Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Who is Israel?

A Portrait of Grace Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2012-01-27

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of 2 Samuel 9, focusing on Mephibosheth as a picture-perfect representation of the sinner. He explains how Mephibosheth's fall, lameness, and helpless condition mirror humanity's fall in Adam, total depravity, and inability to please God or come to Christ apart from divine grace. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is entirely by grace, initiated by God, based on the merits of Christ, and results in the restoration and exaltation of the believer, who is adopted into God's family and covered by Christ's righteousness.

[John Weaver] So let's read 2 Samuel 9, beginning with verse 1. 2 Samuel 9, verse 1. And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Zeba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Zeba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Makar, the son of Amiel, in Lodibar. Then king David sent and fetched him out of the house of Makar, the son of Amiel, from Lodibar. And when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence.

[John Weaver] And David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, Behold thy servant. And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertain to Saul and to all his house. Thou therefore and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits that thy master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons.

[John Weaver] And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, and he did eat continually at the king's table, and was lame on both his feet." I hope that you will remember that last week I began this message, A Portrait of Grace, and I was trying to deal with it in two parts. I was showing, first of all, the divine side, how that basically the salvation and the exaltation of Mephibosheth, first of all, began with David the king. Mephibosheth certainly was not seeking out King David. He was not seeking to be exalted or saved in any sense of the word. But the decree and the origination, the source, the initiation of grace began with the king.

[John Weaver] And of course then I developed that from Scripture. and showed you how that salvation began with our great God and King, because the Bible tells us that He gave the decree before the foundation of the world.

[John Weaver] Secondly, I pointed out that the salvation and exaltation of Mephibosheth was due to the merits of another. David said, Is there any left of the house of Saul that I may show him mercy for Jonathan's sake? And I went through the Bible, and I showed you how David and Jonathan had entered into a covenant together. And then, of course, we went to several other passages, like Hebrews 13 and verse 20, where the Bible speaks about that eternal covenant that was made between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. And very obviously, the only reason that God has mercy upon us is because of the merits of another, that is, the merits of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was not only made of a woman and made under the law, the Bible says, He's the only one who has ever obeyed the law of God personally, perfectly, and perpetually. So He rendered unto God a perfect obedience to that law. And then, of course, He was given as our sacrifice, as our substitutionary atonement.

[John Weaver] He was the sinless Son of God and thus, therefore, He died in our stead. And so, therefore, God has mercy upon us because of Jesus Christ. We have mercy because of the merits of another.

[John Weaver] Now, today I want to come and look at Mephibosheth more specifically, and I want you to see how Mephibosheth in his condition, in his status, and ultimately in his end, ultimately portrays the sinner. We've used the term picture perfect. Well, certainly in the life of Mephibosheth, we have a perfect picture of each one of us, because Mephibosheth is the picture perfect representation of a sinner. So today I want to look particularly at verses 2 through 13 and I want you to see just one point and that is the recipient of grace. Of course the recipient of grace in 2 Samuel chapter 9 is Mephibosheth. You must remember that Mephibosheth by nature and by lineage was an enemy of David.

[John Weaver] He had forfeited everything by virtue of the fact that he was the house and lineage of Saul. Saul has been killed. His kingdom has been taken from him. David has now been elevated to the throne. And if you'll remember, last week I told you it was the standard operating procedure that when a new king came to the throne, he immediately killed all the former kings' family and friends.

[John Weaver] And he did so to prevent any insurrection and any sedition. So very obviously now, David has ascended to the throne and by virtue of the fact that he is now king, everything that Saul had belongs to David. Now listen carefully. It was David's by virtue of two very important facts. First of all, it fell to David by right of his inheritance through his wife. You remember he had married Michael, who was the daughter of Saul. And the Bible tells you in Numbers chapter 27 and verse 8, if a man dies and he has no sons, then everything goes to his wife, well, to his daughter. And so Saul's daughter now is married to David. So by virtue of the very fact that he married Saul's daughter, he now owns everything that Saul had. Also, Ish-bosheth, who was another son of Saul, was in rebellion, and God killed him, and everything was transferred over to David. So by virtue of these two facts, David now owns everything that Saul and his family formerly possessed. Now let me put it to you very bluntly.

