Christ's Gospel to local churches today (Quality: Very good)

[0:00] Amen. Lord may help me, I'll just direct your thoughts to that first epistle of Peter in chapter 3.

[0:23] Now just read by whatever text, verse 18. For Christ also at once suffered the sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

[0:40] My main thoughts as help to bring before you this evening is indeed based as it were and grounded in what is contained and set forth in this verse that I've just read to you by whatever text.

[1:01] And wherein our Lord Jesus Christ is evidently set before us. And the blessed testimony that is given of that which he hath done for us.

[1:17] And how great is the wonder of his love and grace as revealed unto us in the truth of the gospel. And made known unto us through that gracious ministry of the Spirit.

[1:30] And how we do need continually that leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit. More and more to be found and grounded in and upon the glorious reality of the sovereign grace and mercy of our God.

[1:50] Revealed in all the wonder of his pardoning love and mercy unto us in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Revealed in all the wonder of his pardoning love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:29] And the wonder of his pardoning love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[2:59] To the church. To the people of God. And the important application and implication that is found in that. As it concerns the people of God.

[3:12] Within the church. And what I mean particularly. Is not only the church. We consider it collectively. With regard to the remnant of the Lord's people.

[3:24] As found here upon earth. But also with regard to the particular individual congregations.

[3:35] Of the living family of God. Thus within the local situation. As it is with us here. And in these epistles.

[3:46] As here in what Peter wrote. Yes we know in the opening of this epistle's address. To those whom he describes. As strangers.

[3:57] That were scattered abroad. Throughout those various provinces. Of the Roman Empire. At this time. But it is to brethren in the Lord.

[4:08] And brethren. That were obviously brought. Whatever brought into. That particular relationship. As one with another. Within the local church.

[4:20] Of Jesus Christ. And as I say. We have. And particularly then. In these epistles. We have that. Which opens up to us.

[4:33] What is ever. And most surely. The ground and foundation. Upon which all the blessings. Of salvation are founded. For the people of God.

[4:46] Summed up as it is. In the one. Paul wrote. The epistle to the Corinthians. When he. When he emphasized. That he was determined. And had always been.

[4:57] Determined. To know nothing among them. Save Jesus Christ. And him crucified. One thing. Was very evident. In Paul's ministry.

[5:09] Now vitally important it is. Concerns. Those. That are called. To the work. Of the ministry. As we were reminded. On Sunday evening.

[5:21] From those words. That Jeremy preached. Of John the Baptist. He must increase. I must decrease. And as Paul said. We preach.

[5:32] Not ourselves. But Christ Jesus the Lord. And ourselves. Your servants. For Jesus sake. Paul had no concern.

[5:43] To advertise himself. As a minister. Of Jesus Christ. He was. And indeed. When he. Exhorts. And encourages. The brethren.

[5:54] To be followers of him. It was. It was. Only. As he. Followed. Jesus Christ. And how vitally. Important. That is.

[6:05] But what I was just wanting then. To bring out. Is yes. We have. In these epistles. Was addressed. Essentially. To the people of God. And that.

[6:16] Believe in the local. Situation. Blessedly. Set him forth. But the ground. And foundation. Upon which all the blessings. Of salvation.

[6:27] Are founded. For us. As sinners. Sinners. Whom the Lord. Calls. By his grace. Sinners. Whom he hath loved.

[6:37] And chosen. And given. That covenant. Ordered in all things. And sure. To our Lord. Jesus Christ. Who has. Redeemed us. And from all iniquity.

[6:49] As we are reminded. In this. Eighteenth verse. About. And the. The. And the instruction. And the exhortation. That is.

[7:00] Set before us as well. And that. Is. That. Is. That is. That these. Glorious realities. Of the sovereign. Grace of God.

[7:12] Of the wonder. His love. And mercy. Unto us. As found. And found. In and through. The Lord. Jesus Christ. And that.

[7:22] To the praise. Of the glory. Of his great. And holy name. Of those things. That. May we. Know more. And more. But. Truly.

