The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

Introduction:

1. Paul made it clear Jesus Christ and His cross should be highly important to us (I Cor 2:2; Gal 6:14).
2. We want to see Jesus and make Him preeminent in all things (John 12:20-21; Colossians 1:16-18).
3. There are many other subjects, even within the Bible, that scratch itching ears differently than Christ.
4. I have this past week by reviewing our history been reminded of the crucial fact to keep Him first.
5. The universe is the stage for God to play out a drama for His glory that includes Jesus saving you.
6. This subject is the greatest measure of your soul, and if you find this boring and dull, you are dead!
7. What hinders you loving Him and living for Him more? Is He not enough? He has not done enough? Has He not saved you from enough? Has He not promised enough? You have found better fellows?
8. Ministers are to bring forth new and old (Matt 13:52). Do you still love the old, old story of Jesus?
9. Will you choose today to embrace Jesus Christ anew with mental attention and heart affection?
10. Will you lay hold of Him by faith and love and say with zeal, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

The Context

1. The Ephesians epistle is rich with glorious doctrine before and including this chapter.
   1. Our election and predestination to adoption by the will of God in Christ (1:3-14).
   2. The need for us to fully appreciate the benefits of our salvation in Christ (1:15-23).
   3. The riches of God’s grace in regenerating us from death and the devil (2:1-10).
   4. The mercy Gentiles have by being united with Jews in one new body (2:11-22).
   5. The privileged role Paul had as apostle to Gentiles of their place in Christ (3:1-7).
   6. The fabulous witness of the Spirit filling believers with God’s goodness (3:14-21).
   7. Three chapters close with Amen, before Paul began practical duties (chapters 4-6).
2. The inclusive sentence of our sermon title has its own context to consider (3:8-13).
   1. God’s plan to save Gentiles was eternal; Paul got to preach the fellowship of it (9).
   2. God’s manifold wisdom in building His church is for His glory before angels (10).
   3. God had eternally planned this latter change in Jesus Christ for the Gentiles (11).
   4. Gentiles boldly and confidently access God by faith in Christ – Romans 5:2 (12).
   5. The Ephesians were not to fret or worry about Paul, their glorious apostle (13).
3. The verse holding our sermon title has its own rich context to consider as well (3:8).
   1. Paul denigrated himself here due to the fabulous subject (I Cor 15:10; II Cor 11:5).
   2. The gift of ministry to declare such things as Paul did is truly by the grace of God.
   3. Rather than a few sheep of Israel, Paul preached and wrote to millions of Gentiles.
   4. The subject matter of God sending Jesus Christ even for Gentiles was stupendous!

What does unsearchable mean?

1. Unsearchable. That cannot be searched into, so as to be ascertained or exactly estimated; inscrutable. Inscrutable. That cannot be searched into or found out by searching; impenetrable or unfathomable to investigation; quite unintelligible, entirely mysterious.
   1. A subject or topic so complex, deep, precious, valuable that it defies explanation.
   2. A matter beyond human discovery, experience, imagination, or comprehension.
2. The Holy Spirit used the word unsearchable to describe the inscrutable nature of God.
   1. God does great things that are unsearchable, marvelous without number (Job 5:9); His works of creation and providence are truly inexplicable and unaccountable.
   2. God is great, greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable (Ps 145:3); any aspect of God is unsearchable, for He is infinitely perfect by any measure.
   3. How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out (Rom 11:33); specially election of Jews and Gentiles and blinding elect Jews to convert Gentiles!
3. God’s saving grace in Christ transcends human experience, learning, and imagination.
   1. Thus, nearby, Christ’s love for us in four dimensions passes knowledge (3:18-19).
   2. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things God hath prepared for them that love him (I Co 2:9). They are unsearchable.
   3. Peace in Jesus Christ for those trusting God can pass all understanding (Phil 4:7).
4. If God planned salvation in Christ for His glory, it must be infinite in dramatic value.
   1. If infinite in dramatic value, then it is unsearchable by men finite in all their ways.
   2. Thus, in context, God’s saving works are described as exceeding (1:19; 2:7; 3:20).
   3. Exceeding. Overstepping the limits of propriety or custom; going to extremes. Surpassing in amount or degree; extremely great, excessive.
   4. In particular, we note 2:7, That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
   5. In what sense is His rich grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus exceeding?
   6. It surpasses our innate ability to fully explore, comprehend, measure, and describe.
5. If God’s grace in Christ Jesus to save us is unsearchable, it must also be unspeakable.
   1. Paul referred to God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ as unspeakable (II Co 9:15).
   2. If it is impenetrable and inscrutable for proper estimation, how shall we preach it?
   3. Though we may fill our hearts with joy about him, it is joy unspeakable (I Pet 1:8).

What does riches mean?

