Behold: your sin, the Savior, the Sovereign

Let's look to the Lord for his blessing on the meeting tonight, shall we pray. Our Father, we bow again humbly in thy presence in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we thank thee for him. Bless thee for the Savior that left the glories in heaven and came to this world where he was disowned and rejected by men.

We remember that he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Man gave him the cross and, Father, we thank thee it was all in the plan of God. He was willing to go through with all that that meant and bear our sins in his own body upon the tree.

We've been singing about the fact that he could have called twelve legions of angels to come and destroy the world and set him free. But, Father, we thank thee for one that was willing to die in our stead, all the sins of our life to forgive. On the way to the cross, he was willing to tread that a soul so unworthy might live.

We thank thee for each one in the room tonight who have had that moment in life when we've had a look to Calvary and the language of our hearts has been, I seek no other argument. I want no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and rose again for me.

We thank thee, Lord, for a place to rest where we can know our sins forgiven and have that assurance of heaven as our eternal home. We would pray for any with us tonight that do not yet know the Savior, have never trusted their souls to him for eternity. Grant, Lord, that as the Word of God is read and spoken upon tonight, their heart and conscience would be reached, that they might be turned in repentance and come in conviction to the Savior and to rest their all upon him and go on their way rejoicing in the knowledge of sins forgiven through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank thee for a good conference, and we would long, Lord, that others, too, would come into these great blessings that we've been enjoying throughout the weekend, and not only for this weekend, but throughout all eternity to come. We thank thee that we'll feast our souls upon Christ in those ages to come. We look forward to seeing him and being with him, and we pray, Lord, that each one in the room this evening will not miss the great opportunity of salvation, but will come on a run tonight to the Savior and trust them that they might be saved.

Bless, in other places, too, our brethren that have gone elsewhere, Brother Kraus in Dunkerton, our brethren there in Cedar Falls, McCandless in McLeod, and we pray for our brother Larry that has gone over to Heightsville, and wherever the gospel is being proclaimed throughout the state tonight, and all the way to the west of us, as the day rolls on, we pray that thou will grant thy rich blessing and help in the preaching of thy words. So undertake now for us as we leave the meeting before thee, and trust thee for the help that's needed in the worthy name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now, it's been good to be with you in Stout again this weekend, and we've certainly enjoyed the ministry of the Word of God. Let's come to the scriptures now in the gospel as we turn to the book of Numbers, first of all, chapter 32. Numbers chapter 32.

Numbers chapter 32, and we'll read at verse 23. But if you will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

Come over to the New Testament, to the gospel of John, please, chapter 1. John's gospel, chapter 1. John chapter 1, we'll read at verse 29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Back to the gospel of Matthew, please, chapter 25. Matthew 25. Matthew 25, verse 6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.

Go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came.

And they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. The Lord will bless to us the reading from his word. I want you to look tonight at this one word that has linked these scriptures together and others as well in my mind for the meeting this evening.

It's the word behold. And as you all know, it means to look intently, look like you mean it, at what God is pointing out in his word. So we've read from Numbers chapter 32, Behold ye have sinned against the Lord.

Take a look at it, your sin. We've read from John chapter 1 verse 29, the words of John the Baptist, when he pointed him out as he walked, and he said, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Take a look at him, the Savior.

And we've read from Matthew chapter 25, about a great event that could happen tonight. I'm referring to the rapture and applying this parable that the Lord told to that event. Listen to it.

Behold the Bridegroom cometh. Take a look at him, the Sovereign. He's coming again.

He's coming to reign, and he's coming for his people. Behold ye have sinned against the Lord. And be sure your sin will find you out.

You know, every one of us in the meeting tonight, this is true of us. We act according to our nature, a fallen nature. A nature that is infected by this horrible thing the Bible calls sin.

A nature that is hostile to God. A nature that is rebellious against God. A nature that will not have the rule of God in our lives.

And we have acted according to our nature, and behold ye have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. Either it will find you out in time, and you'll come in repentance before God, or it will find you out when it is too late. If you die in your sins, said the Lord Jesus, where I am, there you cannot come.

Like the rich man, it will be hell. And ultimately to stand before that great white throne to be found out. For every single sin, they're judged according to their works.

Behold ye have sinned against the Lord. Now, it's one thing for you to sin against me and do something that offends me. That's one level.

Or for a boy or a girl to disobey their parents, that is sin. That's at one level. Or if a person was to speak disrespectfully to a police officer, for example, that could land you in jail overnight.

Or if you disobey the laws of the state, you could end up in state prison. Or if you disobey the federal government, you could end up in the federal penitentiary. But listen, the Word of God says, behold ye have sinned against the Lord, the sovereign Lord of all eternity, the sovereign Lord of the universe.

The one who is from everlasting to everlasting, and you have dared, we have dared as sinners to stand with hostility in our hearts before him and defy him with sin. You have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out. The sad fact of the matter is that every single sin is extremely serious against the holiness of God.

God is holy. God is holy. God is holy.