[John Weaver] David did not owe Mephibosheth anything. Everything that Saul and his family had legally, lawfully, and rightfully belonged to David. So the very fact that David now wants to Have mercy upon Lefebesheth. It is pure grace.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in verses 2. After he asked in verse 1, is there any left of the house of Saul that he may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? In verse 2, And there was the house of Saul a servant whose name was Zeba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Zeba? And he said, Thy servant is he. Now, I want you to understand that Zeba was the last servant of King Saul. Verse 3, And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son who is laying on his feet. So David now finds out through Ziba that there is a descendant of Jonathan that's still alive, and it happens to be Mephibosheth. Now, I'm going to show you in just a moment, but Mephibosheth was five years old at his father's death when Jonathan and Saul And some of the others were killed on Mount Gilboa.

[John Weaver] Mephibosheth was only five. You have to also remember that during the years preceding this, David had been driven from the land through the wickedness of King Saul. So Mephibosheth has been born. David does not know him. David did not even know that he existed. Because David had been on the run until that particular time, until God made him king over Judah, and he was king over Judah seven years before he got to be king over all Israel.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll look in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, you might as well hold this passage, because we will refer to it several times today. But 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, The Bible says, and Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame on his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and it came to pass as she made haste to flee that he fell and became lame, and his name was Mephibosheth. Now, you remember after Saul and Jonathan died, Saul had another son by the name of Ish-bosheth who ascended the throne. Literally, Mephibosheth would have had a greater claim to the throne through Jonathan, because Jonathan was supposed to be the next in line. Saul said so himself on several occasions. But undoubtedly, the lameness of Mephibosheth kept him from contesting the throne. May I also point out, that it was also this lameness that in all probability saved his life because you remember Ish-bosheth was killed.

[John Weaver] And then the kingdom was delivered over to David. So here he is, lame on both feet. So, by the way, the word Mephibosheth literally means exterminating the idol. Exterminating the idol. And you're going to see in this passage how God exterminates the idol through the grace and the mercy of God. Now, how does Mephibosheth represent the sinner? How does Mephibosheth give us a picture-perfect representation of the sinner? Let me show you.

[John Weaver] First of all, he was involved in a fall. The Bible tells you there in 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, that he was involved in a fall. In fact, he fell and, of course, became lame. The very fact that he was involved in a fall is very, very significant because the fall of man is extremely significant. When you talk about the fall of man, you have to understand that man is not now as God made him originally.

[John Weaver] We have been plunged into a sea of sin and misery. We've been ruined. We're wretched. We're rebellious. We're wicked. God created Adam. He created man with original knowledge, with original righteousness, holiness, and dominion. We have lost all of those characteristics by virtue of the fall. In fact, I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold 2 Samuel 9, but turn to the book of Isaiah chapter 1. Let me show you picture of what man is now since the fall. Notice Isaiah chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 5. And then we'll turn to Romans chapter 3. We'll look at Isaiah 1 verse 5. Here is now the picture of man since the fall. God says this, Isaiah 1 and verse 5, Why should you be stricken anymore?

[John Weaver] You will revolt more and more. Now look what God says,"...the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."

[John Weaver] Now the corruption and depravity of man is pictured here from head to toe. Man lost everything in the fall. if you would turn right over to the book of Romans chapter 3. You'll see how the Apostle Paul tells us about man since the fall. Different words, but certainly the same truth. Notice in Romans chapter 3, beginning there with verse 10. Romans 3 verse 10, the Apostle Paul writes, as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one, Note, there is none that seeketh after God. There is none that doeth good. There's none that understands. There's none that seeketh after God.

[John Weaver] They're all going out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Now note, there is none righteous. There's none that understands. There's none that seeks after God. They're all going out of the way. There's none good. No, not one. In other words, man is now totally different than when God originally made him. Like Mephibosheth, we have fallen from our first estate. It was J.C.

[John Weaver] Philpott who said this, and let me give you the quote. He said,"...as no heart can sufficiently conceive, so no tongue can adequately express the state of wretchedness and ruin into which sin has cast guilty, miserable man." In separating him from God, it severed him from the only source of happiness and holiness. It has ruined him body and soul. The one, the body, it is filled with sickness and disease. And the other, it has defaced and destroyed the image of God in which it was created. It has made him love sin and hate God.

[John Weaver] That is exactly what happened in the fall. So just like Mephibosheth was involved in a fall, likewise we have been involved in a fall. And very obviously, we are not now what we once were. Secondly, I want you to note that Mephibosheth was involved in a fall by the hands of another. If you would go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, look if you would what happened. 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4.

[John Weaver] The Bible says, and Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame on his feet. Well, you begin to wonder, how did he get lame? He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. He not only was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another. His nurse was carrying him. She dropped him and he became lame.

