## Things That Are Certain

## Luke 1:4

Our nation is filled with uncertainty these days. The government has shut down, and probably will again. There is uncertainty concerning the economy; health care; society, education; the job market; and the political scene.

I don't have the answers to all of these uncertainties, but I do know of some things that are certain. Notice, I didn't say I think, or I hope, because that would simply compound the uncertainty. I want to share with you today some things that I know will be certain. You can count it!

Someone once said that the only things that are certain are death and taxes. I agree with the first one, but the second one has been proven false by shrewd accountants and tax specialists. I want to add a couple of things today to the list of those things which are certain.

I. The Grace Baptist Temple is Certain.

(Mat 16:18) "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

A. It Is Eternal. "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

1. In this life.

a. When you join this Baptist Church you join an eternal organization.

b. It will always be in existence.

c. There will never be a time when the Grace Baptist Temple will not be in existence.

d. You see the church is not the building, but it is the people.

e. It is a called out assembly of believers who have united together to glorify God with their very lives.

f. Some of the people may change, the building may change, but this church is for certain, now and forever.

2. In the life hereafter.

a. The Grace Baptist Temple will be in existence in heaven.

b. When a person is born again they begin an everlasting existence!

c. The body may die, but the believer will live for eternity!

d. Jesus said, "...I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish..." cf Jn. 10:28

e. That is for certain!

B. It Is Essential.

(Mat 5:14-16) "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

1. The candlestick is the Local Church.

a. Note: Rev. 1:20

b. "...The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches."

2. The purpose of the candlestick is to enable the candle to function properly.

3. The candlestick was made for the candle.

4. I suppose you can go on burning the candle under a bushel, but Jesus said what good is that?

5. Put it on a candlestick and let it shine!

6. I don't know of one mature child of God who is active and growing apart from the local church.

7. Once again, we find that we cannot improve on God's plan.

C. It Is Exciting!

1. (Mat 16:18) "...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

2. There isn't many things as exciting as a battle.

3. We are involved in a battle...but we are on the winning side!

4. If you think that coming to church is boring...you need to think again!

5. When someone gets right with God... when someone gets saved...when someone surrenders their life to serve God...it is more exciting than a shot made as the final second ticks off the clock in a triple overtime NCAA basketball final!

6. If you don't think so, you need to get into the game!

a. Quit sitting on the sidelines.

b. I've been to a few games...but there are so many distractions.

c. Bratwurst and kraut...goofy looking fans...the fancy scoreboards...etc.

d. But the folks who are in the game aren't distracted by all of that...they are excited about what will happen next!

The Grace Baptist Temple is certain, because it is eternal, it is essential, and it is exciting!

II. The Word of God is Certain.

(Mat 24:35) "Heaven and earth shall pass way, but my words shall not pass away."

(Psa 119:89) "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."

A. Certain In Its Message.

(Heb 4:12) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

1. It has the message of salvation.

(John 5:24) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

2. It has the message of hope.

(John 14:1-3) "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

(1 Th 4:16-17) "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

B. It Is Certain In Its Doctrine.

(2 Tim 3:16) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

1. The Word of God tells us what is right.

2. It tells us what is wrong.

3. It tells us how to get it right.

4. And it tells us how to keep it right.

C. It Is Certain In Its Authority.

1. It is comforting to have the authoritative source to go to when there are uncertainties.

2. When there are questions just turn to the Word of God; it is the authority.

3. The authority over every other source.

4. There doesn't have to be any confusion concerning our authority; just follow the Word of God.

(Acts 5:29) "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."

5. When the authority coming from mankind is contrary to the Word of God, go with the Bible.

The Word of God is certain in its message, doctrine and authority.

III. Salvation is Certain.

(Rom 10:13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

A. Certain For All Who Call.

1. There has never been one turned down.

2. No one has ever called and not been saved.

3. I know that not every person who says they are saved are saved.

4. What I am saying is that no one has ever been refused salvation, who sought it.

B. Certain to every one that believeth.

(Rom 1:16) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

IV. Death is Certain.

(Heb 9:27) "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

A. Certain For All.

1. In Genesis 5 we are taught that death comes to everyone sooner or later.

2. I am aware of the doctrine of the Rapture and that there will be a generation living when that Rapture comes.

3. I hope I am in that generation, but if not then death will overtake me, you also perhaps...it is certain.

B. Certain In Finality.

1. Death is final.

2. If you haven't trusted Christ, then your destination has already been assigned and it is final.

3. As death finds you so will the judg- ment...there will be no second chance to make things right.

4. Those decisions must be made in this life.

C. There are only two eternal places.

1. Wherever you go following death, it will be forever.

2. Heaven is eternal...we've already mentioned that.

3. But, the lake of fire is just as eternal.

(Rev 20:15) "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Let me close with one final thought. · The love of God is certain.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8)

How much more certain can one be of His love? There are some things that are certain. The local church is certain. The Word of God is certain. Our salvation is certain. Death is certain, and so is the Love of God.