words mean? Eternal and everlasting? They never end. They never end. So if man could lose his salvation that Jesus Christ was born into this world to fulfill, He accomplished everything because the Bible says He fulfilled all of His Father's will. He died on the cross. He was buried. The temple veil was ripped from top to bottom. There was no need for the veil no more. You know why? Because Christ is now interacting on our behalves. The Bible says because of that death and burial Because of that salvation has come to mankind. Listen, because God was satisfied with His Son, we have now access to come boldly before the throne, the Hebrew says. You and I, we don't have to go through a mediator known as a man, a regular man. We go through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and we can come right into the very throne room of the Almighty God. All because of the greatest gift He ever gave, and that should make joy come to your heart. I don't have to wait on some priestly man from earth to try and relay my message to my God. I can go straight to Him. And I can pray on behalf of what His Son done for me. And I don't even come to Him in my own accord. I come because of what Jesus done. He applied the blood in heaven. He applied it to the mercy seat in heaven. Whereby given each and every one of us that are saved and redeemed access to speak to our Savior. He gives eternal life. Now, you look for just a moment at the book of Luke in chapter 2. Luke in chapter 2, and once again, we're going to try to stay on this theme here. The Bible states in Luke chapter 2, verse 13, to begin with, it says, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts, doing what? Praising God and saying what? Glory to God in the highest. and on earth peace and goodwill toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in the manger. This was as the very night that Jesus was born into this world. You know what? We go back and we think about the wise men and oftentimes people usually like the wise men came the very same night. Well, they didn't. They were a little bit later down the road, but they came. But I want you to think about what these men would have seen. These were common men just like you and I. These were just common people. They weren't the high and mighty. They weren't the elite of the world. They weren't the wise kings. They were just shepherds. Or as we would say around here, they were just cattlemen. People who worked fields and flocks. People that worked herds. And you know what? You know who Jesus came to save? People just like that. You know the reason why that He came and He revealed that unto those poor lowly shepherds? Because they had a need of salvation as well. And they needed to see the Savior. God's gift brings joy. What was said about what was going on there, the Bible speaks about the fact that there was a heavenly host gathered around, and what would they do? And they were celebrating and singing the songs of praise, for the Savior had been born. The Savior had been born. The Bible goes on to say, and when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child, And all that heard it wondered at those things which are told them by the shepherds. You know, we go back to John chapter 7. And again, we're talking about the gift of eternal life here. In John chapter 7, you know, that's what God imparted unto each and every one of us. He gave us a gift of eternal life. And it states it even here in verse 37 of John chapter 7. In the last day of the great day of feast, Jesus stood and he cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Listen, are you thirsting today? Are you thirsting after salvation today? Listen, is there just this thought in your mind today that you need something more than what you've got? Listen, come to Jesus today. He offers eternal life to anyone who will come unto Him. He says, come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. He said, I will give you rest. Are you struggling today? He said, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. And he that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Yes, life eternal is what He offers. Again, in John chapter 5 and verse 24, He says this, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, you're hearing the Word of God today. You're hearing the words of Jesus today. That babe that was born in a manger who grew up and lived that perfect life that you and I could never live. He had perfect blood in Him, something that you and I don't have. But listen, He came to do what? He came to live among us and to save souls. He says this, He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life. Yes, eternal life is what that gift gives us. Eternal life is what that gift will give you. Listen, the gift that is being offered even here today is a gift that you need to receive. What does the Bible say in John chapter 1? In verse 11, He talked about the fact He came unto His own and His own received Him not. Verse 12 says, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. Would you not today believe? Would you not today believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? Today's the day. This great gift is not something that just comes around once a year. The great gift that God is offering, it comes to anyone, anytime who will hear and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you believe today? Will you believe? John 10, 9 and 10. Again, the Bible states this, I am the door. What was John chapter 14 and 6 saying? I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man come unto the Father but by me. Here the Bible states it this way. I am the door. By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. There's your gift. You shall be saved. This is not a hope-so salvation. This is a salvation that really means something. This is the gift that will give everything that you need. He says, I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly. John chapter 10 verse 27. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them what? He says, I give unto them eternal life. Yes, this is what this great gift, this is the reason why this gift that God gives should bring joy to your heart. When you die, it's not all over. So many people today believe that when you close your eyes in death, that's it. But it's not. As a matter of fact, Brother John Cox this morning brought that out very plainly. Listen. What happened with the rich man and Lazarus? They both died. But the Bible says Lazarus was ushered into the very portals of heaven in Abraham's bosom without any doubt. But also the rich man died. He didn't just cease to be, did he? He's still existing today. HE'S STILL PLEADING FOR THAT DROP OF WATER TODAY. HE'S STILL PRAYING TODAY. SOMEBODY GO TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT THIS AWFUL PLACE. The rich man died and lifted up his eyes, being in torment. Where did he find himself? He found himself in the very pits of hell. Why? Because he did not trust the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior. Folks, that's all you can say about it. He refused to repent. He refused to come to Jesus. That's all you can say. You don't have to throw any other doctrine at it except for the fact that man refuses to come to the Lord. And that's the reason why today they're in hell. Don't blame God for somebody being in hell. We were all bound for hell. And had it not been for God grabbing a hold of us and drawing us unto Himself, we would still be just like the rich man on our way to the devil's hell. But He gives eternal life. He gives eternal life. Now I want you to think about this for just a moment. The last thing I want to speak of today is that God's gift brings joy to the world because God's gift has keeping power. You're not going to lose this gift. As a matter of fact, this gift is not going to wear out on you. As a matter of fact, this gift cannot be taken away from you. This is the gift that God, this brings joy to my heart. Have you ever been promised something and then all of a sudden somebody else got it? You ever been there? You know, as a kid, I know we've been there. We've all been there, you know, a certain time, maybe you was promised a certain thing and somebody else comes along and guess what, they got it. It's not so with salvation. It's not so with what God's gift is. You cannot lose it. You cannot only not lose it, no one can ever take it away. And because of that, this is something that ought to make your heart overwhelmed with joy. I've got something that nobody else can get a hold of, or at least they can't take mine. Now salvation is there to all who will call upon Him. As a matter of fact, Romans chapter 10 verse 8 down through verse 17 explains it to you. You're not going to get my salvation though. And the devil, the devil, listen, he can't get my salvation. Go to Romans chapter 8 and there you'll see that nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing can take away my salvation. That's something to be joyful about because there's people living in this world. And really, I can't say that I doubt that they're saved. I mean, I would hope that they're saved. But there are people today that have said they've trusted the Lord as their Savior, but they don't know if they're going to. Listen, the Bible says you've got a witness in you. You've got that witness in you. And every time you begin to doubt, you should be able to go back to that time and say, Hey, that's when I was saved and nothing can take that away from me. Joy. I'm glad today that I don't have to live in fear about my salvation. I'm glad today that I don't have to live in fear about where my long home of Ecclesiastes 12, 5 speaks of, where it's going to be. I'm glad today I don't have to worry about that. My Savior, my Sovereign, He is there to protect it. The Bible states it very plainly. Now I want you to go there for just a moment. Go to Romans with me in chapter 8. Romans in chapter 8. Look at verse 31 to begin with. Verse 27 down through verse 30 you see where you're brought into salvation. Now look at this. What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Amen? What joy is to know that nothing can be really against us as far as our salvation is concerned. He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is it that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, reviveth and is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who is also doing what? Making intercession for us. You know what our advocate is doing today? You know an advocate is somebody who speaks on behalf of somebody else. My Savior is speaking on my behalf today. He is speaking on your behalf if you are saved by God's grace. He's speaking on your behalf. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior, you know those times when the devil runs back to heaven and says, did you see what he did? He don't have to lie on me. I don't know about you, but I'm not perfect yet. And I know that the devil has plenty, plenty of fodder to go to the Lord with and try to catch me on fire. But listen, what does my Savior do but father? I HAVE DIED FOR HIM. I HAVE PAID FOR HIS SINS. I HAVE MADE HIS WAY CLEAR. WHO SHALL LAY ANYTHING TO THE CHARGE OF GOD? WHO IS IT THAT CONDEMNETH? Verse 35 says, WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION OR DISTRESS OR PERSECUTION OR FAMINE OR NAKEDNESS OR PERIL OR SWORD? AS IT IS WRITTEN, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG. We're accounted as sheep for the slaughter. You know, the devil looks at us and says, Oh, there's an innocent little lamb that I can get a hold of. There's an innocent little lamb that I can rob his joy from. But look at 37 and 38 with me and 39. The Bible says, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded. You remember the series we brought on Paul's persuasion? He says, I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature. Hey folks, I believe that covers about everything, doesn't it? I believe that's everything in God's creation. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Listen, there's the keeping power of the Almighty God of Heaven. There's no way that we can lose our salvation. People today that believe that you can lose your salvation, they have to live in misery. They don't have the peace that Brother Jared spoke about this morning. When He was speaking about the Comforter who was going to come, what was He going to do? He was going to bring us peace. Listen, you can't have peace if you think you're always losing your salvation. There is no peace and rest in that. But praise be unto God because His gift, we can have joy knowing that our peace shall never be shaken. Our salvation can never be taken. We are the sons of God and nothing can remove that. Brother Jamie, you're your dad's son and that will never change, ever. Regardless of what we think. You know, we've seen people in the world that disown their families. But it will never change the fact that you belong to that family. And that's the same way in salvation. It will never be changed. You belong to the Savior. He bought you, He paid for you, He died for you, He was put in the grave for you, He arose for you so that you can have life and have it more abundantly. Ah yes, I love the great gift that God gives. Brings joy to the world, amen? God's gift brings joy to the world. God's gift brings keeping power. In John 10, 27, let's just back up just a little bit again. We were over just a moment ago, but I want to look at this again. He says in verse 28, I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I am My Father, O one. Folks, there's the keeping power of the great gift that was given us. the great gift of salvation. Now I'm going to close with 1 Peter. I know we only have a couple minutes left. But I want to look at 1 Peter for just a moment. 1 Peter in chapter 1. 1 Peter in chapter 1. I want you to begin with verse 3 through 9. The Bible says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again into a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, that fadeth not away, it's what is reserved in heaven for you. You know what that means? It is being held for you. Brother Jerry brought that out this morning, John chapter 14. You know, that's one of mine and Brother Manuel's favorite scriptures. I love that old scripture. Listen, nothing's going to take that away from us. We've got a home in heaven to go to one day. Oh, the gift that keeps giving. You know, you've heard that old cliche before, haven't you? The gift that keeps giving. What was that? Diamonds or something? Oh, there's something far greater than a diamond, my folks. Jesus Christ, the gift that never quits giving and the gift that can never be taken away. We go and we consider what has been said, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last day. For you're not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition of your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you. who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God. Listen to me today. God's gift brings joy. God's gift you don't have to worry about going away from you. Oh, may God help you. May God direct you. May God save souls in this house today. Let's all stand for this. Our most gracious and divine Heavenly Father, Lord, as we bow before your throne today, we do so with thankful heart. We thank you, dear God, for your great gift that does impart joy to all those who have had it, to those who will receive it, to those that have it now. And Lord, I pray that you will help those that are in this house who do not have it yet Lord, that you would give them the gift of faith, first of all, that Ephesians 2, 8 and 9 speaks of. Lord, give them the ability to believe. Help them, dear God, to step out in faith and trust the Savior. Oh, Father, we're praying for salvation in this house, and we're praying for souls today. Dear God, I pray that you will impart unto them the greatest gift ever given. Be with us now. Forgive us our sin. In Jesus Christ's name. Amen. Have our song leader come. 385. 385. I hear the Savior say I strength and He is strong Out of weakness watch and pray. Find in me thine all in all. Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Sin hath left a crimson stain. washed in white as snow. Lord, now indeed I find thy power and thine alone can change the leper's spots and melt the heart of stone. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left the crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. with him, God bless him too. After the cemetery, we're gonna come back to the fellowship hall and have a dinner, have a dinner for the family. And so with that going on, I don't want to rush them, we're not gonna have classes this evening. I want them to be able to take all the time they need over here. So we'll do that and that way they won't feel like they're being rushed, but just come And now, again, thanking God for the day's given us. Pray for tonight's service. Pray God will bless and we'll have another great service. Pray the Lord's power will rest in this house. Till we do meet again, I pray the Lord's face will shine upon you. I pray the Lord's smile will be upon you. And above everything else, I pray that he