Message of Grace
PUBLISHED BY GRACE CHAPEL MINISTRIES OF O'BRIEN, FLORIDA

“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

VOLUME 2
ISSUE 3
SEPTEMBER 1978

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:12

That song which shall ring through the heavens for an eternity is found in this verse. "Worthy is the Lamb" is the song which shall fill the hearts of the redeemed with eternal bliss as they with one mouth and one accord, sing praises to Him, who alone, redeemed them with His precious blood. This Lamb of whom they sing is that "Lion of Judah, the Root of David" who has prevailed to open the counsel of God and declare it unto men (Rev. 5:5). We search in vain to find any other true message of God, to men, than that which is revealed in Jesus Christ. He is the revelation and declaration of God to men (Jn. 1:18). God "hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son whom He hath appointed heir of all things" (Heb. 1:2). John said, "This is the record (testimony, witness) that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son" (1 Jn. 5:11).

This One of whom the heavenly hosts sings is truly "worthy", for He is the Eternal God. None but that One who declares "the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure" (Isa. 46:10), can know the mind of Him whose counsel standeth forever (Ps. 33:11). the Lord Jesus, who said, "I and my Father are One" (Jn. 10:30), id surely worthy of all praise, for He is the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending... which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8). When John saw Him in a vision on the isle of Patmos, he fell at His feet as dead (Rev. 1:17) because of His shining glory. We believe Daniel, the prophet, had a similar vision with the same result (Dan. 10:5-8). And shall not the saints of God with one accord account all of their righteousness and beauty as nothing when they see in Him "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father"(Jn. 1:14) and be made to gladly sing, "Worthy is the Lamb"?

His worthiness is also seen in the antiquity of His appointment as the Lamb of God. Search the pages of Holy Scripture and you shall find that He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13-8). The salvation of men is not by chance nor is it an afterthought with God. The purpose of God to save men can be traced back even before the world was ever created or a man ever sinned. In eternity the Father called His Elect Servant (Isa. 42:1) and chose an elect people in Him (Eph. 1:4). Those people were "ordained to eternal life" (Acts 13:48), their names inscribed in the Lamb's book of life (Rev. 17:8) being given to the Son (Jn. 6:37, 17:2,6,9,11,12,24) to be redeemed by the "blood of the everlasting covenant" (Heb. 13:20). So as regarding the task which He was to undertake and the certainty that He would perform it He is considered the Lamb slain from the world's foundation. In due time He created the world and its inhabitants to the praise of His glory. Out of that world He raises up His people to render honor and tribute to Him as a covenant-keeping God (see Ps. 89:27-29) and to sing "Worthy is the Lamb who has loved us with an everlasting love."

Then we see His worthiness in the fact that in due time He fulfilled His task as the Lamb slain for our redemption. "Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" was taken and crucified by wicked hands (Acts 2:23). Thus, He has redeemed to God by His blood, men "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation" (Rev. 5:9). His death did not make salvation a mere 'possibility' but rather, the Scripture says that, "He redeemed us to God" (v. 9). Many in our day look on His death simply as a 'part' of their redemption, with them adding their faith to make it complete. The Word knows of no such salvation but plainly says "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jn. 2:9). He purchased (redeemed) His people with His own blood (Acts 20:28). He did not just make a 'down-payment' but He paid their debt in full. "Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow". When He cried, "It is finished", He meant that all that was required to set His people free from the bondage and curse of their sin had been accomplished. This is the reason that song is "Worthy is the Lamb". For He has done all that ever needed to be done or ever shall need to be done to procure His people's freedom and eternal redemption.

As we look closely at the Word of God, we find that "every creature" (Rev. 5:13) shall join in this acclamation of worship to the Son. "God hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue would confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11). But that song which shall be the happy cry of the redeemed shall be a savor of death unto death unto every one who "hath not the Son" (1 Jn. 5:12). Every syllable they speak shall pronounce more loudly their certain and eternal doom, as they realize that this One who they despised is both Lord and Christ. They shall discover with awful finality that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God" (Heb. 10:31).

My friend, how is it with your soul? Can you now sing with gladness, "Worthy is the Lamb"? Or are your lips and heart closed, only to be opened in that terrible day when even your own words shall seal your doom? Do you have a sweet prospect of seeing Him, who is the Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon, together with a desire to magnify His blessed name for eternity? Or are you simply content with a dead, formal profession of faith; or satisfied to live out your days untroubled by this message, one day to stand before Him who is a consuming fire (Heb. 12:29) caring not for His glory nor His commandments? If the latter cases are true of you, I fear that you shall be even as Belshazzar the king (Dan. 5:1), who in the midst of great feasting and merriment was brought to the depths of terror when the handwriting on the wall appeared telling him of his certain destruction. Even your own lips shall condemn you and strike terror in your heart as you sing "Worthy IS the Lamb".

Nothing, either great or small,
Nothing, sinner no;
Jesus did it, did it all,
Long, long ago.

When He from His lofty throne,
Stoop'd to do and die,
Everything was fully done:
Hearken to His cry:

"It is finished!" yes indeed,
Finished every jot:
Sinner, this is all you need,
Tell me, is it not?

Weary, working, plodding one,
Why toil you so?
Cease your doing, all was done,
Long, long ago.

Till to Jesus' work you cling,
By a simple faith;
"Doing" is a deadly thing,
"Doing" ends in death.

Cast your deadly "doing" down,
Down at Jesus' feet;
Stand in Him, in Him alone,
Gloriously complete!

James Proctor, 1858

An Invitation to Sinners

Have you sins, or have you none? If you have, whither should you go, but to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world? Have you souls, or have you none? If you have, where should you go, but to the Savior of souls? Is there a life to come, or is there not? If there is, where should you go but to Him, who only hath the words of eternal life? Is there a wrath to come, or is there not? If there is, where should you go, but to Him, who only can deliver from the wrath to come? And will He not receive you? If He yielded Himself into the hands of them that sought His life, will He hide Himself from the hearts of them that seek his mercy? If He was willing to be taken by the hand of violence, is He not more than willing to be taken by the hands of faith? He that died for your sins, will He cast you off for your infirmities? O come, come, come! I charge you, come. I beseech you come: come and He will give you life. Come, and He will give you rest. Come and He will receive you. Knock, and He will open to you. Look to Him, and He will save you. Did ever any come to Him for a cure, and go away without it? You would find something in yourself, but you find nothing but what you have reason to be ashamed of; but let not that hinder, but further your coming. Come as you are; come poor, come needy, come naked, come empty, come wretched, only come, only believe; His heart is free, His arms are open; 'tis His joy and His crown to receive you. If you are willing, He never was otherwise.

John Mason (1646-1694)