I.    ALL MEN’S POSITION

A.   CREATED IN INNOCENCE, Gen 1:26

B.   CORRUPTED IN INSUBORDINATION, Gen 3

C.   CONCEIVED IN INIQUITY, Ps 51:5, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

D.   CONSTRAINED IN INSUFFICIENCY, Is 64:6, Romans 7:21

II.   ALMIGHTY’S PROVIDENCE

A.   FOREKNOWLEDGE OF SIN, Acts 15:18, “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” He made man with full understanding of what he would do. Still he chose to create us, allow us to take our own course in opposition to his holy law, and create for us a method of deliverance.

B.   FAVOR TOWARD SINNERS, Romans 8:5

C.   FORESHADOWING OF HIS SALVATION, The Old Testament is filled with examples of the foreshadowing of the salvation of the Lord:

1.    Particulars of the Law: the Lamb, the Priest, the tabernacle (earthly dwelling place of God)

2.    Pictures of the Word: Abraham and Isaac, Life Of Joseph, Moses the Deliverer

3.    Power of the Miracles: Moses @ Red Sea said, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.” God rained down manna from heaven to show us that bread was coming for our hungry souls. He gave water from a rock to demonstrate how his son would give water to the thirsty souls. He spared Israel from the death angel in Egypt by the blood of the lamb to show us our Passover lamb!

D.   FULFILLMENT OF HIS STIPULATIONS, Matthew 5:17, perfect, without spot or blemish. Hebrews 9:11-14, “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

III.        ALL MERCIFUL PRESENCE (HE CAME TO ME)

A.   IN INCARNATION, 1 Tim 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

B.   IN PERFECTION, Heb 4:15

C.   IN CRUCIFIXION, Galatians 3:13

D.   IN CONVICTION, John 6:44

E.   IN REDEMPTION, 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

F.   IN SANCTIFICATION, 1 Cor 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” I am so glad that he is with me daily keeping me clean and making me what I need to be for his glory!

G.   IN GLORIFICATION, Lets me share now and again in his manifested presence!

H.   IN TRANSLATION, 1 John 3:1-2, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Conclusion: WHEN I COULD NOT COME TO WHERE HE WAS, HE CAME TO ME