1. Riches. Abundance of means or of valuable possessions; wealth.
   1. Our salvation in Jesus Christ is described as abundant wealth to emphasize value.
   2. It includes the benefits, glory, prestige, and security implied in riches and wealth.
   3. Thus, our exploration and analysis of this text must emphasize the value of Christ.
2. This word riches is used in context and elsewhere to describe God’s grace toward us.
   1. God gives the Spirit to know Christ as a benefit of His great riches in glory (3:16).
   2. Eternity will not be long enough to fully disclose His riches to us in Christ (2:4-7).
   3. Heaven is our inheritance, and riches comes short of the wealth of its glory (1:18).
   4. Our redemption and forgiveness is according to the riches of God’s grace (1:7).
   5. In Colossians 1:27 and 2:2 it describes the abundant wealth of Gentiles in Christ.
   6. Gospel knowledge of Jesus is great riches, especially to Gentiles (Rom 11:11-12).
   7. God’s wisdom overseeing Jew and Gentile conversions is riches (Rom 11:33-36).
   8. God elected some for eternal glory to show the riches of His glory (Romans 9:33).

What sense does the preposition of have?

1. This possessive grammar is by context either subjective-genitive or objective-genitive.
   1. The prepositional phrase proves nothing by grammar; the context must determine.
   2. It is ignorant presumption to assume any of Christ construction is His ownership.
   3. Such prepositional phrases are either subjective-genitive, where the object of the preposition is the subject of possession (Rom 5:5; 14:20), or objective-genitive, where the object of the preposition is the object of possession (Luk 11:42; Jn 6:29).
2. The context and subject makes this objective-genitive, we possess Christ as our riches.
   1. There is no doubt Jesus Christ possesses great riches, but that is not taught here.
   2. Paul’s message to the Gentiles was not Christ’s riches but theirs because of Him.
   3. Paul taught this in the comparable passage in the fraternal twin epistle (Col 1:27).
3. The preposition teaches us the riches of God’s grace to us in our salvation by Christ.

Who is Christ to us?

1. Christ = Messiah (John 1:41; 4:25), which was the anointed Saviour (Dan 9:24-27).
2. Jesus is His personal name assigned by God through angels (Matt 1:21; Luke 1:31).
3. We count and use Christ as His name as well, though its proper meaning is valuable.
4. Jesus Christ, being the Son of God and reigning son of David, is appropriately Lord!
5. Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, our substitutionary Saviour!
6. He is more personal than any person you have ever met, yet also the Mighty God.

What is the unsearchable riches of Christ?

1. It is the glory of the Person of the Son of God full of grace and truth and preeminent.
2. It is the value and worth of God’s grace to save sinners by Jesus Christ the Saviour.
3. It is the esteem, honor, praise, and wealth that belongs to Jesus for being the Saviour.
4. It is the incomprehensible transaction to adopt rebels as sons of God by Jesus Christ.
5. It is the full measure of an eternal inheritance and all that involves by Jesus the Christ.
6. It is the supreme power and value of Christ’s saving work to fully save all the elect.
7. It includes all the facets of salvation, which are a similar study from another angle.
8. It is salvation of only men to impress angels and cause curiosity (3:10; I Pet 1:12).
9. It is the incomparable love Christ has for His brethren (II Cor 5:14-15; Heb 2:11-13).
10. For facets of salvation.

Economic theory helps us estimate Christ’s riches.

1. The thing considered and estimated here is God’s grace in Jesus Christ to eternal life.
2. The value of a thing … is what is given in exchange for it … God gave His only Son!
3. The value of a thing … is your cost for not having it … eternal torment or heaven!
4. The value of a thing … is what you can get for it … Jesus saved from earth and death!
5. The value of a thing … is its intrinsic value less your cost … but it cost you nothing!
6. The value of a thing … is what greater experts think of it … angels desire to grasp it!
7. The value of a thing … is what it cost the supplier of it … God gave His beloved Son!
8. The value of a thing … is the benefit you gain by it … joint-heir with King of heaven!
9. The value of a thing … is its rarity and supply … one, one-of-a-kind event, forever!
10. The value of a thing … is its complexity and difficulty … power and wisdom of God!
11. The value of a thing … is how easily others may get it … no means or cost can get it!
12. The value of a thing … is its certainty of implied benefits … guaranteed over all foes!
13. The value of a thing … is what you must pay for it … eternal torture without sonship!
14. The value of a thing … is the profit to the seller … designed glory of an infinite God!

The economic concept of opportunity cost is helpful.

1. God established economic laws that govern the use and utility of limited resources, though being above those laws Himself as His grace in Christ has no limiting rules.
2. Limited funds or limited means of production deny securing or producing all options.
   1. Scarce resources require a choice between several mutually exclusive alternatives.
   2. The choice to buy one thing with limited funds means you cannot buy other things.
   3. The choice to produce one thing with limited resources denies producing others.
   4. Due to this fact of opportunity cost, there will always be regrets for every choice.
3. When a person chooses to follow Jesus Christ, there is no real opportunity cost or loss.
   1. If a man gains the whole world and loses his soul, it is a tragic loss (Matt 16:26).
   2. It is better to live life maimed than a whole body to suffer hell eternally (Mat 18:8).
   3. No matter what you lose for Christ, He repays beyond compare (Mark 10:28-30).
   4. What is your opportunity cost by losing your life to gain it (Mat 16:25)? It is trying to save your life and so losing it, which means your opportunity cost is total gain!
   5. The only opportunity cost is sin and dysfunctional living of pleasures for a season, which result in pain and trouble in this life and eternal torment in the next life.
   6. The gain and value of following Christ is much better in this world and in eternity.

