David Wilkerson - The Gospel of Jesus Christ | Full Sermon http://www.ahavajerusalem.com "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.... For if by one man's offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1-2, 17). Do you remember what your life was like before you surrendered to Christ? You were an enemy of God living in blindness, a lost soul without hope. You were ungodly, guilty - and the wrath of God was "abiding on you" (see John 3:36). How did you find forgiveness and acceptance before God? How did you enter into the blessed assurance you were saved, rejoicing in the love of Jesus Christ? Was it because God saw something good in you? Did you possess some inherent righteousness that attracted Him to you? Did you earn His favor with obedience and kindness? No - absolutely not! No one is ever saved by his own works or merit. Scripture says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). All our sins are blotted out and we are reconciled to God by faith in the shed blood of Jesus. It is by grace alone we are saved - and not by anything we have done. The theological definition of grace is "the unearned pardon, mercy and favor of God," Scripture says: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness [which is justification], and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Please don't be put off by all the terms in this verse. Simply put, the goal of the gospel is redemption - and God's grace includes everything He has done for us through Christ to redeem us from the power the devil and bring us into the kingdom of his glorious light! Justification is the cornerstone of grace. To be justified by God means to be "acquitted" - forgiven of all sin and guilt - and to be considered holy and righteous before Him. No one is justified - that is, he cannot become holy or righteous - by his own works, obedience or faithfulness. Rather, these things are all the result of a justifying faith in the power of Christ's blood to make us acceptable in God's sight: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). "Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16). Here is the foundation of all faith, which every believer must fully under stand. Your entire walk with God depends on it: You can't have peace with God if you do not know how you are made right before Him. You must be fully convinced you are clear hefore God, not by your own diligence or works, but by believing and trusting in the victory of the Cross of Jesus! The apostle Paul did not want to be found standing before Christ in his own righteousness. Here was a good man - a Pharisee who had diligently kept all the numerous rules and regulations of the law. He paid tithes faithfully. He loved God with all his heart. He attended all the functions of the synagogue. He studied the Word of God endlessly. He loved his fellow man and went about doing good. According to the law, Paul was a perfect man. But all that became as rubbish to Paul - he counted it all as loss - when he came into the revelation of the righteousness of Christ! "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.... And do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:7-9). About: David Wilkerson was the Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He was called to New York in 1958 to minister to gang members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade. In 1987, David Wilkerson returned to "the crossroads of the world" to establish Times Square Church. As a pastor of the church, he faithfully led this congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encourage righteous living and complete reliance on God. David Wilkerson had a strong burden to encourage and strengthen pastors throughout the world. From 1999 to 2008, he traveled around the globe holding conferences for Christian ministers. Posted with written permission of Time Square Church http://www.tscnyc.org/media_center.php?pg=sermons Copyright © 2016 Times Square Church, 1657 Broadway, New York, NY, 10019, USA. T: (212) 541-6300 F: (212) 541-6415