[7:32] To be grounded. And established. In the faith. This faith. That has once. Been delivered. Unto the saints. And arising.

[7:43] From this. And the believing. Realization. Of these things. And the gracious. Ministry. Of the Holy Spirit. Has surely. Important.

[7:54] Implications. For those. That profess. As surely. Is. Within. The local church. And brethren. In the Lord.

[8:04] That profess. To know. And love. The Lord. Jesus Christ. In sincerity. And in truth. That there are. Important. In instructions.

[8:15] And. And. Encouragement. Given us. With regard. To our relationships. Within the church. One with another. Indeed.

[8:25] As we are reminded. In this chapter. That I have brought. Before you. This evening. There is that. Which has its application. Unto us. As brethren.

[8:36] In the Lord. With regard. To our domestic. Relationships. As husbands. As wives. As Paul reminds us. In other places. As fathers.

[8:46] And mothers. And as children. Likewise. Indeed. With regard. To masters. And servants. Also. And these. Instructions. Given us.

[8:57] In the word. Are vitally important. To concerns. Both the spiritual. Welfare. Of the church. Over grace. Indeed.

[9:08] To give. Ever give ear. And heed unto them. In the light. Even of what we have read. This evening. Cannot. And surely. We have to say.

[9:19] Indeed. If we know anything. Of our own hearts. We have to surely confess. Oh. How far. Short we come. Oh.

[9:30] How we need. The Lord. To grant us. Indeed. Of his grace. That we might. Know what it is. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To live. To Jesus Christ.

[9:41] And as followers. Of him. As indeed. Dear children. But not only. In the social aspect. Within the family. As is referred to.

[9:51] In the opening verses. But also. In our personal dealings. One with another. How important. Is what. We have read here. When Peter says.

[10:03] Finally. Be ye all. Of one mind. Having compassion. One of another. Love as brethren. Be pitiful. Be courteous.

[10:14] Not rendering evil. For evil. Or railing. For railing. But compromise blessing. Knowing that ye are there unto call. That ye should inherit a blessing.

[10:26] And I say. Brethren. Remember. That these are not written. To the world. They are not written. Mainly. Either. Regarding to our dealings.

[10:36] Within the world. Though the very spirit. Is emphasised here. As should surely. Be reflected. Even in our. Relationships.

[10:47] With. With. With. With. With those. Without the church. But essentially. Within the church. And see how. Needful these things are. As I say.

[10:58] Surely. If we know anything. Of our own heart. And are conscious. Of what. Surely. Is found. In and with each one of us. Of that very.

[11:08] Working. Of our own. Fallen nature. Oh. How we need. To cry. Lord. Increase our faith. Lord. Grant me.

[11:18] To drink. More deeply. Into that one spirit. Of our Lord. And our saviour. Jesus Christ. As. As. And. We see. What a blessing.

[11:29] Is promised here. When he says. He that will love life. And see good days. Let him refrain. His tongue from evil. And his lips. For speak no guile.

[11:40] Let him. Miss do evil. And do good. Seek peace. And ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord. Are over the righteous. His ears. Are open unto their prayers.

[11:52] But the face of the Lord. Is against them. That do evil. What I just want here. At this juncture. Is to emphasise this. See what the apostle.

[12:04] Brings before us here. In its application. And implication. For the people of God. Is indeed. Founded upon. As he directs us.

[12:15] To the person. And to the example. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. We read in our text. For Christ also. Hath once.

[12:26] Suffered the sins. The just for the unjust. That he might. Bring us to God. Oh. That we may. Not be left. To lose sight. That of what.

[12:37] The Lord. Has done. For us. Now deeply. Indebted. We are. Unto him. As well. Continuing. Realisation. Of our whole.

[12:49] And utter. Dependence. Upon him. But. This also. Is connected. With what. Further. The apostle. Brings before us. And it has.

[13:00] Still. As I emphasise. Its application. And implication. For the people. Of God. And that. Within. The local. Local. Companies.