The economic concept of diminishing marginal utility is helpful.

1. God established economic laws that govern the use and utility of limited resources, though being above those laws Himself as His grace in Christ has no limiting rules.
2. The first unit of consuming a good or service yields more value than subsequent units.
   1. All things in this life decline in pleasure and profit by how much you have of them.
   2. Each additional plate at a buffet gives less and less pleasure as the first until sick.
   3. The Bible has this maxim: The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but … (Pr 27:7).
   4. The Bible has this maxim: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied … (Ec 5:10).
3. When a person chooses to follow Jesus Christ, there is no lessening of pleasure at all.
   1. Paul knew Jesus better than any, but see his passionate zeal for more (Phil 3:8-14).
   2. Jesus gained the right hand of God for full joy and pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11).
   3. Peace and love pass all understanding and knowledge for His disciples (Phil 4:7).
   4. The Bible exceeds the limits and perfection of all other things in life (Ps 119:96).
   5. Furthermore, a life of temperance, taught by Jesus, maximizes all earth pleasures!

The parties involved help us estimate Christ’s riches.

1. Who demanded payment of you? Jehovah God, perfect, unmoved in burning holiness!
2. What if the penalty is not paid? Eternal torment in lake of fire designed for the devil!
3. Does He deserve such fear? He only can send body and soul into hell (Luke 12:4-5)!
4. What was the payment He needed? The humiliation, torment, and death of His Son!
5. What did you contribute to the deal? Less than nothing, demerited enemy rebel scum!
6. What did you get out of the deal? Pardon for capital crimes and an eternity in heaven!
7. How many obtained this benefit? A multitude of all nations that no man can number!
8. How long will the benefit last? Ten thousand eternities and will then have just begun!
9. What is its rate of depreciation? No decay or reduction by supplies of infinite Deity!
10. What cannot be known about it? Most everything, since God is infinite and we finite!
11. What can be known about it? The price paid, the penalty avoided, the glory obtained!
12. How high does God consider it? The result of infinite wisdom applied for His glory!
13. What did Jesus get for making payment? Promotion of a Man to throne of universe!

How do we best summarize our riches in Christ?

1. We follow Paul’s and other Bible writers’ inspired suggestions for rightly analyzing it.
2. Paul suggested the love of Christ should be learned by at least four dimensions (3:18).
3. Paul suggested a comparison of valuable differences of the two Adams (Ro 5:15-19).
4. Paul suggested a comparison of the superiority of God’s grace to law (Rom 5:20-21).
5. Paul made many comparisons in the book of Hebrews for the preeminence of Christ.
6. Jesus compared other religious leaders to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10).
7. For many more angles on Jesus Christ.
8. For many more angles.
9. For many more angles.
10. For many more angles.

How broad is the love of Christ (Eph 3:18)?

1. With Gentiles large in the context, His love was wide enough for them (Eph 2:11-22).
2. Jesus said that He was the Good Shepherd for those not yet of His fold (John 10:16).
3. The multitude in heaven is from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation (Rev 5:9).
4. No Jew, Greek, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free, male or female (Ga 3:28; Col 3:11).
5. God and Christ set their loving favor on both perfect Zacharias and the injurious Saul.
6. Saving a Canaanite woman, Ethiopian eunuch, Italian centurion, Philippian jailor, etc.
7. Reaching across both the Atlantic Ocean and 2000 years of time to find each of us.

How long is the love of Christ (Eph 3:18)?

1. With election and predestination nearby (1:3-6), His love began before earth or time!
2. With all ages and world without end nearby (3:21), His love will never vary at all!
3. He loved His people with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3), so He drew with kindness.
4. On the future end, nothing can separate from Christ’s or God’s love (Rom 8:35-39).
5. He is and will save them to the uttermost, which is a description of time (Heb 7:25).
6. Everyone else will change, including their love, but neither He nor His love forever.
7. You were promised eternal life and your name written down before the world began.
8. He promised, He will never leave us nor forsake us; He cannot change (Heb 13:5,8).

How deep does the love of Christ go (Eph 3:18)?

1. Saul of Tarsus was a pattern of how deep it could go, chief of sinners (I Tim 1:15-16).
2. It found and honored the sinner woman despised by Simon the Pharisee (Lu 7:36-50).
3. It found a wee man hiding in a sycamore tree who was a traitor to Israel (Lu 19:1-10).
4. It found the thief on the cross who asked Jesus and learned salvation (Luke 23:39-43).
5. It found Peter after both debacles and comforted him to lead on and write epistles.
6. It will find and raise your corrupted carcass from the earth one day soon (Rom 8:23).

How high does the love of Christ go (Eph 3:18)?

1. It reaches to God’s throne where you will sing with David and the angels (Re 5:8-10).
2. It will glorify your body into a spiritual one like Jesus already has (I Cor 15:35-57).
3. It reaches high enough to satisfy the justice and holiness of infinite Jehovah (Ro 3:26).
4. It reaches high enough to cover the mountain of sins that you have committed in time.
5. It will carry you high enough to escape the gravitational sin pull of this corrupt planet.
6. It will energize and fuel the angelic chariot to carry your spirit all the way to heaven.