[John Weaver] May I point out the fact the same is exactly true of each of us. Each of us were involved in a fall, at the hands of another. We fell through our federal head and representative who was Adam.

[John Weaver] Now, here's what God did. Instead of placing each member of Adam's race on probation separately and successively, it pleased God to put the whole of His descendants upon formal trial once and for all in the person of their head. Let me explain it like this. All of us have seen fields of corn. As you look at each field of corn, you will notice that field is made up of innumerable stalks of corn. Each stalk stands alone. Each stalk has its own root system. God did not deal with us as a field of corn. He did not deal with us individually and separately. If you would look at the tree outside, you'll find the tree has multitudinous branches, but it only has one root system. And so God dealt with us as a tree. He dealt with us, with our root, who happened to be Adam, our federal head and representative, and what the root did, the branches did. In other words, when the root died, basically the branches died as well. Thomas Manton put it like this.

[John Weaver] Here's what he said. He said, we saw the forbidden fruit with Adam's eyes, we gathered it with Adam's hands, we ate it with Adam's mouth, and we were ruined by those things as though we had been there and consented to his acts. That's basically what happened. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 12. Now let me point something out that's extremely significant in verse 12. Romans 5 verse 12.

[John Weaver] Look what the Scripture says. Romans 5 verse 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

[John Weaver] Now notice what the Bible says very specifically. It's only by one man that sin entered in the world. It's only by one man that death entered in the world. Now notice what he says in the latter part of verse 12. So death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. The interesting thing is this. When you look in the Greek, the phrase, for all have sinned, is an aorist passive.

[John Weaver] An heiress means it happened once and for all. It's over. It's done with. When did all of us fall? When did all of us die? And the answer is in Adam. Because what he did, we did. Look down, if you would, please, to verse 15. He says it again. But not as the offense, So also is the free gift. Now watch this. For if through the offense of one, that's Adam, many be dead, that's us, much more the grace of God and the gift of grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Now there's a comparison and contrast between Adam and Christ. You're going to find where Adam failed, Christ succeeded. Where Adam sinned, Christ did not sin. Skip down to verse 16. Romans 5 verse 16, And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift. For the judgment was by one to condemnation, that's Adam, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. Now verse 17, For if by one man's offense, that's Adam, death reign by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now skip down to verse 19, He says it again, for as by one man's disobedience, that's Adam, for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, that's Christ, shall many be made righteous. Now let me just tell you what is happening here. Romans chapter 5 is teaching imputation. Imputation is a legal act whereby Something is charged to someone's account. Now, all of you really understand imputation.

[John Weaver] You may think you don't. Every woman here understands imputation. Because in times past, some of you have been in a store, seen a beautiful dress, you wanted it. You didn't have the money, but you really wanted the dress. And so you either took her credit card or you had a charged account and you go up and you say, impute this to my husband's account. Now, you didn't say impute, you just said charge it. Well, that's what imputation is. It's something that is charged to one's account. And so here is the first example of imputation in the Scripture when the sins of Adam are imputed to his posterity. Now, you say, wow, I don't like imputation. I don't like the fact that what Adam did was imputed to me. Let me just spell it out a little more plainly. If you had been in Adam's stead, if you had been Adam, you would have done exactly the same thing that Adam did. Exactly the same. But now when you start telling me you don't like imputation, then let me just go ahead and tell you this.

[John Weaver] If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation. You see, there are only three illustrations of imputations in the Bible. Only three illustrations of the imputation. First of all, Adam's sin is imputed to his posterity. Secondly, are you listening? The believer's sins are imputed to Christ. And thirdly, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers. So you have imputation on the one hand unto condemnation, and imputation, on the other hand, unto salvation and justification." So just like Mephibosheth, Melanie was involved in a fall.

[John Weaver] He fell at the hands of another. And likewise, we fell in the hands of another. We fell, and our federal head and representative, Adam. Let me show you something else, and you already know this because you've already read the Scripture. representation given to us is this. Mephibosheth was not only involved in the fall, he not only fell at the hands of another, he was crippled in the fall. He lost all of his ability when he fell. He was crippled. He could not function. He could not walk. A. A. Hodge, who was that great Presbyterian theologian and author, said this concerning the fall of Adam. Listen carefully. He said, the three main elements involved in the consequences entailed by the sin of Adam upon his posterity are these. First, the guilt or just penal responsibility of Adam's first sin or apostatizing act which is imputed or judicially charged upon his descendants whereby every child is born into the world in a state of antenatal forfeiture or condemnation." In other words, we're born sinners.