[13:10] Of the Lord's people. He says. He says. But. And if. Ye suffer. For righteousness. Say. Happy are ye. And be not afraid.

[13:21] Of their terror. Neither be troubled. Now we know. Evidently. That with many. In that. The early church. With the companies. Of the Lord's people.

[13:32] Those to whom. Peter addresses. Particularly. In this epistle. As I met. Referred to. Earlier. He describes them. As strange. As they were scattered abroad.

[13:43] The way and path. That they were called. To walk. Was certainly. Not obviously. Without difficulties. But also. Wherein they face. A very real.

[13:55] Opposition. And no doubt. In many respects. As well. Over. Persecution. But. The point. I just want. Here. To bring out.

[14:06] From it. Is this. See what is. To be. The. But not only. The action. The reaction. But the action. Of the people. Of God. Even the most.

[14:17] Trying. And difficult. Situations. And circumstances. That. That they. May face. As he says. He. He says. He is.

[14:28] And that is. A still. Through the Lord's. Enabling grace. To. To be. To be found. Yes. Following the Lord.

[14:39] Pressing on. Still. In that way. A path. That he has appointed us. Looking on to Jesus. The author. And the finisher.

[14:50] Of our faith. And that also. To stay. In seeking. That grace. To sit. To reflect. In all our. In all.

[15:00] Our actions. Both within the church. Within the. Within. Within the world. And with. Even in the face. Of difficulties. And distress. And things.

[15:10] That may well. Trouble. And distress us. Still. To seek. That grace. To reflect. And evidence. That we have been. With Jesus. And learned.

[15:21] Of him. Remember. The words. Of our Lord. Jesus. In this regard. He says. Take my yoke. Upon you. And learn. Of me.

[15:32] For I am meek. And lowly. In heart. And you shall find. Rest. For your souls. For my yoke. Is easy. And my burden. Is light. But also.

[15:45] He says. But sanctify. The Lord. God. In your house. And be ready. Always. To give an answer. To every man. That asketh you. A reason.

[15:56] For the hope. That is in you. With meekness. And godly fear. Having. A good conscience. That whereas. They speak. Even of you. As of evil doers.

[16:08] They may be ashamed. That falsely accuse. Your good conversation. In Christ. That. And then. We see here.

[16:19] The importance. Of this. And when I. And we just bring it out. In this way. And that. Not to be. To be unduly moved. By what others.

[16:30] May say. Or not say. Whether they approve. Or disapprove. Surely. If we are. True followers. Of Jesus Christ. We shall in some way.

[16:42] Or measure. Be met. Meet with. And face. That. That of which. The apostle says. That they. That will live godly. In Christ Jesus.

[16:53] Shall suffer persecution. And that does not. Necessarily rise. From outward. Overt. Persecution. It comes. In many. And varied ways.

[17:04] And which is often. Very trying. And distressing. To the people of God. Yet. He says. But sanctify. The Lord God. In your hearts.

[17:16] Let him. As the prophet. Isaiah wrote. In the refined. In chapter 8. The prophecy. Of Isaiah. Let. Let him.

[17:27] Be your fear. And let him. Be your dread. That is. Remembering. That. We are. Accountable. Not unto men.

[17:38] But unto. Unto our God. And Savior. And surely. The concern. The people of God. Should be. To live unto him. But die for them.

[17:50] And risen again. But. I just want also. To come on. To what is particularly. Found in these words of our text. And what follows. For it is better.

[18:02] The will of God be so. That he suffer for well doing. Than for evil doing. And friends. Is not that a very. Trying thing.

[18:13] Even in the very. About. To suffer. For well doing. Ah. Is it. That we suffer well doing. Than for evil doing. Ah. And just.

[18:25] And that says. To suffer. When. The way. As it says. Peter says here. We do well. Remember. How he brings it out. Particularly. In chapter two.

[18:35] But I will not pursue that thought. The moment. For Christ. Also. As suffered. For sins. The just. For the unjust. That he might. Bring us to God.