The quality of Christ exceeds Adam’s (Rom 5:15).

1. Adam and Christ are similar representatives (Ro 5:14,18-19), but there are differences.
2. The difference is indicated by the as … so construction modified by the negative not.
3. The issue is quality. Grace, a gift, and Christ are much more than an offence by Adam.
4. If Adam was fit to represent his constituency, how much more is Jesus Christ for His?

The quantity of Christ exceeds Adam’s (Rom 5:16).

1. Adam and Christ are similar representatives (Ro 5:14,18-19), but there are differences.
2. The difference is indicated by the as … so construction modified by the negative not.
3. The issue is quantity. Jesus paid for many sins as a greater quantity than Adam’s one.
4. Jesus not only paid for Adam’s offence for you, but He also paid for all your own sins.

The reigning power of Christ exceeds Adam’s bondage (5:17).

1. Adam and Christ are similar representatives (Ro 5:14,18-19), but there are differences.
2. The difference is indicated by the if … much more construction contrasting the two.
3. The issue is reigning power. Jesus exceeds Adam by combining quality and quantity.
4. If Adam’s sin has dominion over men, then much more will Christ’s gift by grace!
5. For more about the two representative Adams.

The grace of Christ exceeds Moses’s law for great riches (5:20-21).

1. How can a man be just with God, Who is perfectly righteous and holy (Job 9:2; 25:4)?
2. The law came to cause sin to abound, but grace did much more abound (Ro 5:20-21)!
   1. Moses’ law with all the negative and positive precepts showed man his sins daily.
   2. Sin by the law reigned over men and took all men by sin down to death (Ro 6:23).
   3. But in a similar way, God’s grace and righteousness by Christ reigns to eternal life.
3. The law was given to shut all mouths and leave men guilty before God (Ro 3:19-20).
   1. The law only provides the knowledge of sin, no man can be justified by keeping it.
   2. But righteousness by Jesus Christ fully justifies believers before God (Ro 3:21-26).
   3. Justification is free by God’s grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
   4. God sent Jesus to be your propitiation (appeasing atonement) through His blood.

Jesus Christ trumps everything the O.T. could offer (Hebrews).

1. Let us remember that O.T. religion was the chosen religion of unsearchable Jehovah.
2. Jesus Christ the Son of God is superior to O.T. prophets and their words (Heb 1:1-3).
   1. Think of Israel’s best … Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Malachi!
   2. Read the drastic and glorious comparison carefully and delight in Jesus the Christ!
   3. There is no comparison! and these inferior men were the greatest prophets ever!
3. Jesus is superior to angels by various measures and in various ways (Heb 1:4 – 2:18).
   1. He was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death (Heb 2:9 cp Ps 8:4-6).
   2. But His inheritance in heaven for dying for us has highly exalted Him (Heb 1:4-5).
   3. From Bethlehem to His role in changing the universe, He is greater (Heb 1:6-12).
   4. His position and role in heaven are far greater as Lord to servants (Heb 1:13-14).
4. Jesus is superior to Moses, the greatest leader of the church of the O.T. (Heb 3:1-19).
   1. Moses was so great God buried his body lest Israel worship it (De 34:6; Jude 1:9).
   2. Peter tried to give honor to Moses equal to Jesus, but it didn’t work (Matt 17:1-6).
   3. The house under consideration here is the church of the Old Testament (Acts 7:38).
   4. Considering the Apostle and High Priest Jesus trumps prophets and angels totally!
   5. Jesus is better than Moses by building the house and being the Son, not a servant!
5. Jesus is superior to Joshua, the leader that led them to a rest in Canaan (Heb 4:1-13).
   1. The text reviewed here from Hebrews 3:7 to 4:8 is the warning of Psalm 95:7-11.
   2. If Joshua got Israel a meaningful rest, then why offer another rest 500 years later.
   3. If Canaan, land of milk and honey, was Israel’s rest, why offer them another rest.
   4. Jesus has a rest for His people in the gospel that beats rest of Canaan in every way.
6. Jesus is superior to Israel’s Levitical priesthood by Melchisedec (Heb 4:14 – 10:39).
   1. He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities for our boldness (Heb 4:14 – 5:3).
   2. He was ordained as truly as all the chapters for Levitical priests (Heb 5:4 – 5:14).
   3. He is the certain Saviour and forerunner of His people by God’s oath (Heb 6:1-20).
   4. He is like Melchisedec in His resume (7:1-3), superior to Abraham (7:4-7), to Levi (7:8-10), to the Law (7:11-14), to temporary priests (7:15-19), in ordination by an oath (7:20-22), in longevity (7:23-25), in impeccability (7:26-28), in covenant (8:1-13), in ordinances (9:1-14), in testament or will (9:15-28), in sacrifice (10:1-14), in access to God (10:15-25), and with much greater obligation to service (10:26-39).
7. Jesus is superior to the many faithful elders for our greater duty (Heb 11:1 – 12:21).
8. Jesus is superior due to a greater kingdom and Jerusalem above (Heb 12:22 – 13:25).
9. Hebrews often uses better, and more, and great, and greater, and heavenly contrasts.
10. For a summary of Melchisedec.
11. For an overview summary of Hebrews.
12. For a verse-by-verse exposition.

