As we continue to look at the uniqueness of the Bible in its most apparent difference, it is the idea of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we've heard two wonderful testimonies to that this morning, very different, very unique in their experience, as is, I think, all of us that profess Christ as we can think of our own lives and the way God has worked for us. And so the uniqueness of the Bible in this particular aspect is the matter of how our sinful, fallen man to be reconciled to a holy God. And that difference in obtaining holiness and reconciliation between the Bible and all other religions is like light and darkness. And again, I'm not recommending you go study all the religions of the world. Some of the worst heretics I've run into and most argumentative have talked about how they studied comparative religion, and they've done this and they've done that. So what? It's like looking in darkness. for something that you've lost. You can't find it. You can't see because it is totally dark and therefore it is in a sense a waste of time. And so it's appropriate that we examine this today as we've joined in the testimonies and in a few minutes as we'll join in the baptism of these three sisters in Christ, because I think it's relevant to all of us. It's a good reminder to all of us of just what we have in the revelation of God to us in the scriptures. And so the evidence that we're going to look at for a few minutes this morning is this, the beautiful gospel. It is unknowable by natural light and by its very content, it is of divine origin and nature. We can't know the things that are revealed in scriptures by nature. It is beyond, it far surpasses anything that originates in the human mind. And we see this over and over in the various religions. And you can go from the most pagan of religions with sacrifice and human sacrifice and offerings for rain and offerings for this and offerings for that. But even in those, it pales in comparison to what the gospel is that is offered in the Word of God. And so the object of the gospel is the light of the world. John 8 and verse 12 says, Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. We walk in darkness outside of Christ. We can search for religious things, especially those of us that were raised in Christian homes and pastor's homes. We can search for those things, but until God gives us light, We can't see and find the things that are given as Christ is the light of life. And it was predicted such. Remember we talked about the predictions and the prophecies of the scriptures. Malachi 4.2, the beginning of the verse says, But to you who fear my name, The Son of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. It was predicted that there would come one who would heal us, who would be the light that we needed. It's represented in Psalm 19, verse 1, where we usually look at this psalm as first talking about the natural revelation, but think about this in these terms. Verse 1, the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Men know God. And yet the psalm goes on to talk about the revelation of God, the word of God, because this general knowledge of God, which obligates man to seek out God, still must send man to seek out God through God's revelation of himself. You will never come to a saving knowledge of God by studying creation. You may come to a knowledge of God as a God who exists, but there is no way in the natural revelation that we know how that reconciliation comes. It is only in the special revelation of the Word of God that we know that. And so Romans 10 verse 17 says, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Do you see the connection there between the scriptures, the word of God, the revelation of God, and faith? You can't have faith without hearing. You can't have hearing without the word of God. And it goes on to say, but I say, have they not heard? Yes, indeed. Their sound has gone out to all the earth and their words to the ends of the world. You see the quote there? And so it reveals the glory and the mercies of God to men who were dead in sin. Ephesians 5 verse 8 says, for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. walk as children of light. Verse 13 says, But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore, he says, Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. And so there is the beautiful gospel that is revealed to us in the Word of God. It is a stamp, it is a testimony to the authenticity of the revelation of God in His Word. And that's because, and this is our second point, if you're trying to keep track here, is not only is there the beauty of the gospel, But we have also described to us in the Word of God the problem of sin. And so first we have the problem of sin described. It is both legal and moral. Job 25 verse 4 sums this up very well. How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? There's a legal aspect to sin. There's a moral aspect to sin. We have violated the law of God. We have broken the commandments of God. We are legally wrong. We're guilty. How then can you be righteous before God? And then there's the moral aspect. We are immoral. We are against the morals that God has set out. And Job says, how can he be pure who is born of a woman? And you see how the gospel answers those questions? You see how the gospel explains that? And we'll get to it more in a little more detail in a minute. But it is only the word of God that helps and deals with the legal and moral problem of sin that we have. And so then the problem of sin is also not only described as legal and moral, but it's