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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
LOOK AND FIND THE JOY
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God," JOH 3:17-18.
Jesus teaches the contrast between true believers and the deplorable condition of the unbelieving. JOH 3:17-21 says, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world [The Lord did not send His Son to condemn us by seeing His perfect righteousness and our own monstrous unrighteousness. He sent His Son that we might believe and be saved.]; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [Do you see where condemnation lies? It is upon those who have not believed in the name JESUS CHRIST, in the authority there is in that NAME, and bow to that authority!] And this is the condemnation [of those who believe not] that light is come into the world [and it reveals what is in the heart], and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [That is a clear definition of an unbeliever.] For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [We must examine our heart and attitudes. Do we love sin and darkness? That is the broad road to hell.] But he that doeth truth [Oh, what a beautiful definition of those who `believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God,' But he that doeth truth] cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
Jesus came that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. It is those who have been renewed in the spirit of their minds (EPH 4:22-24) who love the light. The light is not his condemnation because he loves the truth. There has been a washing of regeneration of the heart and mind. Sin is hated now.
Oh, how it humbles all our pride when we learn by looking unto Jesus that God cannot be glorified in anything from the flesh. ISA 26:12 says, "LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us." You and I can lay no claim to our salvation on the basis of what we have done. He has wrought all our works in us. The change of attitude, the work of regeneration, is the work of grace.
Outside of the imparted righteousness of Christ which becomes ours by looking unto Jesus by faith, we find the awful truth about our own righteousness which we read in ISA 64:6-8. "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. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. [That is what we are by nature.] But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
We are dependent upon the working of God's grace; but that doesn't mean we sit back claiming inability while waiting for God's grace to be given. God's revealed will teaches that we are commanded to obey, and our lives must be governed by the revealed will of God, not by His secret will. DEU 29:29 says, "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
Now consider this astounding thought. Man became lost in sin by a look, have you ever thought about that? "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes," GEN 3:6. What did that look do? It changed Eve's attitude toward God which defiled her heart; she coveted and lusted for the forbidden tree. All by taking one look, and so in like manner the lost sinner is saved by a look; by looking unto that blessed Lord Jesus Christ when He is lifted up before the eye by the obedience of faith.
In ISA 45:22 we read, "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Did you ever stop to consider that by looking to Christ, we begin to have a change of attitude; our heart becomes cleansed because sin becomes exceedingly sinful (ROM 7:13) .
There is only one way in which we shall proceed in the footsteps of Christ, and that is to continue looking. One glance or one look before going back to sin is not acceptable. It is by continuously looking to Christ and turning from sin that we will find salvation.HEB 12:1b-2 says, "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith [to see His faith, His walk of life]; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
We must see the joy there is in serving Him; He bowed to serve His Father, and for the joy set before Him He endured the cross. That is how we lay aside every weight and every sin that besets us. It is by looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Amen.
Praise the Saviour now and ever;
Praise Him, all beneath the skies;
Prostrate lying, suffering, dying
On the cross, a sacrifice.
Victory gaining, life obtaining,
Now in glory He doth rise.
Man’s work faileth, Christ’s availeth;
He is all our righteousness;
He, our Saviour, has forever
Set us free from dire distress.
Through His merit we inherit
Light and peace and happiness.
Sin’s bonds severed; we’re delivered;
Christ has bruised the serpent’s head;
Death no longer is the stronger;
Hell itself is captive led.
Christ has risen from death’s prison;
Over the tomb He light has shed.
For His favor, praise forever
Unto God the Father sing;
Praise the Saviour, praise Him ever,
Son of God, our Lord and King.
Praise the Spirit; through Christ’s merit,
He doth us salvation bring.
Author: Venantius H.C. Fortunatus, c. 530-609
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.