A Place in God’s House

Psalm 15

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott

I. How Do People Get to Heaven?

A. What are the entrance requirements for heaven? “A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1)

B. Believers know they will have a place with God. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:6)

C. People want to go to heaven; the desire to glorify and enjoy God becomes the overriding and directive force in a genuine believer’s life. “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

D. People who are born again know they cannot make the world of sin home. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5)

II. God Identifies His Guests

A. People who are upright from the inside out are welcome with God. “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” (Psalm 15:2)

B. Behavior matters to God; He expects His people to walk the holy path. “Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.” (Proverbs 28:18)

C. God designed good works and assigned them to His people to demonstrate the life people were intended to live. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

D. People saved by grace begin to display God to the world; saved people come to look like the Savior. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” (1 John 3:7)

E. Believers refuse to let the world set the standard for Christian living. “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.” (James 2:1-9)

III. God’s Guests Will Stay for Eternity

A. A person who lives as God directs cannot be shaken. “He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” (Psalm 15:5)

B. When people live with constant awareness of God’s presence, they prosper, and when they do not, they blow away in the wind. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16:8) “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” (Psalm 1:1-6)

C. Jesus reaffirmed what David had believed and taught. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

Audio
2007-10-28 AM Thirst.mp3

Thirst

Psalm 42:1-11; John 7:37-53 / Revelation 22:1-21

Edwin P. Elliott

I. People Are Thirsty

A. People natively have a thirst which only God can satisfy. “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:2)

B. Believers have an even greater thirst because the world taunts them. “My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?” (Psalm 42:3)

C. The memory of refreshment from God affects the thirst for God’s things in yet another way. “When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.” (Psalm 42:4)

D. Christians always have hope. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” (Psalm 42:5) “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” (John 4:10)

II. Living Water Is Available

A. Jesus directs suffering people to come to Him and receive what they most desire. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” (John 7:37)

B. Not only do people who come to Jesus find what they need, but they begin to supply others with what they also need. “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

C. People who determine not to drink will never be able to quench the overcoming thirst. “Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was? So there was a division among the people because of him.” (John 7:40-43)

D. People who offer drinks which only make people thirstier are wretched; the church which does not focus on Christ is part of the problem people face. “ “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52)

III. Here Is How the Story Ends

A. Old things are inevitably passing away. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1)

B. Isaiah saw the holy future and the refreshing grace of God; the church is the New Jerusalem. “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” (Isaiah 65:17-19)

C. Christ makes all things new; sovereign grace is free. “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:5-6)

D. Jesus points to the happy way. “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7)

E. The Triune God calls people to quench their thirst. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)

F. Avoid everything which makes people thirsty; share the genuine water of life. “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

Audio:
2007-10-24 PM In Twighlight Remember Dawn.mp3

In Twilight Remember Dawn

Psalm 14

I. Twilight Announces Night

A. The godless think there is nothing higher than they are. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

1. The universality of evil and the disregard for evil’s consequences sometimes shakes even the most substantial believers. “For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:3)

2. Right understanding of God is the foundation for all knowledge; fools despise the fundamental realities of life. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

B. While fools do not see God, He sees them in detail. “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.” (Psalm 14:2)

1. When people do not comprehend their situation, they do not seek a genuine way to resolve their problems. “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:11)

2. People have many novel solutions to their problems, fears, and dreams, but they are worse than pointless; turning to the revelation of God is the only way out of the human dilemma. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:19-20)

C. The All-Seeing-Eye finds nothing good in unbelievers. “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:3)

II. Night and Day Cannot Live in Peace

A. Evil people who prey on God’s people are ignorant of reality and express their ignorance through iniquity. “Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.” (Psalm 14:4)

B. People who live by taking advantage of other people inherently live with fear; predators fear other predators. “There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.” (Psalm 14:5) Ignorance, Iniquity, Persecution, Prayerlessness

1. Egypt, with all the world’s power, froze in fear when God delivered His people. “Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.” (Exodus 15:16)

