Salvation belongs to the LORD

Introduction

Luke 2:25–32 (ESV)

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

according to your word;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation

31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”

This message I have titled SALVATION BELONGS TO THE LORD

The Lord can teach his saints more of Himself through darkness and calamity to know more of his salvation, which is his glory.

The unbeliever is in great danger through his sin and the Lord giving them up in deep unbelief.

The salvation of the Lord, how old is the salvation of the Lord? Well it is older then the mountains.

It is God who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

So how old is salvation? It was in God’s mind before time was created by Him.

Now, God had to teach all his people and still does about his salvation.

Remember Moses wanted to see the glory of the Lord God.

Exodus 33:18–19 (ESV)

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Exodus 34:6–8 (ESV)

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

Now we should remember these words of Yahweh tonight.

a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

After Moses we have another prophet of God who knew about these attributes of the Lord. Jonah the son of Amittai

Will you please turn with me to the book of Jonah.

Jonah 1:1–3 (ESV)

1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

How is even possible to run away from the presence of the Lord? Most of us know what the Psalmist says in Psalm 139

Psalm 139:7–12 (ESV)

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

and your right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

and the light about me be night,”

12 even the darkness is not dark to you;

the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

Did the Lord’s hand lead Jonah and hold him like David says God does?

Look at verse 4

Jonah 1:4 (ESV)

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 1:7 (ESV)

7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

Jonah 1:13–16 (ESV)

13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.

14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.”

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.

16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

Look at chapter 2

Jonah 2:3 (ESV)

3 For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.

For you cast me into the deep

Now hang on I thought the mariners threw Jonah into the sea?

Proverbs 16:33 ESV

33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

All your waves and your billows

Now beloved this is all the Lord God’s hand of providence. This is what the Lord’s chastisements can look like. It can be very severe even to the point of despairing of life itself.

Look at verse 5

Jonah 2:5 (ESV)

5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains.

Here is Jonah facing death itself, cast into the deep and the writer tells us in chapter 1:17 that the Lord appointed a fish to swallow Jonah.

Do you realize that part of Jonah salvation is the great fish that swallowed him?

Now, for Jonah, it just got way much darker in all kinds of ways.

I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. Isaiah 45:7

Look at

Jonah 1:17 (ESV)

17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

But, beloved this is God saving Jonah from God. This is the Lord saving Jonah from his waves and billows coming to take his life.

What is the response from Jonah?

Look at

Jonah 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Praying, calling and crying to the Lord. This is so important point for Jonah to learn and for us. Here is Jonah in ultimate darkness facing death itself and what does He do?

He cries to the Lord from his deepest innermost being.

Psalm 51:17 ESV

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Look with me at Chapter 2 from verse 7

Jonah 2:7–10 (ESV)

7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” 10 And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Do you know what is the first thing Jonah saw when he looked up?

a Sign Board saying Nineveh Left.

I chuckled at what Spurgeon said about the fish being a Arminian and immediately vomiting Jonah out when he said salvation is of the Lord.

Jonah 3:1–3 (ESV)

1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.

What a painful, dark and terrifying lesson to learn from the Most High and we know from chapter 4 that God continued with disciplining Jonah about his full right to show to anybody whom He wills, his salvation.

Jonah 4:1–2 (ESV)

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah 4:6–8 (ESV)

6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered.

8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Beloved did Jonah willingly preached repentance to his enemies? No! Did he want them to repent? No!

Did the Lord God wanted them to repent? Yes!

Did they repent against the will of Jonah and his preaching? Yes!

Isaiah 46:9–11 (ESV)

9 remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me,

10 declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11 calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have purposed, and I will do it.

This is something that we must learn about God, just like Jonah had to learn that salvation belongs to the Lord. God will save whomever he will save. He will also harden whomever he will harden.

Please turn your bibles to Matthew 12:40-41

Matthew 12:40–41 (ESV)

40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Here we have our Lord Jesus Christ looking at Jonah and the great fish as a type and shadow of Himself. Now we all know well that Jesus died and was buried for 3 days just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for 3 days. It really begs the question if Jonah died in the belly of the fish and had a resurrection like Lazarus as some commentators say could have happened.

Now just like Jonah faced the affliction and dark providences of Yahweh, so Christ was foreordained to suffer greatly under the providence of God not for disobedience like Jonah but for the sake of our disobedience.

