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I STAND IN AWE OF THY WORD

August 8, 1999 AM

Sermon Outline

Ps 119:161

INTRO: The 119th Psalm is one of those things I wish I. had said! Its multifaceted affirmations about the incomparable word of God present points of light in a dark world. Toward the end of the psalm after so much has been said and observed, the psalmist says, My heart standeth in awe of thy word. How can any person of sensitive faith who knows the history of the word of God not stand in awe of it? By His word ...

I. THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE WAS CALLED TO EXIST

A. Ps 33:6-9 For he spake, and it was done

1. compare with Gen 1:3,6,9,11, etc.

2. can you imagine One so powerful that by His simply commanding it such things could occur? this is the nature of Gods word

3. note Mk 4:39-41 note their question

B. At Mk 4:40 Jesus questions are significant

1. if God, by Whose word worlds exist, is our God, what reason for fear?

2. is fear a result of faithlessness

3. in my awe there should be great comfort!

II. ALL THINGS ARE UPHELD

A. Heb 1:1-3 Upholding all things by the word ...

1. the continuing power and involvement of God!

2. He did not simply speak it into existence - His powerful word continues to uphold its order

3. so, Col 1:16,17

B. For me, here is more comfort, assurance

1. God is not far off, disinterested, dispassionate

2. I like Acts 17:27,28

3. Heb 13:3 ... because He is involved, upholding a constant presence

III. ALL CREATION OBEYS

A. Some notable examples:

1. Gen 7:4,11,12 with 8:1,2 of the flood

2. Ex 14:21,22of crossing the Red Sea

3. Josh 10:12-14of the suns standing still

B. Is inanimate creation wiser than man?

1. think again of Mk 4:39

2. but so many human beings chose not to obey his word!

3. the relationship of His word to creation should cause intelligent people to at least pause and consider that word as it relates to us

IV. HE REVEALS HIMSELF

A. 1 Cor 2:9-13 God hath revealed ... in the words

1. in the Bible God reveals Himself to us

2. yes, one can know the existence of God from the creation

(Rom 1:19,20)

3. but the written word, scripture, gives us the specifics about Him (so, Mal 3:6a)

B. Some of what He would have us know ...

1. Jno 3:16 His great love

2. 2 Pet 3:9 His great plea

3. Heb 9:27 His great appointment with mankind

V. HE INSTRUCTS IN THE WAY OF SALVATION

A. Eph 1:13 ... the gospel of your salvation ...

1. His love, His plea, His judgment necessitate His word of salvation

2. 1 Pet 1:22,23 born again by the instruction of the word implanted in us

B. Whether it is ...

1. the word of His mouth commanding or the word of truth revealing, the Source is the same ... God

2. and our response should be ...

CLOSE: To stand in awe of His word. But awe must affect ... and bring effects in us. How has the word of God affected you?

08 August 1998

Cecil A. Hutson

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)