[18:47] Being put to death. In the flesh. But quickened. By the spirit. Yes. As I say in my. Earlier remarks. See it all. Founded upon.

[18:58] What. All the. Apostle writes. He is. Founded upon. And rooted in. The Lord. Jesus Christ. Who he is.

[19:09] And what. He hath done. For us. And how much. Surely. We owe to him. And how. Dependent. How dependent. We are. Upon him.

[19:20] Likewise. He says. Who suffer. For sins. For the. The just. For the unjust. Oh. Remember. That in him.

[19:31] Was. No sin. And yet. He was. Made sin. For us. That we might. Be made. The righteousness. Of. God in him.

[19:43] Paul brings it. Before us. His epistle. To the Hebrews. In this way. Because that. Gain. Of chapter 12. Of the. Of his. Epistle. To the Hebrews.

[19:53] And those. Open. In verses. He says. Looking unto Jesus. The author. And finisher. Of our faith. For the joy.

[20:04] Was set before him. Endured the cross. Despising the shame. Is set down. At the right hand. Of the throne of God. For consider him.

[20:16] Who. Endured. That. Endured. Such contradiction. Of sinners. Against himself. Lest ye be. Wearing. And faint. In your minds. If you have not yet.

[20:27] Resisted unto blood. Striving. Against sin. You have forgotten. The exhortation. Which speaketh unto you. As unto children. My son. Despise not thou.

[20:39] The chastening. Of the Lord. Nor faint. When thou art. Rebuked of him. Just to follow up. With a few comments. Upon what is found.

[20:51] In the verses. From. From. That's from 18. To verse 22. Which he says. Who being put to death. In the flesh. But quickened.

[21:02] By the spirit. By which also he went. And preached. Unto the spirits. In prison. Which sometime. Were disobedient. When once. Along suffering.

[21:13] Of God. Waited in the days. Of Noah. While the ark. Was a preparing. Wherein few. That is eight souls. Were saved. By water.

[21:24] Now I know. That is not necessarily. An easy. And not really easy. To give a faithful. Interpretation.

[21:35] Of what is brought before us. In these verses. And indeed many. Have been the speculations. Upon what is meant. By what is here.

[21:46] And I will not go into. This evening. The various. Things that have been said. And suggested. With regard to it. But I believe. If we look at it. And consider it rightly.

[21:57] Comparing. Comparing. Spiritual things. With spiritual. We shall find. That there is a most. Blessing. Not only truth. But gracious instruction.

[22:07] Here given. Concern. The people of God. As it was then. In Peter's day. And with us also. He says. Being. Of our Lord.

[22:17] Jesus Christ. Being put to death. In the flesh. But quickened. By the spirit. By which also. He went. And preached. Unto the spirits.

[22:28] In prison. And the emphasis. Here. Upon. Upon. The very. We might put in this way. The very spirit. Of our Lord.

[22:38] Jesus Christ. Indeed. The Holy Spirit. Who went. Who went. And preached. Unto the spirits. In prison. There is evidently. Reference here. To the days.

[22:49] Of Noah. And. And. As he says. Which also. Was sometimes. Disobedient. When once. A long. Suffering of God. Waited.

[23:00] In the days. Of Noah. Now. Remember. What the Lord. Solemnly declares. In the sixth chapter. Of the book. Of Genesis. Regarding. The wickedness.

[23:12] Of the earth. And wherein. He solemnly. Declared. He would destroy. All. Or. Destroy. All. Mankind. For their.

[23:22] For their wickedness. Was great. But the long. Suffering of God. Waited. In those days. Of Noah. And 120 years.

[23:33] While the ark. Was a preparing. And we are told. That amidst. That wicked. And ungodly. Generation. Noah. Found grace.

[23:44] In the eyes. Of the Lord. The very. Significant point. That is. Noah. Found grace. He didn't deserve it. But he was a sinner.

[23:56] As all men are. But. And. And. No. Sinner. Ever. Deserves. Or can ever claim. To deserve. Or be deserving. As far as.