[John Weaver] Secondly, the entire depravity of our nature involving a sinful innate disposition inevitably leading to actual transgression. Let me interpret that for you. He says we're not only born sinners, we like to sin. Our sinful nature motivates us to sin. And then thirdly, he says this, the entire inability of the soul to change its own nature or to do anything spiritually good in obedience to divine law. So basically, he says there's three consequences involved in the fall. First, we were made sinners. Secondly, we now love sin. And number three, we've lost our ability. We can't do anything to please God.

[John Weaver] We became, to use a term, we became totally depraved. That's what God was speaking about in Isaiah 1, verses 5 and 6, from the top of the head to the toe of the foot. How much is involved? When you get to the bottom of the foot to the top of the head, that encompasses everything. That means, and without me going into it, pointing out all the scriptures, our mind became corrupted. Our will became enslaved to sin. Everything about us became absolutely perverted.

[John Weaver] There's another picture of a cripple, and I'm not going to take time to go there, but in John 5, don't you remember that cripple our Lord found by the pool of Siloam? When that angel would come down and trouble the water, and the Lord asked him, will thou be made holy? He said, I have no man to help me into the pool. But while I'm trying to get there, another steps in in front of me.

[John Weaver] In other words, he was absolutely helpless. He had no ability. You know, the biggest effect of the fall upon man is not just that we are totally depraved. We are. But total depravity equals loss of ability. We can do absolutely nothing in and of ourselves to rectify or remedy our problem or our situation. We are absolutely totally Helpless and hopeless.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you. I want you to look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. And I want to take the time to go through Scripture to make sure that we understand this point. Look in Romans 8. Let's begin there with verse 6. Romans 8 verse 6. For to be carnally minded or fleshly minded is death. But to be spiritually minded, that is, in reference to God, is life and peace. Now he tells you why to be carnally minded is death. Look in verse 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. By the way, the word enmity is a strong word for hatred. Here it is. Because the carnal mind is extreme hatred against God. Watch now. For it is not subject to the law of God, Neither indeed can be. Whoa! Wait a minute. Man by nature is not subject to the law of God. His mind is not.

[John Weaver] It's so corrupted, so perverse. Neither indeed can be. Now watch verse 8. Verse 8 is the conclusion from verses 6 and 7. So then, they that are in the flesh, what's that next word? Cannot please God. Now let me ask you, based upon Romans 8, verses 6 through 8, How many who are born in the flesh have the ability to please God? None. How many are born in the tea against God? All of us.

[John Weaver] Isn't it amazing that our parents never had to teach us to sin? I mean, we just do that. Nobody ever teach us how to lie. I mean, we do it normally. We do it naturally. Nobody ever had to teach us how to lust or how to covet. That's in us by nature. And I'm going to tell you something else I'm going to preach on a little bit later, but you know, we prefer our lusts and our desires more than the law of God by nature. By nature. So he says, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. There is not one thing any man in and of himself can do to please God.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, and let's begin chapter 3, because I just want to take you through the book of John and show you several verses. As I take you through the book of John and show you these verses, I want to remind you of a simple truth, and that is this. There is a vast difference between the words may and can.

[John Weaver] is a term of permission. Can is a term of ability. So if Hobie asked me, Pastor, can I play the piano? My response would be, you may if you have the ability. Or you might have my permission if you have the ability to play it. I could give him permission, but that doesn't mean he has ability. Permission and ability are two totally different things.

[John Weaver] Now watch what he says. John 3, verse 3. Help me out. In fact, let's read verse 1. You'll see the context. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. So here's a very erudite man. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Now wait a minute.

[John Weaver] Did you hear what our Lord said? Except a man be born again, he cannot what? See the kingdom of God. So let's give an illustration. John 3 verse 3. Here we are out on the street of Waycross, and we're witnessing to people, we're telling them about Christ and the Kingdom of Christ. Here's my question. How many of those individuals that we witness to, who are unregenerate, unconverted, how many of them can really see and understand what we're talking about by nature? Not one. They cannot. Our Lord said, except a man be born from above, and by the way, the word again is anathin in the Greek, which means literally from above. Except a man be born from above, he cannot even see the kingdom of God. Now skip down to verse 5. Look in verse 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Now if a man can't see it apart from being regenerated, our Lord says he cannot even enter it.