The priesthood of Jesus is unsearchably rich.

1. Since most Christians were raised without priests, they do not appreciate these riches.
2. He took our nature, not that of angels, to be a perfect high priest for us (Heb 2:14-18).
3. He took our nature, so He could know the feelings of our infirmities (Heb 4:13-16).
4. He was called and ordained by Almighty God to be our official priest (Heb 5:4-10).
5. He is high priest after the order of Melchisedec and all its advantages (Heb 7:1-28).
6. Rather than be a priest of a worthless earthly sanctuary, He is in the true (Heb 8:1-7).
7. Rather than hopeless ordinances of the O.T., He has a better priesthood (Heb 9:1-28).
8. Rather than offer worthless bodies of animals, God gave Him a body (Heb 10:1-22).
9. For much more about His priesthood.
10. For Melchisedec priesthood.
11. For Melchisedec priesthood.

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd unlike other shepherds (John 10).

1. Religion has been means to fleece people and elect from the very beginning of time.
2. Using fear of death, preying priests and preachers take advantage of men (Heb 2:15).
3. Jesus Christ condemned Pharisees and imposter shepherds by comparison to Himself.
4. Jesus is both the Door and the Shepherd for religion to God and pasture for growth.
5. After His parable, Jesus explained the character comparison plainly (John 10:7-15).
6. After questioning by the Jews, Jesus gave the doctrine of His role (John 10:25-30).
7. For more about the Good Shepherd.

Jesus abolished death for great riches in hope.

1. Everyone fears death and the evil days that precede them due to our sins (Eccl 12:1-7).
   1. If all we have is Jesus for this life, we are of all men most miserable (I Cor 15:29).
   2. But there is great victory in every sense to die and depart this world to the next.
2. Jesus came to destroy him with power of death, that is the devil (Heb 2:14; I Jn 3:8).
   1. Due to Christ’s death and victory over it, believers go to sleep (Acts 7:60; 13:36).
   2. Due to Christ’s death and victory, it is a family reunion (Gen 25:8; 35:29; 49:33).
   3. But only the body sleeps, for the spirit is immediately in the presence of Christ.
   4. The riches of Christ are so great that Jesus died even for your body (I Cor 6:12-20).
   5. Death is a planting, by which we take a step to get our new body (I Cor 15:35-38).
   6. Death is abolished; it and the grave may be mocked (II Tim 1:10; I Cor 15:54-57).
   7. It is true the dead are blessed and precious in God’s sight (Rev 14:13; Ps 116:15).
3. The righteous who die young are not to be pitied at all (Isaiah 57:1-2; Phil 1:21-24).
4. “Till death do us part” ends earthly marriages forever but enhances Christ and you!
5. More about death destroyed.

The coming deliverance of the whole creation is riches.

1. Adam’s sin brought corruption into the world, Jesus will soon deliver it (Ro 8:17-23).
   1. The glorious liberty coming is so great the residual blessing will alter the universe.
   2. The manifestation of the sons of God is a large part of the climax of the drama.
   3. The power of Christ Jesus and His salvation will soon correct the universe for you.
2. Jesus Christ is going to make all things new for you, including new heaven and earth.
   1. The earth moves toward a total renovation by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
   2. Peter and John testified of a new heaven and earth (II Peter 3:10-14; Rev 21:1-5).
   3. There is no reason to fall in love with men, for all things are yours (I Cor 3:21-23).
3. For hope of the earth.

Jesus as your Mediator with God is rich indeed.

1. God’s holiness and terror are great (Job 9:33; 16:21; Ex 20:18-19; Is 6:5; Heb 12:21).
2. You must have a mediator, and only One – the Man Christ Jesus (I Ti 2:5; Acts 4:12).
3. What kind of a lawyer do you want to have defending you to God in heaven’s court?
   1. The Judge and legal system against you is unlike anything you can even imagine.
   2. You are guilty of capital crimes in Adam and yourself worthy of the second death.
   3. Before your trial began, your lawyer threw the prosecuting attorney out of court!
   4. He was tempted in all points like you, so He can perfectly understand your crimes.
   5. He is the Judge’s only, favorite, beloved, pleasing, firstborn Son! What a lawyer!
   6. He has already served the time and suffered the full legal penalty of death for you!
   7. The holy, righteous, and just Judge gladly declares all claims satisfied (Is 53:11)!
   8. So thorough is this expunging of your record that no charge can be laid (Ro 8:33).
   9. Your record has been replaced to show only the Judge’s Son’s perfect obedience.
   10. A lawyer of this sort would turn you away, but He promised otherwise (John 6:37)!
   11. This lawyer has never lost a single case; He guarantees all clients (John 6:38-39)!
   12. A lawyer of this sort would be expensive beyond words – but it is all of free grace!
   13. This Judge rejected or punished the O.T. church in spite of their mediator (Moses)!
   14. He did not stop at pardon or acquittal, but pursued adoption – listen (Jn 17:20-24)!
   15. So fine is the Lawyer’s work, the Judge put you in His will as joint-heir with Him!
   16. Jesus is known as your Intercessor, Counselor, Advocate (Is 53:12; 9:6; I Jn 2:2)!
   17. Just in case of charges being raised against you, He is perpetually in court for you!
   18. Your lawyer is on retainer by God’s assignment and the reward of heaven’s glory!
   19. The Judge, now Father, loves to have you drop in at anytime to ask for anything!
   20. The double jeopardy of an Arminian legal system has been ruled false and heresy!
4. For Jesus as your Lawyer.
5. For reconciliation to God by Jesus Christ.