[24:07] The. Dealings. With God. And the holy God. Is concerned. Noah. Found grace. In the eyes. Of the Lord. We are told.

[24:18] Also. He was. A preacher. Of righteousness. And as a preacher. Of righteousness. Surely. As it. But it was not.

[24:28] The gospel. Preached there. By Noah. And indeed. As a spirit. Of God. Was with him. That he indeed. In the very real sense.

[24:39] It could be said. That he is a preacher. Of righteousness. He did preach. And bear witness. Unto. Yes. The holiness. The righteousness.

[24:51] The justice. Of God. The short. Solemn. The solemn. Reality. That the wrath. Of God. Was revealed. From heaven. Against all.

[25:01] Unrighteousness. And ungodliness. Of man. Who is a preacher. Of righteousness. And his obedience. To the Lord. As he built. That ark.

[25:12] Ah. Did not. Those things. Speak. And shadow. For. That which. Of God's. Wondrous provision. Which Noah. Himself. The blessed.

[25:23] Recipient. Of. Of that salvation. Not only. Of deliverance. From that awful. Of a deluge. That deluge.

[25:33] Which destroyed. Destroyed. All. That are upon. The earth. Save those. That were in the ark. About. But surely. Shadowed forth.

[25:44] God's. Wondrous provision. The promise. That was given. Concerning him. That wants to come. But it's. Instructive. To notice this.

[25:55] That Noah. As a preacher. Of righteousness. Hundred and twenty years. The long suffering. Of God. Waited. In those days. The ark. Was a preparing.

[26:07] Ah. Though Noah. Unquestionably. Was faithful. Both in. The building. Of the ark. And all that was. Required. With respect. To it. As directed.

[26:17] Of God. The preacher. Of righteousness. Was his word. Heard. Was it heeded. By wicked. An ungodly. Generation. We were not.

[26:29] Unduly. Speculating. Upon this. But this. We know. We're told here. But eight souls. Were saved. In that ark. What.

[26:40] What. When you say. Well. What does this. What does this. What does this. You know. To say. To the church. And people of God. And that.

[26:50] I believe. Very much. Regard to. The very witness. Of the bread. Of the Lord's people. And that. Within. The local church. Of Jesus Christ.

[27:03] And that. And that. That is. The vital importance. Of this. That as. That a company. Of the Lord's people. We are found. Faithful. To that.

[27:13] The word. Of the truth. Of the gospel. And be not. Moved away. From the hope. Of the gospel. And again. That in the very. The witness.

[27:25] Within the lives. Of the. The brethren. Of the Lord. Within the local church. The sick. Within the situation. And society. In which they live. Uh.

[27:36] That. And friends. As it was. In the days. Of Noah. And our Lord. Jesus Christ. Tells us. They. That it was. In the days. Of Noah.

[27:46] So shall it. Also be. In the days. Of the son of man. The point. I just want. Here. To emphasize. Is this. There. In those days.

[27:57] Of Noah. There. For 120 years. A preacher. Of righteousness. What fruit. Did he see. Looked out. Humanly. Speaking. From his labors.

[28:08] Uh. Yet he was. Faithful. In his generation. Likewise. Friends. It concerns. The church. Of Jesus Christ. Still. Uh.

[28:19] Our. Our. The vital importance. For us. Is to be found. Faithful. To that. Word. Of the truth. Of the gospel. As I said.

[28:29] Not to be moved away. From the hope. Of the gospel. But still. To preach. And teach. Jesus Christ. But. We must never.

[28:39] Lose sight. That. That. That. The preaching. And teaching. Of Jesus Christ. The vital importance. Of it. And being. Faithful. To that. Yet.

[28:51] Friends. The application. Is a work. Of God alone. I cannot. Convert. One sinner. I never have. I never expect.

[29:01] To convert. One sinner. Uh. But. But. But I know this. That the Lord. The Holy Spirit. Can. And does.