2. The Bible devotes an entire book to God’s deliverance of His people from fools. “Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.” (Esther 8:7)

C. The wicked who make provisions to protect themselves look down on the helpless because they cannot see that God is the defender of those who cannot defend themselves. “Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.” (Psalm 14:6)

D. The wicked mocked Jesus Himself with disrespect for the government of God. “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:41-43)

III. God’s Day Comes

A. David, looking into the future, argued that Israel’s restoration from captivity should comfort all people who trust in God. “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.” (Psalm 14:7)

B. Grace comes to the gracious. “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10)

C. When the human disaster starts to overwhelm, call out to God; He hears His people. “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” (Psalm 3:4)

D. Fools and scoffers may say what they want, but God remains in charge of all things. “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,” (Ephesians 1:22)

E. Two paths lead in different directions. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18-19)

God’s Mercy to Israel

Romans 11:1-12

Dr. Edwin P. Elliott

I. Has God Abandoned His People?

A. History poses awkward questions about the people of God and how they relate to God. “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” (Romans 11:1)

B. To suggest God has rejected His chosen people is to frame the question improperly. “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,” (Romans 11:2)

C. Elijah was convinced that Israel had abandoned the faith and that all hope was lost, but God was still doing a mighty work. “Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” (Romans 11:3)

D. God sees from a different perspective; only He can know if indeed all is lost. “But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” (Romans 11:4) “For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)” (1 Kings 18:4)

E. God preserves His remnant; the pattern occurs in every period of redemptive history: Isaac—not Ishmael; Jerusalem—not Samaria; Ezra—not Babylon. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11:5) “The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.” (Isaiah 10:21-22)

F. At every level across the sweep of history the determining factor is grace; salvation is by grace--not by status, effort, or any other human asset. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)

II. No, God Removes What Restrains Grace

A. Election and grace are inseparable; any other doctrine blinds people to God’s mercy. “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Romans 11:7)

1. Grace only functions God’s way. “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:” (Proverbs 1:28) “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

2. The benefits of grace only come by grace; God is not some force of nature which can be harnessed and manipulated. “For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Hebrews 12:17)

B. When people move away from God, He gives them what they seek; the process anesthetizes people to what they are doing. “(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.” (Romans 11:8)

C. Any medicine becomes a poison when it is misused. “And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.” (Romans 11:9-10) “Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.” (Psalms 69:22-23)

III. Providence Works for Good in All Things

A. The tragic developments in redemptive history provoke great advances in salvation. “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” (Romans 11:11)

B. The depth of the problem points to the height of the eventual triumph. “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?” (Romans 11:12)

C. The fall of old Jerusalem opened the way for the spread of the gospel to all people; the intensely Jewish Paul became the developer of the mission to the Gentiles. “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” (Ephesians 3:8)

Audio:
2007-10-21 AM Come and See.mp3

Come and See

Psalm 66:1-20; Colossians 3:1-25 / Psalm 11:1-7

I. Invite People to God

A. Honor God out loud so everyone knows; make it obvious to everyone. “To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” (Psalm 66:1-2)

B. Invite the world to come and see what God, has done; it will be scary for some people. “Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.” (Psalm 66:5)

C. When people understand and find peace in God they want to share what they have found. “The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” (John 1:43-46)

II. What Will People Find When They Come and See?

A. God does wondrous things; the humanly impossible never stops God. “He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.” (Psalm 66:6 )

B. God settles large accounts across the sweep of history. “He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.” (Psalm 66:7)

C. Jesus knows people better than they know themselves. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” (John 1:47-49)

D. People will not find what tantalizes the world. “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. 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.” (Isaiah 53:2-3 )

E. Christ brings comfort and consolation to the dark places of our hearts. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4)

F. Christ overcomes the penalties of sin in both body and soul. “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.” (Isaiah 53:5)

G. Jesus willingly does what sinful people cannot do for themselves. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:6-7)