Acts 2:22–24 (ESV)

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Now beloved, did God’s waves and billows of wrath came over his own Son? More then we can imagine or think. He suffered tremendous pains that no human being will ever experience in his flesh through the hands of lawless men.

Jonah was send to Nineveh and refused to go because he knew God is gracious, merciful and compassionate.

The Word that was with God from the beginning, left the glory of heaven, was made flesh to reveal that God is gracious, merciful and compassionate.

John 6:38–39 (ESV)

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.

Jonah was asleep in the boat when the storm started, it ended with him being thrown overboard.

Jesus was asleep in the boat when the storm started, it ended with Jesus speaking by the word of his power to the storm and it was still.

But, there is something we all must come to terms with about the salvation of the Lord.

Listen to Romans 9

Romans 9:10–18 (ESV)

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

Beloved there is a reason I have to read this to you because we have to look at the next verse in Matt 12:41

Matthew 12:41 (ESV)

41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Here Jesus is literally saying that those pagan Assyrians in Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah and there are people Jesus is preaching to and doing something greater then Jonah which was the miracles and wonders Jesus did and there are cities that are not repenting.

Look at the next verse

Matthew 12:42 (ESV)

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Now, beloved I submit to you the look at what Jesus is pointing out.

God send Jonah to unbelieving Gentiles.

God brought Queen Sheba (Gentile) to Solomon.

Now please look with me at the previous chapter, at Matthew 11

Matthew 11:20–24 (ESV)

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Is Jesus saying the preaching of Jonah is greater then his?

Is Jesus saying the wisdom of Solomon is greater then his?

No! something greater then Jonah and Solomon is here, and they are not repenting?

Why?

Please we have to see this together tonight. Please turn with me to

John 12:37–40 (ESV)

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

Beloved do we really understand that salvation belongs to the Lord?

The greatest preacher ever on earth with the greatest wisdom ever in a man and doing many signs before them and they cannot believe.

God has hardened their heart.

Now how does God do this?

Matthew 12:43–45 (ESV)

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order.

45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

God removes his hand of restraint and in so doing people return to their former lusts and even 7 times greater even if they professed believing in God.

I think Peter puts it well for the new testament dispensation.

2 Peter 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Listen to what Matthew Henry said about the unclean spirit returning.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible (Chapter 12)

This parable represents the case of the Jewish church and nation. It is also applicable to all those who hear the word of God, and are in part reformed, but not truly converted. The unclean spirit leaves for a time, but when he returns, he finds Christ is not there to shut him out; the heart is swept by outward reformation, but garnished by preparation to comply with evil suggestions, and the man becomes a more decided enemy of the truth. Every heart is the residence of unclean spirits, except those which are temples of the Holy Ghost, by faith in Christ.

APPLICATION

So if Salvation is of the Lord and not by the will of man. If God chooses whom He mercies and hardens whom he wills.

Where is the sinners hope?

If you can reform yourself for a while but find yourself becoming worse then you were before what can you do. I mean if you rightly understand these truths pointed out tonight, the right response would be to fear Yahweh. God thee Almighty One. He is the One who has the right to cast you into his waves and billows of fire forever. In the lake of fire there is no appointed fish to vomit you out of that place. No! You are there for all eternity. The fire will be unquenchable.

Sinner your only hope is the hope Simeon had.

Your salvation is not in anything you can do for God.

God has already done the work for Himself and by Himself.

Salvation is in a person THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD.

Hold him up in your heart like Simeon held his Saviour up in his hands.

Higher then your head!

Christ must be your only hope and trust before God.

Look to Him like Simeon did and bless God Almighty

for the death of his Son for the payment of sins.

In Christ you will see God’s steadfast love, grace and mercy on the cross.

My hope for any unbeliever is for him to thank God for Christ Jesus who has become his or her wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

He and He alone is my all in all.

Will God bring you to Christ?

Well God in his steadfast love send a great wind on the sea appointed a great fish to save the wicked people in Nineveh despite of the unwillingness of Jonah.

God has loved his own with an everlasting love and therefore he draws them with lovingkindness.

If God has loved you from eternity, he has send his Son for you.

Will God send his Son for you and not his Holy Spirit?

Galatians 4:4–6 (ESV)

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”