[John Weaver] apart from being regenerated. So how many can see and how many can enter into the Kingdom of God by nature? None. Not one. Let me just quote these verses. In Ephesians 4 and verse 18, just to give you the understanding of what our Lord meant when He said, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The Bible declares in Ephesians 4 and verse 18, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Why are men alienated from God? Because they're blind, they're ignorant, they can't see, they don't understand. You know what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14? Now listen carefully. But the natural man, that's man by nature, that's the way we're born, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, their foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

[John Weaver] Why do you think the world makes fun of Christ and Christians and the Word of God? Why do you think the political leaders of the day mock the Scriptures? The answer is because they're foolishness unto them. They can't see. They don't understand. They do not have the ability. Listen to what he said. Neither can he know them. Why? They're spiritually discerned. Man by nature does not have the ability to discern the things of God in and of himself. So our Lord says in John chapter 3, verse 3 and verse 5, Without Him, no man can see the Kingdom of God. No man can enter into the Kingdom of God. And if you look in John 6 and verse 44, John 6 and verse 44, our Lord makes another statement. John 6 verse 44, Jesus says, No man can come to Me except the Father who has sent Me, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day." Now watch that carefully. Our Lord says, no man can come to Me. Now did our Lord say that no man may come?

[John Weaver] No, He didn't say that. Sinners are invited. What He said is no man can come. No man has the ability to come to Me, here's what He said, except the Father who has sent Me, draw him. In other words, Sinners may be invited to come to Christ, they may be responsible to come to Christ, but they do not have the ability in and of themselves to come to Christ. It must be supernaturally done by the drawing of the Father.

[John Weaver] So now look what our Lord has said. Our Lord says, no man can see, no man can enter, no man can come. Now look in John 8 and verse 43. John 8 verse 43. Wow. Look at this. John 8 verse 43. Look what our Lord tells these religious leaders. He says in John 8 verse 43, Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words. Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words.

[John Weaver] You know, let me tell you something. I have no earthly idea how many sermons I've preached in 43 years, 44, whatever it is. I don't know how many people I've counseled. I never took notes or recorded numbers. But I can tell you one thing. I can tell you I've wasted a lot of breath toward a lot of people. who never heard anything that I said, because they could not hear.

[John Weaver] Now, what did our Lord say? Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You don't have the ability to hear.

[John Weaver] Now, skip down to verse 47. He clarifies it. Look in verse 47. Our Lord says, he that is of God, heareth God's words, you therefore hear them not, because you're not of God. Why? He said, if you had been regenerated, you would hear my words. But you don't hear them, because you're not of God. God has never worked in your life. Now what did our Lord say? He said, man cannot see, man cannot enter, man cannot come, man cannot hear, And if you look in John 12, beginning there with verse 39, therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again, He had blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Therefore, they could not believe. Now let me ask you, how many of you have heard preachers all your life say, you can come to Christ, you can believe. What did our Lord say? He said, you cannot come, you cannot see, you cannot enter, you cannot hear, you cannot believe.

[John Weaver] It is not in man to do that. Man does not have the ability. Why? Because faith is the gift of God. Man cannot believe in and of himself. He may be responsible to believe, he may be accountable to believe, but faith is God's gift. You know what the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 2? Let me just quote this one. 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 2.

[John Weaver] Paul is asking a prayer request and he makes this statement. and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all men have not faith." Notice what he said, for all men have not faith. Faith is not inherent in all men. It is not there. It's not there by nature. You know, I've heard people try to explain this. All men have faith, you just have to exercise it.

[John Weaver] In other words, here's a chair. Now, you sit down, and when you sit down, you have faith that that chair is going to hold you up. Well, that may be a good illustration of human faith in objects, but there is a vast difference between human faith in objects and faith, saving faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, he says, they cannot believe. Why? All men have not faith. In other words, it's not in man by nature.

[John Weaver] That's why He said, and everyone in this room can quote it. Help me out now. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself. It's what? The gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. So for by grace are you saved through faith. Here is how Mephibosheth is a perfect picture of a sinner.

[John Weaver] He was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another, and he was crippled in a fall. Now, let me show you how the picture even goes further. Go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel 9, and let me show you where Mephibosheth is found. 2 Samuel 9, and look in verse 4.

[John Weaver] After Ziba reveals that Mephibosheth is alive, he's the son of Jonathan, in verse 4,"...and the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Makar, the son of Amiel, and Lodabar." And that's where David found him. That's where he's sent to bring him back to him. Now, interestingly, He said in verse 4, Behold, he is in the house of Maker, the son of Amiel, and Lodibar. The word Maker means sold. Lodibar means place of no pasture. Where was Mephibosheth found? Sold in the place of no pasture, a slave, barren and desolate.

