We’ve got the thing all backwards today. What must I do to be saved? And they came to the Lord Jesus—“What must we do, that we might work the works of God?” And the Lord Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” And He is saying, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” That’s the only work God’s asking you to do. Believe. Faith is just about the opposite of works. Now saving faith produces works, as we have seen. But it certainly doesn’t originate. It doesn’t originate salvation. Works, your works have nothing to do with your salvation.

“He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God: and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.” He’s depicted here as the shepherd that feeds them. You see, He’s the shepherd to the church and He’s also the shepherd to the nation, Israel. And He is the one, by the way, that is to bring to this earth the thing that this world needs. Actually He is the good shepherd that lay down His life for the sheep, that’s Psalm 22. And He is the great shepherd that keeps His sheep today, that’s Psalm 23.

There is a tenderness and a sweetness in this book that reveals how wonderful our God is. He is the “one who pardoneth iniquity.” He is the one that can forgive, and His forgiveness is so different than our forgiveness. We forgive if we feel like it and we forgive without any payment being made many times. But do you know that God never forgives until the payment has been made? Never. You see, the reason He can forgive your sin and mine is because the penalty has already been paid. As a holy God, He forgives on the basis of His tenderness and His love in giving His Son to die for us.

Micah 7:18, “Who is a God like unto thee, who pardoneth iniquity, and who passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? Who retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” Now God hates sin, but He loves the souls of the sinners. And He wants to save them. You see, judgment is called God’s “strange work.” And it’s strange because He doesn’t like to do it. He’d rather not. But He’s a holy God, and He hates sin, and any rebellion against Him must be dealt with. But He still loves the souls of the sinners. And He wants to save them and will save them.

He’s knocking at your heart’s door, friend. Look at His hands. The psalmist said in Psalm 31:15: “My times are in thy hand.” And friends, today your eternal destiny today is in the hands of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the crucified—“those hands, my cruel sins are pierced, are now my guard and guide.” The hands of a Savior and a Sovereign today. Patiently He comes to your heart’s door, and He’ll come no farther. He’ll come no farther. He’ll never break it in. You have to open it.

His feet led Him to the Cross. He died there for you and me, and your feet and my feet are running away. But He’s still saying today, “Turn around. Come to Me.” That’s the way I got saved, and if you got saved, that’s the way you got saved. He took out after you. Because His feet are the feet that came to this earth to bring glad tidings, to bring salvation, to bring to man the way to God. If you’re willing to come to Him. You’ll have to be willing to come to His feet. They’re nail-pierced feet, pierced for you, human feet.

Now our Lord set an example in that you and I are to look to Him for instruction. He’ll show us. And also for encouragement. And today if you and I are walking in the will and work of God, it’ll relieve the mind of its anxieties. It will ensure peace of mind in a world that’s filled with turmoil today. And it will deliver you from frustration. When you’re busy doing something and it doesn’t work out and falls to pieces in your hands, if you know you’re in the will and work of God, then that’s all right. You’ll not be frustrated, and there’ll be no disappointment, and there’ll be no defeat.

Have you ever noticed that for 1900 years He has been blessing this world? He ascended into heaven in the attitude of blessing. And the last view that the world had of Him, His hands were outstretched. Not on the cross, but outstretched in blessing. That’s very suggestive. His hands are outstretched to a world today, and He wants to say, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If any may will open the door I’ll come in to him and sup with him, and he with me” And that’s the human heart, with His hands today He knocks at your heart’s door.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Do you know this morning what that is? To have a Savior who is a Great Physician? Who knows you as no one knows you? And to be able to go to Him? Oh, He’ll never turn you down. You can go and tell Him. Do you know what I’ve been doing? I ride a great deal by myself. I’m trying to make Jesus Christ as real to me in that car as a person sitting there and to tell Him everything.

What is it that this poor saint walking down here today who has it in his heart a desire to live for God above everything else, and yet who sees his weakness, he sees his faults. He’s walking in the light of the Word of God and yet he wants to please God. What can he do? May I say to you, there’s good news for him. I know it’s familiar, but let’s listen to it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just ….” And the word “just” means He’s righteous. God is right when He forgives us. Well, how can He be righteous? I’ll tell you why. Because He promised to forgive us.