The Provision, Proclamation, Privilege, and Purpose of the Good News B

Why have we received the provision of the gospel. Why have we experienced the proclamation responsibility. Why has God given us the privileges for his.

This simply means that everything focuses on the they managed to chase down all the bills and then they turned it over to a local sheriff's office because of their integrity. The money was given back to its rightful owner that true story is the kind of positive news that seems to get buried every day by bad news, but there is good news is better news than honest men returning lost money. It's eternally good news that outweighs every bad thing that ever happened. I'm talking of course about the gospel of Christ, and that is John MacArthur's focus today on grace to you. Here's John with a study called, and now for the good news. Now these seven verses contain the seed of truth that blooms fully and the remaining 16 chapters we have noted for you that there are at least seven elements to this introduction seven features regarding the good news there is the preacher of the good news. The promise of the good news. The person of the good news. The provision of the good news. The proclamation of the good news the privileges of the good news and the purpose of the good news.

Let me remind you briefly of the first three. First of all, the preacher of the good news is introduced to us in verse one, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ are called apostle, separated under the gospel of God, and there we have met the preacher of the good news and it points us to a very important reality and that is this that God has chosen human vessels to be the instruments of the transporting of the good news. Paul a man like us, a servant of Jesus Christ, called apostle, separated under the gospel of God, pointing to the fact that God has chosen to use human agency God has designed to use men and women to proclaim the good news. In fact, it tells us in first Corinthians that God has chosen by the foolishness of preaching to proclaim his message and even use weekend ignoble and foolish preachers to do it. Secondly, we look at the promise of the good news. Verse two which he had promised before by his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The good news of the gospel had already been promised in the Old Testament so the good news is going to come through human preacher and the good news is going to be based upon the promises of God in the Old Testament. And thirdly, we saw not only the preacher and the person rather the preacher and the promise, but the preacher and the promise and the person what and to whom is the heart and object of the good news. Verse three. It concerns his son Jesus Christ our Lord was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead person of the good news is Christ. Now let's come number four to the provision of the good news. The provision if you love the sun. What happens if you receive the good news. What happens to things first pop out of the treasure trove but God is provided.

Verse five says, by whom we have received grace and apostleship, you can stop there. What is it that the good news gives us what is it that the good news bestows upon us. What is the treasure that we inherit when we love the sun first grace. Second, apostleship first watch this conversion second vocation first to be called second to be sent.

So we see the good news. The preacher promise the person, the provision and then we come to the proclamation now that were going to serve going to be sent with a message.

What is it we proclaim verse five again we proclaim obedience to the faith among all nations, and then he says in verse six among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ.

In other words just like you been called the Christ. We're going to go out and call others to Christ.

This really extends the last thought the good news about Jesus Christ which is brought us grace and service leads us to go out and proclaim it and to call for the nations of the earth to be obedient to the faith. That's a great statement, folks. I wish we had time to go over the whole thought of obedience to the faith got a right put a circle around that phrase in your Bible obedience to the faith. The tremendous statement, a statement just literally jammed with meaning and it appears again at the end of Romans. In chapter 16 verse 26 the next to the last verse to make known to all nations. The obedience of faith, the obedience of faith. Listen, if there's one thing about faith is that faith is what obedient you show me someone who says he believes and lives a life of disobedience and I'll show you someone who is not redeemed for faith if it does not manifest works of obedience is dead. We are not saved by works.

We are saved on to good works, and the message of Christianity is a call for people to be obedient to the faith. When you come to Christ, you affirm the faith and by the way, that is a very definite statement, the faith, and Jude uses it. The faith once for all delivered to the saints.

It means the content of the gospel.

The content of the message it means teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. That's how you go about preaching is obedience that we preach obedience to the faith. The duly constituted faith. We are preaching a message of obedience and sadly that is in the message that people are hearing today, we must call people to faith, but faith that obeys is the only genuine faith. People say they believe and live a life of disobedience. They lie on the truth is not in them. People really believe will obey.