[John Weaver] Is that not what the Bible teaches concerning us? Did not our Lord say, He who committed sin is the servant or the slave of sin? Well, of course. And what does the Bible say in Ephesians 2? By man, by nature, we were without God and having no hope in the world. So Mephibosheth is the perfect picture of a sinner. The place of no pasture. Sold into slavery. Absolutely helpless.

[John Weaver] You know, this to me is so exciting. Because when you look at Mephibosheth, you think all hope is gone. I mean, sold, place of no pasture, lame. And yet when you go back to verse 4, there's a ray of hope. Because when the king asked, where is he? Ziba said to the king, behold, he is in the house of Makar, who happened to be the son of Amiel in Lodivar. The name Amiel means, my kinsman is God. Do you ever remember reading in the Old Testament about the kinsman redeemer? When someone was sold into slavery? then the kinsman-redeemer could redeem his loved one out of slavery. The Lord Jesus Christ happens to be our kinsman-redeemer. David here is a picture of that kinsman-redeemer in that he rescued Mephibosheth from slavery and the place of no pasture.

[John Weaver] In fact, you know what the Bible says concerning God's great salvation in our lives? In Colossians 1 and verse 13, He said this,"...who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." What did God do? God took us out of the kingdom of darkness. He took us out of bondage and slavery and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. just like David took Mephibosheth out of the house of slavery and no pasture and transplanted him into the palace where David was himself.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back in 2 Samuel 9 and verse 6. Oh, you can see this picture and I could develop it a hundred times, but look in verse 6.

[John Weaver] Now, when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was coming to David, he fell on his face and did him reverence. Let me ask you a question. When God comes to us in convicting and converting grace as sinners, what do we do? We fall on our face. We submit to Him. We humble ourselves. We acknowledge that He and He alone is the King, the Lord, and the Savior.

[John Weaver] Now that's exactly What happened? Now watch this. Verse 6, and David said, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth. All he said was his name. Mephibosheth. Boy, I hope you remember John chapter 10. What did our Lord say? I know my sheep, and I call them by name, and they follow me. David called his name, and notice what happened, and he answered, Behold thy servant. You remember that passage in Acts chapter 9, when Saul was knocked flat on his face, and he said, Who art thou, Lord? And you remember the word Lord means boss, owner, master, sovereign? Saul said, I don't know who you are, but whoever you are, you're Lord. And then our Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.

[John Weaver] Is it not hard to kick against the bricks? And then Saul of Tarsus said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Same thing here. Mephibosheth, behold thy servant. I want you to see how this picture is just so perfect. In verse 7, And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. Now watch this. David restored everything to Mephibosheth that he had lost. David not only restored everything to Mephibosheth that he had lost, he gave Mephibosheth even more than he lost. Why? Because now Mephibosheth is going to be adopted as one of the king's sons, and he says, Mephibosheth, you're going to eat at my table and then some. Everything that Mephibosheth had lost being the son of Saul is now restored. Are you listening? Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored, and then some. I'm going to show you that. What did Adam have originally?

[John Weaver] He had knowledge, he had righteousness, and he had dominion. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Colossians chapter 3, and look, if you would please, at verse 10. Let me show you what has restored us in Christ. Look in Colossians 3 and verse 10. Colossians 3 and verse 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Ah, didn't Adam have original knowledge? Yes, he did.

[John Weaver] And he lost it in the fall. What do we get back in Christ? We get back now the knowledge of God. We're renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him. And in other words, now we can see and know God as He's revealed in His Word. Just like Adam knew God, now we know God through His Word. Oh, that's not all. Look in Ephesians 4 and verse 24. You will remember that Adam also was created with original righteousness. Ephesians 4. Verse 24, here's what the Scripture says,"...and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Wow! We not only get back our knowledge, we now get back righteousness and holiness through the Lord Jesus Christ. We've been given Everything that we've lost in the fall.

[John Weaver] But you say, wait a minute, Brother Weaver. Adam had dominion too. Well, turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 28. Matthew chapter 28. And I hope you'll remember that I have two messages on the biblical doctrine of dominion. But let me just show you this. Matthew 28, beginning there, verse 18. Matthew 28, verse 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, I love this, all power or all authority is given unto me in heaven and earth. How much power and how much authority does Jesus Christ have? All of it. Well, what does He do without a power and authority?