Salvation by Jesus Christ is absolutely certain and thus rich.

1. He promised He would not lose a single one of those God gave to Him (Jn 6:38-39).
2. How can you know you are one? Come to Him by believing on Him (John 6:37,40).
3. He promised He would not lose a single one of sheep God gave Him (John 10:28-29).
4. How can you know you are one? Come to Him by believing on Him (John 10:26-27).
5. You, or those suffering worse than you, cannot be lost from His love (Rom 8:35-37).
6. Nothing anywhere, not matter what, can cost you God’s love in Christ (Rom 8:38-39).
7. Your safety in Christ is surer than the covenant of day and night (Jer 33:20-22,25-26).
8. In Jesus Christ, the chosen One of God, you are safe in spite of sins (Psalm 89:28-37).
9. To make your future certain, God swore with an oath for assurance (Heb 6:11-20).

The religion of Jesus Christ is easy and light.

1. Religions of men extend in cruelty and difficulty to child sacrifice and even to suicide.
   1. The worship of Molech and Muslim extremists differ little in religious bondage.
   2. RC, followed fully, has no end to sacraments, sacramentals, rituals, relics, etc., etc.
   3. Leaders take vows of celibacy and poverty; its followers may crucify themselves.
   4. Inspired apostles knew O.T. religion was an unbearable yoke (Ac 15:10; Gal 4:9).
2. But Jesus clearly promised rest in His religion with ease and lightness (Mat 11:28-30).
   1. It is called a rest that is superior to the Sabbath Day and to Canaan (Heb 4:1-11).
   2. His commandments are not grievous, but gloriously beneficial and merciful (I Jn 5:3; Ps 19:7-11; Jer 6:16; Psalm 127:1-2; Proverbs 3:1-17; 11:17; Job 1:10).
   3. Consider how the high King of heaven values mercy over sacrifice (Matt 12:7), and He honors intent of a law more than mere legal observance of it (Mark 2:27).

There is nothing higher or richer than adoption by God.

1. Jesus Christ is unsearchable riches if He only suffered in your place to save from hell.
   1. You easily and fully deserve to suffer eternal torment with the devil and his angels.
   2. There is nothing you can claim or pretend to modify God’s holy justice against sin.
   3. To be fully forgiven and pardoned to never even smell hell’s smoke is great news!
   4. How could you search out and rightly estimate God crushing Jesus instead of you?
2. God’s riches of grace in Christ are much greater than pardon – they include adoption!
   1. You are not a pardoned sinner released back into the world to commit more crimes.
   2. You are not merely forgiven to be in some neutral state before God like the angels.
   3. You have been adopted as His son with all the benefits and privileges thereunto.
   4. You are a joint-heir with His firstborn and preeminent Son by glorious adoption.
   5. This is a degree of love and favor in Christ Jesus that transcends all else (I Jn 3:1).
   6. How in the world can you even start to estimate the value or worth of these riches?
3. For much more about adoption as sons of God.

Jesus became poor so you might be made rich!

1. The thought of this is unsearchable, since it is contrary to natural sense (II Cor 8:9).
2. The grace of Christ began by leaving His riches to become poor for your salvation.
   1. Jesus was in the form of God and thought it not robbery to be equal (Phil 2:5-8).
   2. He was born to poor parents that could not afford a hotel and was laid in a manger.
   3. He had no position, pleasure, privilege, or riches during a life without home or bed.
   4. His last Passover with His apostles, a fabulous feast, had to be in a borrowed room.
   5. He died a cruel death after torture, between common thieves, replacing a murderer.
   6. He was cut off in the prime of His life and had to be buried in a borrowed tomb.
3. The grace of Christ ends by you being made rich by Him and sharing in His riches.
   1. His death secured full pardon for crime and adoption as the sons of Jehovah God.
   2. When He ascended to heaven, He inherited the universe as His assets (Phil 2:9-11).
   3. As adopted sons of God, you are joint-heirs in a very rich inheritance (Eph 1:18).

The ransom paid for you trumps all earthly riches.

1. The rich of this world can buy most any pleasure and can avoid most any pain/trouble.
   1. Their inward thoughts are very arrogant and foolish about how they approach life.
   2. God warned the rich clearly and definitely in Psalm 49, to our good use in 6-10.
   3. Though their money will do much for them, they cannot buy off their soon death!
   4. There is no amount of money nor financial leverage anywhere for ransom to God.
   5. The redemption of a soul is precious – it takes something far greater than money.
   6. The redemption of a soul ceases forever – there is only one transaction of all time.
   7. God will only accept one payment – riches they have nothing of – Jesus Christ!
2. God demands the ransom for your sins to be paid or you die (arranged by the devil).
3. The price must be enough to satisfy an infinite and holy Being that is holy without sin.
4. The precious blood of Christ is declared better than silver and gold (I Peter 1:18-20).
5. For much more about the ransom of Jesus Christ.