So the design of our apostleship.

The design of Paul's apostleship was to bring all nations to obedience to the faith and the faith is more than just believing in Jesus. It's not faith, it's all that our faith embodies the faith once for all delivered to the safe.

If you want to know what the faith really is. It is the full content of the word of God revealed we call people to obey not listen to me. It is not faith plus obedience equals salvation know it is an obedient faith equals salvation through faith is verified and obedience. That's why the Bible constantly says that Jesus is Lord that Jesus is Lord that Jesus is Lord, because that demand submissive obedience is no faith without obedience. There has to be obedience for faith to be genuine. Look at for a moment. A good illustration right in Romans chapter 1 verse eight verse eight. I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world also. How was it that their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world. Chapter 16 verse 19. Here's a 1694. Your obedience is, brought onto old man in the beginning it is your faith that is spread abroad. In the end, it is your obedience that is spread abroad why because one must exist with the other.

It is not faith unless it obeys salvation is submission.

Salvation is affirmation of the Lordship of Christ. Now you want to have a theology that makes a Christian out of somebody who lives a life of absolute disobedience. There is no recognition of the Lordship of Christ. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth, Romans 10, nine and 10 Jesus as Lord and that means obedience to his Lordship that shall be saved. That is the true stuff of which salvation is produced when all the house of Israel know says Peter that God has made that same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. And Jesus said to the Pharisees in effect in Matthew five I don't care what you believe, by the way you live view denies salvation. Faith without obedience is a faith that won't save anybody. It is piling on the broad road that leads to destruction. That's what it is.

It's building a nice big religious superstructure on sand faith without obedience is no saving faith.

It's the kind of thing that deludes and deceives, but doesn't save it was all I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Bible. I remember when I walked the aisle.

I remember so forth and so forth that doesn't save unless there's a life of obedience.

Listen to Hebrews 1214 follow peace with all men. I was minutes and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. No holiness, no heaven, so the proclamation is to bring all men to the obedience of faith to the obedience of faith and beloved.

This is something he says in verse six that we should belong to do because it's something we've received, among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. In other words, you been called to this.

Now you go call the other nations to this same thing to great statement in verse six. You also are the called of Jesus Christ we have been drawn to Christ.

We've come out of that life of disobedience into a life of obedience out of unbelief into faith and he says because that's happened to us and where part of those called to Christ not to carry the message to call others. We are sent for obedience to the faith among all nations, because that is what is happened to us. We are of the cold food been drawn to Christ.

So we see the preacher. The good news. The promise of the good news. The person of the good news. The provision of the good news. Grace and apostleship. The proclamation of the good news and it is a proclamation of obedience.

Beloved, don't ever leave that part out.

I give you two enclosing the privileges of the good news the privileges look at them in verse seven to all that be in Rome and you can sure extended beyond that to all believers. He gives them three marvelous truths about their privileges. First, they are beloved of God.

Second, they are called in your put a comma after that. And if you have some words in italics.

That means you aren't there in the original there's three things here, beloved of God, called and saints, beloved of God, called in safe those of the privileges of the good news. What is it mean to be beloved of God just means we're loved and that is all over the Scripture, God has loved us. He has put his love upon us in Ephesians chapter 2 I just love that verse, verse five verse four other God it was rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sin is made us alive together with Christ. He loved us.

He loved us, even when we were dead in sin. In first John three wanted says behold what manner of love and the word what manner of very interesting Greek word Plata pain. It has to do with something that's foreign something that's otherworldly something that belongs in outer space me what kind of a strange inhuman thing is this the love in Ephesians 16 it says it through Christ we have been made accepted in the beloved one God can love us because he loves us in his son. Romans five says the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. Romans eight says nothing will ever separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing so the privilege of the good news is that we are loved by God and when God loves God pours out blessing.

