GOD DOES KEEP RECORDS
MALACHI 3: 16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
It has been said God is making a book of every thing we say and do one of these days God will read it back to us.
1. Sinfulness of sin.
Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The wages of destruction ---disaster
The wages of deception ---- disappointment
The wages of disease and death
2. Suffering of the saviour .
Isaiah 53: 1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Christ’s suffering was substitution
Christ’s suffering was shameful
Christ’s suffering was scriptural
3. Salvation of the sinner.
Luke 19: 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus came to love the unlovable
Jesus came to lift up the lowdown
Jesus came to give life to the dead
4. Strength for service.
God’s strength is available.
God’s sufficiency is enough.
God’s service is our privilege.
5. A spirit of separation.
Romans 5: 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The Holy Spirit is given to every believer.
The Holy Spirit is to guide the believer
The Holy Spirit is to glorify the Saviour.
6. Sweetness for saints.
Ephesians 4: 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Saints are to love each other
Saints are to lift each other up.
Saints are to live like Christ
7. Scriptures for a standard.
Acts 4: 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The great standard for the saved.
The good standard for society.
The gift of the Saviour is Salvation.