III. Be Personal and Specific

A. Give a testimony. “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” (Psalm 66:16)

B. Teach the next generation. “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (Psalm 34:11)

C. Publish the story of God’s mighty works and wonders; circulate the testimonies throughout the family of God. “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.” (Malachi 3:16)

D. Organize life around the study of God. “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

E. Believers have received mercy that they might become instruments of mercy. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

F. Make the invitation personal. “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” (Psalm 66:16)

The Voices and the Voice

Psalm 12

I. Apostasy Speaks in Many Loud Voices

A. People cease to be godly when faithful examples are unavailable; the hope is in turning to God. “To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” (Psalm 12:1)

B. When people do not live with respect for God, words lose meaning and people twist communication. “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.” (Psalm 12:2)

C. God will destroy people who substitute falsehood for truth. “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:” (Psalm 12:3)

1. Glorious Babylon was convinced of its world view and its right to do with people and resources as it chose, but Providence called a different tune. “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” (Daniel 4:30-31)

2. Jude in his day warned about evil teachers who would use words for their personal advantage and not in the cause of truth or grace. “These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.” (Jude 1:16)

D. People who twist truth distort reality and reject God as they do so. “Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?” (Psalm 12:4)

E. Truth is personal to God and truth is by definition exclusive. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” (Job 38:1-3)

F. The voices of apostasy bring to mind the thought processes of fools. “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)

II. The Voice of Pure Truth Exposes Apostasy

A. When apostasy clouds or even hides reality, God enters to assist the helpless. “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.” (Psalm 12:5)

B. God’s voice speaks the purest truth. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (Psalm 12:6)

C. The voices of apostasy are only hot air because they cannot contend with God in the final judgment. “Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalm 12:7)

III. Tolerating the Voice of Apostasy Compounds the Problem

A. Unchecked wickedness brings the worst people to the surface and such people attract others of their kind. “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” (Psalm 12:8)

B. God brings the problem close to home; controlling conversation is one of life’s most difficult challenges any person encounters. “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2)

C. Great forces can be controlled with small instruments. “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.” (James 3:3-4)

D. The tongue is more like a spark which can destroy a forest. “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” (James 3:5-6)

E. The problem of the human condition is nowhere more obvious than in language. “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” (James 3:8-9)

F. The answer to the human condition is always to turn to God for help. “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

Audio:

2007-10-07 PM The Gates of Heaven - Romans 10.mp3

The Gates of Heaven

Romans 10:5-21
Dr. Edwin P. Elliott

I. Scripture Explains Access to Heaven

A. If one were to keep the law with no variation, one would go to heaven; God likes perfection. “For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.” (Romans 10:5)

B. Scripture confirms what experience teaches; no one keeps God’s law. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10) “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

C. Righteousness based on faith excludes all the schemes and methods to get around the facts. “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)” (Romans 10:6-7)

D. God states the only reliable way to approach Him. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:8-9)

E. Trust and profession lead to the open door. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10)

F. Salvation by grace puts the emphasis on God rather than the person. “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13)

II. Christians Must Become Doorkeepers

A. David explained the joy of being a doorkeeper for God. “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)

B. No one will believe without hearing the message; believers get the message from God’s appointed evangelistic method. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

C. The church is a mission agency by definition; the spread of the gospel is beautiful but it does not take place by accident or by spontaneous generation. “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15)

D. The message is essential, but it is not the effective force in the spread of the gospel. “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” (Romans 10:16)

E. The word of God arrives through human agents, but it is the Word of God Who accomplishes the redemption. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

F. The redemption process is in the world but it is supernatural; worldly wisdom could never on its own lead to redemption by grace. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18-24)

III. Grace, Not Witnessing, Is the Explanation

A. No one is excusable; all reality points to God. “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” (Romans 10:18)

B. When people refuse what God provides, He gives His gifts to others; salvation is by grace rather than by institution. “But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.” (Romans 10:19)

C. Isaiah predicted the shift from Israel to the nations. “But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.” (Romans 10:20)

D. God never stopped being concerned with Israel. “But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.” (Romans 10:21)