[29:12] And still. Is that. Ministry. Of the Holy Spirit. Such a vital. And essential thing. And this. We know. Also. That.

[29:23] The Lord. Knows. Where his. Elect are. And not. One of them. Friends. That shall perish. Uh. For the Lord. Is it. The Lord.

[29:33] As he knows. Where they are. And. It is. The very. Prerogative. Of the Lord. The Holy Spirit. The Lord. Let them. To seek. And to.

[29:44] But to seek out. And in that true sense. To save. That which is lost. But working. Working. That true. Conviction. In the heart.

[29:56] Imparting. Spiritual life. And bringing them. Yes. The way. And means. Is all. According. To the sovereign. Working. Of our God. The ministry.

[30:07] Of the Holy Spirit. But this. I am sure. And still. In the day. And generation. In which we live. That though. As we look round. At the companies.

[30:18] Of the Lord's people. They may. Indeed appear. To be very few. But a remnant. In the earth. Yet friends. This is the work. Of God.

[30:28] In our day. And generation. And our. With a vital. Importance. Of this. Having that. Confidence. In our God. And Saviour.

[30:40] And in the. Gracious. Ministry. Of the Lord. The Holy Spirit. And to be found. And kept. Thus. As Noah was. A preacher.

[30:50] Of righteousness. Looking. Only. And holy. To the Lord. Going forward. In the work. To which. God. Had appointed him. Leaving.

[31:01] The whole. Issue. Of those things. In the hand. Of the Lord. Knowing. Knowing. That the Lord. Would indeed. Fulfill. That which is. Appointed.

[31:12] And promised. To the praise. Of the glory. Of his great. And holy name. We're told. Wherein. Few. That his eight souls. Were saved. As it were.

[31:23] By water. The light figure. Where unto. Baptism. Doth also. Now save us. Not the putting. Away. Of the filth. Of the flesh. But the answer.

[31:33] Of a good conscience. Toward God. By the resurrection. Of Jesus Christ. From the dead. What is essentially. Brought before us.

[31:45] In that statement. Here. Where. That light figure. Where into. Baptism. Doth also. Now save us. Not the putting. Away. Of the filth.

[31:55] Of the flesh. The answer. Of a good conscience. Toward God. What is the essential. What is essentially. Set forth. In.

[32:07] In. In. In. In. In. In. In. The true. Scriptural baptism. It is. Friends. That. It. Therein is. Set forth. That.

[32:17] That. That. Set forth. That. The sufferings. Death. And. Resurrection. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. That true. Sense. Is. Where in. Baptism.

[32:28] Doth even. Now save us. As we have brought. The gracious. Ministry of the Holy Spirit. To trust. Alone. In. Jesus Christ. Our whole hope.

[32:40] And expectation. Founded. In. And upon. His life. Sufferings. Death. And. Resurrection. What he has done.

[32:50] For us. And that. To the praise. Of the glory. Of God. We are reminded. Here. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. By the resurrection.

[33:01] Of Jesus Christ. Of the vital. Importance. Of this. The resurrection. Of Jesus Christ. Pray. It is that. Which is central.

[33:11] To the whole. Of the revelation. Given us. The glorious. Truth. Of the gospel. For that resurrection. Of Jesus Christ. Not only.

[33:22] With the assurance. Of the resurrection. Of the last. A great day. But the very witness. And testimony. To us. That. That. That. That.

[33:32] That. That. That. That. That. That. That. That. That. That. Which our Lord. Jesus. Wrought out. Who suffered. For sins. The just. For the unjust. That he might. Bring us to God. That that.

[33:43] Is fully. Acceptable. That we. God. Is that. Which is. Well pleased. That for which. Every blessing. Of his grace. And mercy.

[33:53] Does flow. Unto us. and that continually as needy sinners as we are again who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him again as I say we have here the blessed testimony to our Lord Jesus Christ he lives, he reigns is the great and glorious head of the church he holds all nature in his hand that gracious hand on which we live does life and time and death command as immortal joys to give leave the remarks there