The glory of Christ’s riches for us trump all else.

1. There is the superlative positive description beyond any human pleasure (I Cor 2:9).
2. There is the superlative positive comparison beyond any human suffering (Rom 8:18).
   1. Paul argued any suffering in this world will be trumped by eternal glory in Christ.
   2. Pain and trouble in this life are not worthy to be compared with pleasure of heaven.
   3. This contrast comes from a man that experienced suffering beyond all other men.
   4. Therefore, following Christ is worth it, no matter what torture or martyr’s death.
   5. He further mocked the contrast by a beautiful comparison of them (II Cor 4:17-18).
3. Riches, when seen as value and importance, are in proportion to success and victory.
   1. Any existing enemy, loss, or trouble dulls the riches of the rich, but Jesus is Victor!
   2. If there are any territories untaken, even as for Alexander, his legacy is restricted.
   3. Does this text sound successful and victorious for you (Ps 45:1-17)? Hallelujah!
   4. Does this text sound successful and victorious for you (John 14:1-6)? Hallelujah!
   5. Does this text sound successful and victorious for you (I Cor 3:20-23)? Hallelujah!
   6. Does this text sound successful and victorious for you (I Co 15:19-28)? Hallelujah!
   7. Does this text sound successful and victorious for you (I Co 15:50-58)? Hallelujah!

The dulling and enhancing value of Christ’s riches.

1. Riches dull simple pleasures by allowing greater pleasures, and thus it is with Christ.
   1. Moses counted Christ’s reproach above Egypt’s pleasure and riches (He 11:24-26).
   2. Paul considered the world crucified to him by the superiority of Christ (Gal 6:14).
   3. The Christian life is a reasonable service by God’s mercies in Christ (Rom 12:1-2).
   4. Christ and the world are opposites, so you must choose one (Matt 6:24; James 4:4).
2. Riches enhance your perspective of life making other assets to be more enjoyable.
   1. A merry heart creates a continual feast … a heart loving Christ is merry (Pr 15:15)!
   2. When your gaze and glory are on Christ, houses and spouses have a greater luster!
   3. The higher your gaze up to Christ, the less you care or criticize mere earthly things.
   4. There is unlimited pleasure in Christ, limiting worry over pleasure here (Ps 16:11).

The riches of Christ are unsearchable as a free gift.

1. If eternal life were an offer, none would accept or obey for it (Ps 14:1-3; I Cor 2:14).
2. Christ’s death was never offered to anyone but God, and He accepted it (He 9:11-15).
3. Eternal life was never an offer – never dependent on man – always a four-fold gift.
   1. God gave the elect to Jesus to save (Jn 6:37-39; 10:28; 17:2; II Tim 1:9; Heb 2:13).
   2. God gave His Son Jesus to die for them (Jn 3:16; Rom 8:32; II Cor 5:21; I Jn 4:10).
   3. Jesus gave His life for the elect God gave Him (John 10:11; Eph 5:25; Titus 2:14).
   4. God and Jesus give the elect eternal life (John 10:28; 17:2; Rom 8:32; I John 5:11).
4. All spiritual blessings that you need and desire are in Christ Jesus and assigned to you.
   1. You were chosen in Him before the world began for those blessings (Eph 1:3-6).
   2. You were in Christ when He died to secure them all (II Cor 5:18-21; Rom 8:32).
   3. You have born again in Christ and given His image for them (Eph 2:5-6; 4:24).
   4. It is easy to be in Christ Jesus for the full assurance and evidence (Gal 3:26-27).
5. For more about eternal life as a gift.

The riches of Christ are unsearchable by losers.