Secondly, we are called were called and that is the effectual call that is referring to the actual call to salvation. We are saved because of the sovereign act of God, this is it referring to some general external call, not just the proclamation as in Isaiah 45 BU saved all the ends of the earth or Isaiah 55 seek the Lord while he may be found. This isn't just a general call like Ezekiel 33 when he cried turn. He turned you are Matthew 11, where Jesus said, come on to me, all ye that labor or John seven.

If any man thirst, let them come in to me and drink, or Revelation 22 in the Spirit and the bride say, come for Romans 10. Faith comes by hearing a speech about Christ isn't just that general calling out of the gospel. This is an indication of that very effectual purposeful call to redemption that comes by the sovereign will of God. We are the cold it's another word. If you will, for the elect for the elect.

We are the chosen Bible says chosen in him before the foundation of the world. Tremendous truth we are the called called by God. The elect, you can study this through the New Testament, there are over and over again. Statements made to the effect that anyone who is a believer is one who was sovereignly called and predestinated by God me. I had this quickly.

It is never ever calling alone, but there is always with that call.

The act of faith in Christ that goes with but nonetheless where call from our viewpoint, we come to Christ as an act of our will. But from God's viewpoint was determined before the world began, and he called us to himself. Marvelous truths so we are the beloved and we are the called and grabbed that third one we are saints.

We are saints. You say you don't know me very well all but I know you well enough to know that if you're Christian, you're saying you know what it means a holy one hog yes a holy one. By virtue of being beloved of God by virtue of being called. You are a saint you been made holy.

What is it meets to set apart to set apart from the world under God in the Old Testament, they had many things were set apart. They said that the holy place was set apart the holy of holies was set apart the ties was set apart.

The priest were set apart in Exodus 19, six is the whole nation of Israel was set apart.

In other words, all those things were holy, the holy place the holy of holies the tie, the priest, the nation were all holy on the Lord. In other words, they were set apart under God in the New Testament we don't have anymore. The holy of holies doesn't exist. The veil was rent the holy places no more the temples been destroyed. The tide isn't anymore because were not under a theocracy. The priest turned around anymore the nation of Israel is been temporarily set aside what is left is holy. I'll tell you what it is. It is the new temple of God, which is his church and we are holy we are set apart under God, set apart from sin unto God we're live like that. But think of the privileges to be beloved of God, to be called from before the world began to be his child and to be set apart from sin unto himself, separated to him all my fitting that to such a people as the benediction.

In verse seven, grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. You know something. The only people who could ever receive such a benediction would be those who were beloved of God, called of God, and made holy by God where the only ones who can receive his grace, and the only ones who can experience his peace, grace, and then peace now listen as we close. Finally after all the other points we've seen.

I want to give you the purpose for the good news. The last point we've gone through all of except this the purpose and it's at the end of verse five.

Why does the preacher preach. Why was the promise made why did the person come.

Why have we received the provision of the gospel. Why have we experienced the proclamation responsibility. Why has God given us the privileges for one reason the end of verse five for his what name.

This simply means that everything focuses on the glory of God. People are to be saved why we say to keep them out of hell that secondary. Also they can experience the love of God that secondary full so they going to have a net secondary closing of God to guide their life that secondary people are to be saved for the glory of God because it is effrontery to his holy nature that someone should live in rebellion against his his glory that is the issue that is a reason for everything in Philippians 2 it says that every knee should bow and confess Jesus as Lord of the glory of God the father. Salvation is for his glory. The gospel is for his glory. Paul says in second Corinthians 415 we preached the gospel that the Thanksgiving of many may redound to the glory of God. The reason we want to bring you to salvation is so you can praise God's glory to God is glorified when you believe his gospel, God is glorified when you love his son. God is glorified when you accept his diagnosis of your sin and your need.

God is glorified when you take him into your life. God is glorified when your plans become his plans and your thoughts become the thoughts that are common to him we live and exist for the glory of God.