explained. The requirements of the law the charge against us. It's just like if you go to court for something. What's the first thing they do? They read the charges against you. They say, this is what we're accusing you of. And so Romans 3 in verse 10 says, as it is written, there is none righteous. No, not one. There's the charge against us. None of us, youngest to oldest, None of us can stand before God because of the charge that is against us, because of the sin that is in us. There is none righteous. And you will meet many, many people who try to tell you their righteousness, try to show you their righteousness, try to explain how they are righteous. But the Word of God says there is none righteous, no, not one. And so the sentence of the law is the justice of the judge of all things. Romans 2 and verse 2 says, But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. Verse 6 says, Who will render to each one according to his deeds? We will only receive fair and just judgment. There are people that say, I just want to be judged fairly by God. No, you don't. No, you don't. No one can stand before God. We will stand before God and answer for what has been done in the flesh. And so there is unquestionable guilt. Romans 3.23, again, if this isn't clear, there are many verses like this. Romans 3.23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That's a foundation that as you live your life is solid rock. If you understand yourself your spouse, your loved ones, those around you, those you work with, those in the world, if you understand all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, you will have a different perspective and a different approach to life. And you will have a different solution to the problems that are presented to you in life. And there is no utopia if we just give them more money, if we just do this, if we just do that, because all have sinned and fall short. of the glory of God. And so then that brings us in the third place to God's solution. And this is the beauty of this, which is you can sum up God's solution in one word, substitution. There is one who can pay our debt. And there is only one who can pay the debt that we owe. Luke 18 verse 26 says, And those who heard it said, Who then can be saved? But Jesus said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. and freely offered to all. The gospel is offered to all men. It is accepted by those God has chosen. Ephesians 2 verse 4, But God, who is rich in mercy because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, And that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. And I'll take just a minute to, I know it sounds like an advertisement, I don't care. If you aren't able to providentially be with us on Wednesday nights and hear the teachings and the confession, at least join us online. Andy covered God's decrees. He started into the section on God's decrees. This is the decree of God. This is God working in this. And I'll throw this in there because it was discussed. If you somehow have heard or thought or believed that, well, God decreed those who would be saved based on He looked down through eternity and He saw they would have faith. It doesn't work. You think about it. Because that means man can thwart God's plans. Because God sees you're going to have faith, and then what if you don't? What if something changes? Your free will, right? This is the whole argument. You are free to do what you want. And as Luther said, you're free to sin, because your will has been bound by sin. But you're free to do what you want. So at some point you say, well, I'm not going to believe in God. And now God has been thwarted by man? You see the fallacy of that kind of thinking. You may not be able to wrap your head around the idea that God has chosen his own, but you have to accept it. It's in the Word of God. It is in the revelation of God. And as we are saved, we look at that and we marvel. And we say, if it wasn't for God, I'd still be dead. I wouldn't be anything. I'd be dead. I'd be in darkness. It is by God's decree that we are saved. So may we rejoice together in the beautiful gospel as it's testified to today by both Gail and Hannah at this point and Kim to come. It is something that we each experience. as God works to create a new creation in us. And as that happens and as people publicly declare that and join with the people of God in this place, let's embrace that. Let's rejoice in God's mercies to us that we gather here as the people of God and that we can bring others in as they testify to what God has done for them. And let's just thank God and praise God for his mercies to us. Let's close with a word of prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we do rejoice at your mercies as we have heard testimony this morning and as we will continue to receive it this morning. Thank you for your blessings upon these three women who have come and brought word of how you have worked in their hearts. May we rejoice with them. May we be reminded of our own experience with you and how you've been gracious and merciful to us. And Father, if we have then failed to walk as carefully and as circumspectly as we should, may we turn again to you. May we run to your word. May we flee to Christ and pray that you would help us to continue on the path. until we enter into your presence. Bless us as we worship together. Bless us as we enjoy the sacrament of baptism and the singing of praise and the raising up of prayers and the teaching of the word of God today with our brothers and sisters. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.