And he will not compromise his holiness. He is of purer eyes than to look with tolerance upon sin. He will not tolerate it.

He must deal with it. His holiness is outraged against it. He must act in righteousness against it.

It calls for the justice of God, for the judgment of God. And that carries eternal consequences. It's a capital offense against the majesty of God.

And it means eternal punishment if you stand in your sin before him. So it's a solemn matter, isn't it? Take a look at it tonight. Behold, ye have sinned against the Lord and be sure your sin will find you out.

Now there's one of two attitudes that could be taken in regard to those facts. That's what we're here to do tonight in the gospel, present you with the facts of Scripture. God has given to us facts in his word, and we must face up the facts.

One of two attitudes. I think of Job, a man that God spoke to. And Job was very conscious that God was dealing with him.

And God reveals something of his own character, his own majesty, and his power in creation to Job. You know what his response was? Behold, I am vile. I am vile.

That was his response. You know what happened? God immediately acted on Job's behalf. It's a turning point in the book of Job.

And God blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. And Job came into blessings from the hand of God. Why? He took true ground before God, and he says, Behold, I am vile.

I want to ask you tonight, what's your attitude to your sin? Are you being honest with God like Job? There's another attitude. We find that in the book of Acts chapter 13. And there Paul is preaching in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia.

And he's presenting to the person of Christ, the Lord Jesus, this man. Be it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. You have sins, and they can't be forgiven.

And it's found alone in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. But if you reject him, this is what he said. Quoting from the book of Isaiah.

He said, Behold, ye despisers and wonder and perish. There's another attitude to sin. To hear about the reality of sin.

To hear about a savior for sinners. And to turn away from it is an attitude that is despising God. That is rejecting his truth.

That is rejecting his word. And the result is that that soul will perish. Eternally.

Maybe you've heard the gospel often. And maybe you feel that that just is not an accurate description of your heart in terms of actually despising the gospel. You would like to be saved.

But up until this moment, you're not saved. Up until this moment, you're still in your sins. And you would like to have your sins forgiven.

That's good. That's real good. But you just can't see it.

And the more you turn it over in your mind, the more it just seems all dark. And you're just wondering. Wondering, how can this happen? How can I know? How? And you're wondering.

Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish. It's not enough to merely want to be saved. You can perish in your sins, wanting to be saved.

The reality of the fact is, sins are still upon the sinner. Until that moment when he receives the sinner's savior. And he understands that Christ died for my sins.

And at that moment, resting on him, that soul comes into the good of the forgiveness of sins. Because it's through this man that has preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Why would you be without him tonight? As you take a look at it.

You have sinned against the Lord. And be sure your sin will find you out. Don't be like those that didn't receive the message in Paul's day.

Despisers, and wonder, and perish. But come to Christ tonight and trust him as your savior. And you'll be saved for time and eternity.

We read as well in John chapter 1, those wonderful words from John the Baptist. As he looked upon the Lord Jesus that day. And his heart is moved to utter these words.

Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Is that what you want tonight? Your sins taken away? Come on. You've got sisters.

And their sins are taken away. Brothers. Friends.

Perhaps in recent days have come into the great blessing of sins being taken away. And you might even be interested tonight in having your sins taken away. Well, here's the answer.

Behold, God says, take a look at him. Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. That's in chapter 1 of John.

When we come to John chapter 19, we read about the crucifixion. It's interesting to see that that word comes up again in chapter 19. Pilate has had him scourged.

And Pilate brings him before the people. And Pilate says, behold, the man. Behold, the man.

Take a look at him tonight. Behold, the man. What a man he is.

He's the son of man. He's the one of whom the prophets have spoken. Isaiah.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and thou shall call his name Emmanuel. Which means God with us. And again, later on in that same prophecy, in chapter 40, he's spoken of again.

And the prophet this time says, behold, your God. That's the man in John 19. Behold, the man.

Born of the virgin, without a trace of Adam's sin. A man unique in origin, all fair without, all pure within. Our blessed Lord, a man who lived as a boy.

Who grew into manhood. Who went out in public ministry. And he never, ever, ever committed one sin.

And in order to prove his sinlessness, God put him to the test. As he embarks upon public ministry. But before those tests took place and the Lord Jesus went into the wilderness.

Before that happened, God declared his absolute confidence in him. But do you know what he said? He opened heaven and he said, this is my beloved son. In whom I am well pleased.

And then he's tested. And he proves his absolute holiness three times over. He is holy, he is holy, he is holy in his humanity.

He's a perfect man. But he's absolutely holy in his manhood. And he could not sin.

He did no sin. He knew no sin. And in him there is no sin.

He's different from us, isn't he? Behold the man. And then Pilate said again as he brings him out to the people. He's trying to get him released.

At this point. But he brings him out again. And he says to the people, behold your king.

Behold your king. What a king he was. He's crowned with thorns.

They have paid him homage. With a scourge. The whole band of soldiers have been gathered around.

And they buffeted him. That's an old fashioned English word. It means this.