Mme. Leon wrote glorious Almighty God without end. When wilt thou melt the mountains in the sand when will thou shalt have broadened the conquering raise and teach these atoms thou hast made thy praise so we come full circle.

The good news comes from God. It is the gospel of God. Verse one, and it is preached by the preacher promised in the Old Testament personified in Jesus Christ, providing grace and service proclaimed by those who receive eternal privileges and it is all for the purpose of glorifying God. I trust that God will be glorified in your life as you respond to his good news and proclaim the buyer has listen to these words by William Blaine. He who wept above the grave.

He who stilled the raging wave meet to suffer strong to save his shall be the glory, he who sorrows pathway trod, he that every good bestowed Son of Man son of God, his shall be the glory, he who bled with scourging sore thorns and scarlet weekly war. He who every sorrow bore his shall be the glory monarch of the smitten cheek scorn of Jew and scorn of Greek priest and king divinely meet his shall be the glory on the rainbow circle thrown amid the myriads of his own nevermore to weep alone. His shall be the glory man of slighted Nazareth king who wore the thorny wreath son obedient unto death, his shall be the glory.

His the grand eternal weight is the priestly regal state him the father maketh great his shall be the glory, he who died to set us free. He who lives and loves even me. He who comes, whom I shall see Jesus only. Only he is shall be the glory.

Father, we know that's the heart of Paul in the message of the book.

Purpose to see it ever so clearly Christ.

This is grace to you with John MacArthur. Thanks for being with us. John teaches every day on radio is also a pastor and Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary the study.

He wrapped up today is titled and now for the good news John. You gave a point that is really worth camping on something you said just a moment ago that the gospel doesn't begin with men and women.

It begins with God's not about me it's not about you it's about God and his glory. That's not a perspective we hear very often today.

No, I think the assumption for most people is that the work of the gospel is something that the sinner initiates when in fact the sinner is incapable of initiating that the gospel begins and ends with God and you go all the way back. It was God who designed the plan of salvation, it was God who sent his son into the world that men might be saved. It was God who put Jesus on the cross. It was God who raised Jesus from the dead. It was God who exalted Jesus to his right hand and and established him as Lord over his church and it is God who seeks and finds the lost sinner and God, who gives him life and light and understanding and it is God who transforms so we want to look always at the gospel as a divine work of God, not a human exercise, not a quote unquote human decision but a divine work. That's what were talking about in this series and now for the good news is what we have called it. It has been based on Romans 11 to 7 were drawing it to a conclusion and you may want to get a copy of this that you can keep and share with a Bible study with your family with friends.

It's available on three CDs you can order them from grace to you. Just ask for the CD series on and now for the good news. Or you can download the series@gty.org and you know how to do that by going to the website take advantage of what we've been teaching by listening to it again and sharing it with others as you order these available forms right and to make sure you understand the power of the gospel and how it can transform your life how we can help you battle soon. I encourage you to get this study. It's an in-depth look at redemption in Christ, titled, and now for the good news pick up your copy today for the three CD album. Call us at 855 grace or visit our website Jide TY.org or if you'd like to just download the series.

It's available for free. The title again and now for the good news. You'll find it@jidety.org and in fact all of John's sermons from 51 years of pulpit ministry are free to download that she TY.org.

Also, if you're interested in another resource for increasing your knowledge of the gospel pick up the MacArthur study Bible has 25,000 footnotes that John is written to help you understand the historical, social, and cultural background of virtually every passage. The study Bible also has introductions to all 66 books, cross-references, charts, maps, it's a great resource for any student of Scripture to order the MacArthur study Bible, call 855 grace or go to Jide TY.org L4 John MacArthur on Phil Johnson reminding you to watch grace to you television this Sunday. Check your local listings were channeling times and then be here next week when John begins a series on how to have joy in any circumstance. It's titled joy. Rules that it comes your way.

Starting Monday, another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on greasing the