1. God’s grace in Christ is past human explanation and experience by the objects of it.
   1. Christ’s riches have been exalted by value to God but here by their help to losers.
   2. Know that God’s pardon of men is higher than ours as heaven to earth (Is 55:6-9).
2. God has chosen base, foolish, poor, weaklings of this world to make rich by Christ!
   1. He did this for the fullest display of His grace and power (I Cor 1:26-31; Jas 2:5).
   2. He hides His gospel from the wise and prudent for babes instead (Matt 11:25-27).
   3. Jesus searched for losers and defended against criticizing winners (Luke 5:27-32).
   4. Jesus saved Rahab the harlot and made her famous (Matt 1:5; Heb 11:31; Jas 2:25).
   5. Jesus loved David and saved him from a horrible mess by Nathan (II Sam 23:1-7).
   6. Jesus loved loser women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba (Matthew 1:1-17).
   7. Jesus saved the thief on the cross though he had nothing to give (Luke 23:39-43).
   8. Jesus sent His angels to gather a beggar, the world’s sorriest loser (Luke 16:19-31).
   9. Jesus saved Mary Magdalene from seven devils and picked her first (Mark 16:9).
   10. Jesus ignored thousands to pick Zacchaeus out of a crowd for lunch (Luk 19:1-10).
   11. Jesus went to pains to chase down the totally insane man of Gedara (Mark 5:1-20).
   12. Jesus twice sought out and saved a man blind from birth rejected by others (Jn 9).
   13. Jesus cured a single leper of his disease by touching him publicly (Matthew 8:1-4).
   14. Jesus saved many losers at Corinth with full riches of saving grace (I Cor 6:9-11).
   15. Jesus forgave a sinful woman and defended her against proud Simon (Lu 7:36-50).
   16. Jesus sought out the Samaritan woman with 5+ husbands in fornication (Jn 4:4-42).
   17. Jesus sent Philip to a desert place for just one black, eunuch Gentile (Act 8:26-40).
   18. Jesus love Peter, forgave him, and appeared to him before the others (I Cor 15:5).
   19. Remember, Jesus chases down one sheep while ignoring the 99 (Luke 15:1-10).
   20. And do they cheer the 99 not lost in heaven? No! The angels cheer the one sheep!
3. You can come to Christ right now without any further improvement, and you must!
4. For more about Christ’s grace to losers.
5. For truth of Jesus saving Saul of Tarsus.

The riches of Christ are unsearchable by repeat offenders.

1. Some foolishly limit or emphasize the grace of Christ for sinners before conversion.
   1. But I John 1:9 and others verses like it are for those way beyond their conversion.
   2. He remembers our frame and forgives repeat offenders (Ps 103:10-14; 78:37-39).
   3. He expects 70×7 forgiving others, and He will always do better (Matt 18:21-22).
2. God in Christ is the Good and Great Shepherd that seeks and forgives straying sheep.
   1. David sinned against great knowledge, but God forgave him fully and then some!
   2. Manasseh was Hezekiah’s son, but he sinned terribly against the God of his father.
   3. Peter sinned against great knowledge, but God forgave him fully and then some!
   4. Mark sinned against great knowledge, but God forgave him fully and then some!
   5. Corinth sinned against great knowledge, but God forgave them of very many sins!
3. For more rich comfort for repeat offenders.

The knowledge of Christ Jesus is excellent riches.

1. Paul had a great pedigree and resume, but he flushed all to know Christ (Phil 3:7-11).
   1. He counted all his religious accomplishments loss and dung to know Jesus Christ.
   2. He sought to win Christ’s approval and blessing above anything else in this world.
   3. He flushed confidence in his righteousness to be in Christ with His righteousness.
   4. He wanted to know Jesus Christ experientially and intimately, the power of His resurrected life, the fellowship of His sufferings, to be conformable to His death.
   5. For more about Paul knowing Christ.
2. Paul chose to highly exalt knowing Christ above all else in his preaching (I Cor 2:2).
3. Paul could not think of anything else to glory in compared to Christ’s cross (Ga 6:14).
4. Peter, who knew Christ, wrote of knowing Him and exhorted to it (II Pet 1:2-3; 3:18).
5. Just to think of the superlative greatness and exceeding riches of Christ is pure delight.

The riches of Christ include personal fellowship.

1. The transaction between God and Christ for eternal life is not just legal, but personal!
2. God and Christ have set their love on the elect (Jer 31:3; Eph 5:25; I John 3:1; 4:10).
3. Jesus Christ personally and intimately loves you as His body (Eph 5:29-32; 1:23).
4. He is not the least ashamed to own you as His brother to the universe (Heb 2:11-13).
5. He will come into those who will have Him for fellowship (Rev 3:20; John 14:15-23).
6. This fellowship with Father and Son is what the apostles themselves had (I Jn 1:3-4).
7. For personal fellowship with Christ.

The riches of Christ include the Holy Ghost.

1. It was the death of Jesus Christ that secured the Holy Spirit for permanent comfort.
2. Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given for rivers of living water (John 7:37-39).
3. The details of God’s indwelling presence by the Holy Spirit are glorious (John 14-16).
4. The indwelling presence of God for all believers is His gift to the church (Acts 2:33).
5. Included are the offices and gifts for the benefit of the church (Ep 4:8-11; I Co 12:28).
6. The Holy Spirit seals believers that God has guaranteed their salvation (Eph 1:13-14).

The full assurance of hope is a rich blessing.

1. The riches of Christ culminate in the certain hope of infinite, future blessings of God.
2. God swore with an oath to confirm assurance of certainty of blessings (Heb 6:11-20).

Conclusion:

1. Jesus is precious to believers, but those that do not love Him are damned (I Pet 2:7-8; I Cor 16:22).
2. There are consequences to those who think they can hear the message and not react to Jesus Christ.
3. What hinders you loving Him and living for Him more? Is He not enough? He has not done enough? Has He not saved you from enough? Has He not promised enough? You have found better fellows?

For Further Study:

1. Sermon Outline: The Glory of the Cross.
2. Sermon Outline: He Is Altogether Lovely.
3. Sermon Outline: World’s Greatest Lover.
4. Sermon Outline: Facets of Salvation.
5. Sermon Outline: The Cross of Jesus Christ.
6. Sermon Outline: Who Shall Declare His Generation.