They clenched their fists and they punched him. They smote him. They mocked him.

They bowed the knee before him. As a king. Hail king of the Jews.

And they rise up and they spit in his face. Behold your king. Behold the man.

Behold your king. Wearing that crown of thorns. What will the response of the people be? Pilate is hoping, I believe.

He's hoping that there will be some sense of pity. Some sense of sympathy that's generated in their hearts. That will want to release Jesus.

And he'll get off the hook with having to deal with Jesus. But their human heart is revealed. What was their response? They cried together, away with him.

Away with him. Crucify him. What's your response tonight to the Lord Jesus? Do you stand in awe of the glory of his holiness? His sinlessness? The man.

Christ Jesus. Different from you and me. As sinners.

Are you rejecting him tonight like the crowd of old? And crying, away with him. Away with him. We will not have this to reign over us.

Crucify him. If you were standing there that day, what would your attitude have been? They cried, we have no king but Caesar. We don't want him.

We want something else. What is it that's standing in your way of coming to Christ? It's not Caesar. I know that.

But it could be something else of this world. And you would rather have that. You would rather have him or her.

And the Christ of God is your Savior. But behold, the Lamb of God. The taker away of the sin of the world.

They didn't end at the mocking and the scourging. They led him outside the wall of Jerusalem. And there outside that wall, likely on the north end of the city, outside the wall, they laid that cross upon the ground and they kneeled his living body to it.

Then they lifted it up and they dropped it into that hole in the ground. And there he hangs. And God appeals to your heart tonight in this meeting.

He says, behold, the Lamb of God. Take a look at him. Why is he there? What's the purpose behind all of this? How could the God of heaven allow this to happen? The hymn writer answers the question so accurately.

And he says it was because our sin on him by God was led. He who himself had never sinned. For sinners.

Who's that? My God, that's me tonight. Is it you? For sinners. Sin was made.

God made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. And God deals with him as God would deal with sin on him. Almighty vengeance fell enough to sink a world to hell.

But he bore it for a ruined race and thus becomes my hiding place. The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. And on that cross before they took him down, he cried, it is finished.

That work was complete. The work of taking away sin. It's complete.

The Lord Jesus enters into death and pays in full the capital punishment for sin. Christ died for our sins. Take it in tonight.

It was for me. Yes, all for me. Oh, love of God, so great, so free.

Oh, wondrous love, I'll shout and sing. He died for me. He really did.

My Lord, the King, take a look at him tonight. Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. He's worthy of your trust.

He has done a work that satisfies the very God of heaven. Let it satisfy your heart tonight and enter into the good of it. And appreciate for the first time the Savior who died on the cross for sinners.

He died for me. My Lord, the King. Behold the Lamb of God.

But we read from Matthew 23 about an event that is yet future. And when it occurs, the rapture of the church, it could happen at any moment. The principles of this parable apply.

It will be at an hour that is unexpected. It was at midnight in the parable. You don't expect to go to a wedding at midnight.

But that's just when he came. So we lift the principle. It'll be at a moment whenever men are not expecting him to come, he'll come.

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh. He is coming. It's the last promise in the Bible.

And in the last chapter of the Bible, it's given three times over. Behold. There's the word again.

Behold. Behold. Behold, I come.

Quickly. When he comes, there's going to be no warning. He's going to come swiftly.

He's going to come, and it's for this purpose to take his people home, those that have trusted him as their Savior, those whose sins have been taken away, those who are resting where God rests and understand that that work on the cross has satisfied God's justice. He's coming to take them home. The Lord Jesus will have his prayer answered.

John chapter 17. He expresses his very heart to his God, and this is what he says to his Father. He says, that they may behold my glory.

And the Lord Jesus has a desire tonight that his people will be with him, looking upon him, seeing him in all his glory, in all his beauty. And he's coming to make that happen. If he comes tonight, and he could.

And the way things are happening in the world, it can't be long at all. Say, are you ready for his coming? Are you ready? When the cry as it were goes out, behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Have you got oil in your vessel? Are you trusting the Lord Jesus as your Savior, as the Spirit of God has said within your heart? And when he comes, will you rise to meet him and go in to that heavenly banquet? Or will you be left for judgment? Because judgment is coming following the rapture of the church.

There is that tribulation period, and that will culminate whenever the heavens are opened. And we get the word again. Behold, a white horse and him that sat upon it.

His name is faithful and true, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. He has on his thigh a name written. His name is the King of Kings.

He is the Lord of Lords. He is coming to put every enemy under his feet. Behold, he comes with clouds, and every eye shall see him.

You are going to see him, my friend. Either you look by faith tonight to the cross, or you'll see him coming in his glory. It's a scene of judgment.

You'll perish forever if you're found in your sins. So may God help you tonight. Take a look at him.

Think of these beholds. Behold, you have sinned against the Lord. Be sure your sin will find you out.

But behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. And trust him as your Savior, and you'll be ready when the word goes out, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh. May God bless this word.