[John Weaver] He says in verse 19, talking to His people,"...Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen." He now sends us back out into the world to exercise the dominion that's been given to Him. In other words, He gives us power to share in that dominion. Everything that Mephibosheth lost by being the son of Saul is now restored to him. Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored to us. But Mephibosheth got back more than he lost because he was adopted into the king's family, treated as a king's son, ate at the king's table continually, And if you look in your Bibles, first of all, Romans 8 and then 1 Corinthians 3. Romans 8, let me show you this, Romans 8, verse 17, and then 1 Corinthians 3. Did we get back more than we lost at Adam?

[John Weaver] Oh yes. Notice Romans chapter 8 and verse 17. The Scripture says, and if children, that is if we're children of God, If we're children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If so be that we also, if we, that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. What are we now? We're heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Everything that Jesus Christ receives, we receive as well. We're joint heirs. We're heirs of God. God has become our God. That's not all. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 3.

[John Weaver] Here's another very powerful passage. Let's begin with verse 21. I want you to see how much more we got back in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3 verse 21. Therefore we'll let no man glory in men." Why? For all things are yours.

[John Weaver] Now look, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, are you looking? Or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and you're Christ's, and Christ is God's. What did we get in Christ? Everything. Everything is ours. We didn't have everything in Adam. We had some things, but now we have everything. You know, the king told Ziba, Ziba listen, everything that belonged to Saul, I'm giving to Mephibosheth.

[John Weaver] And here's what you do. You take your 15 sons and your 20 servants and you work all that land so that Mephibosheth's son Micah may have food to eat. But you don't have to worry about Mephibosheth because he's going to eat at the king's table as one of the king's sons. Now listen carefully. Mephibosheth, although he was adopted in the king's family, was still lame on both feet, wasn't he? Although we're adopted in the king's family, we're still sinners, aren't we? But when Mephibosheth came to the king's table, and he was put in that chair, and the tablecloth flowed down, it covered his lameness. You couldn't see his lameness. Couldn't tell he's a lame man.

[John Weaver] And each of us, by the grace of God, has been covered with the robe of righteousness of Jesus Christ. And although we're sinners, when God sees us, He sees us in Christ. And He sees us justified, just as if we had never sinned. Everything that we lost in Adam, we got back, and then some, through Jesus Christ. David and Mephibosheth give us a perfect portrait of the grace of God, how we ought to praise Him and thank Him for His marvelous, wonderful grace. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for Your mercy and Your grace.

[John Weaver] Lord, You've been so good to us. And Lord, You've not only covered our sins, You have forgiven our sins. The Bible says You've put them as far away as the east is from the west. You've put them behind your back never to remember them anymore. You will not charge them against us. You will not hold them against us. We've been forgiven. And Lord, we thank You and acknowledge with Jonah that salvation is of the Lord.

[John Weaver] Give us grace now that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.

A Portrait of Grace Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	N0tBfMFatoM
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Who is Israel?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-01-27
Dictation Name
Book	Book 170: A Portrait of Grace — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	74

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the first part of the message, highlighting that salvation originates with God's decree and is based on the merits of another, Jesus Christ.

So let's read 2 Samuel 9, beginning with verse 1. 2 Samuel 9, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 9:1-13

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. And when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, Behold thy servant. And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertain to Saul and to all his house. Thou therefore and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits that thy master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, and he did eat continually at the king's table, and was lame on both his feet."

I hope that you will remember that last week I began this message, A Portrait of Grace, and I was trying to deal with it in two parts. I was showing, first of all, the divine side, how that basically the salvation and the exaltation of Mephibosheth, first of all, began with David the king. Mephibosheth certainly was not seeking out King David. He was not seeking to be exalted or saved in any sense of the word. But the decree and the origination, the source, the initiation of grace began with the king.

And of course then I developed that from Scripture, and showed you how that salvation began with our great God and King, because the Bible tells us that He gave the decree before the foundation of the world. Secondly, I pointed out that the salvation and exaltation of Mephibosheth was due to the merits of another. David said, Is there any left of the house of Saul that I may show him mercy for Jonathan's sake? And I went through the Bible, and I showed you how David and Jonathan had entered into a covenant together. And then, of course, we went to several other passages, like Hebrews 13 and verse 20, where the Bible speaks about that eternal covenant that was made between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. And very obviously, the only reason that God has mercy upon us is because of the merits of another, that is, the merits of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was not only made of a woman and made under the law, the Bible says, He's the only one who has ever obeyed the law of God personally, perfectly, and perpetually. So He rendered unto God a perfect obedience to that law. And then, of course, He was given as our sacrifice, as our substitutionary atonement.

He was the sinless Son of God and thus, therefore, He died in our stead. And so, therefore, God has mercy upon us because of Jesus Christ. We have mercy because of the merits of another.

Mephibosheth as the Recipient of Grace

The sermon shifts to Mephibosheth as the picture-perfect representation of a sinner, emphasizing his enemy status and forfeiture of all rights.

Now, today I want to come and look at Mephibosheth more specifically, and I want you to see how Mephibosheth in his condition, in his status, and ultimately in his end, ultimately portrays the sinner. We've used the term picture perfect. Well, certainly in the life of Mephibosheth, we have a perfect picture of each one of us, because Mephibosheth is the picture perfect representation of a sinner. So today I want to look particularly at verses 2 through 13 and I want you to see just one point and that is the recipient of grace. Of course the recipient of grace in 2 Samuel chapter 9 is Mephibosheth. You must remember that Mephibosheth by nature and by lineage was an enemy of David. He had forfeited everything by virtue of the fact that he was the house and lineage of Saul. Saul has been killed. His kingdom has been taken from him. David has now been elevated to the throne. And if you'll remember, last week I told you it was the standard operating procedure that when a new king came to the throne, he immediately killed all the former kings' family and friends.

And he did so to prevent any insurrection and any sedition. So very obviously now, David has ascended to the throne and by virtue of the fact that he is now king, everything that Saul had belongs to David. Now listen carefully. It was David's by virtue of two very important facts. First of all, it fell to David by right of his inheritance through his wife. You remember he had married Michal, who was the daughter of Saul. And the Bible tells you in Numbers chapter 27 and verse 8, if a man dies and he has no sons, then everything goes to his daughter. And so Saul's daughter now is married to David. So by virtue of the very fact that he married Saul's daughter, he now owns everything that Saul had. Also, Ish-bosheth, who was another son of Saul, was in rebellion, and God killed him, and everything was transferred over to David. So by virtue of these two facts, David now owns everything that Saul and his family formerly possessed. Now let me put it to you very bluntly.

David did not owe Mephibosheth anything. Everything that Saul and his family had legally, lawfully, and rightfully belonged to David. So the very fact that David now wants to have mercy upon Mephibosheth, it is pure grace.

The Fall of Mephibosheth and Humanity

Mephibosheth's fall and lameness illustrate humanity's fall in Adam, resulting in total depravity and loss of original righteousness.

And then the kingdom was delivered over to David. So here he is, lame on both feet. So, by the way, the word Mephibosheth literally means exterminating the idol. Exterminating the idol. And you're going to see in this passage how God exterminates the idol through the grace and the mercy of God. Now, how does Mephibosheth represent the sinner? How does Mephibosheth give us a picture-perfect representation of the sinner? Let me show you.

First of all, he was involved in a fall. The Bible tells you there in 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, that he was involved in a fall. In fact, he fell and, of course, became lame. The very fact that he was involved in a fall is very, very significant because the fall of man is extremely significant. When you talk about the fall of man, you have to understand that man is not now as God made him originally. We have been plunged into a sea of sin and misery. We've been ruined. We're wretched. We're rebellious. We're wicked. God created Adam. He created man with original knowledge, with original righteousness, holiness, and dominion. We have lost all of those characteristics by virtue of the fall. In fact, I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold 2 Samuel 9, but turn to the book of Isaiah chapter 1. Let me show you a picture of what man is now since the fall. Notice Isaiah chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 5. And then we'll turn to Romans chapter 3. We'll look at Isaiah 1 verse 5. Here is now the picture of man since the fall. God says this, Isaiah 1 and verse 5, Why should you be stricken anymore?

You will revolt more and more. Now look what God says, "...the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."

Now the corruption and depravity of man is pictured here from head to toe. Man lost everything in the fall. If you would turn right over to the book of Romans chapter 3, you'll see how the Apostle Paul tells us about man since the fall. Different words, but certainly the same truth. Notice in Romans chapter 3, beginning there with verse 10. Romans 3 verse 10, the Apostle Paul writes, as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. Note, there is none that seeketh after God. There is none that doeth good. There's none that understands. There's none that seeketh after God.

They're all going out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Now note, there is none righteous. There's none that understands. There's none that seeks after God. They're all going out of the way. There's none good. No, not one. In other words, man is now totally different than when God originally made him. Like Mephibosheth, we have fallen from our first estate. It was J.C.

Philpot who said this, and let me give you the quote. He said, "...as no heart can sufficiently conceive, so no tongue can adequately express the state of wretchedness and ruin into which sin has cast guilty, miserable man." In separating him from God, it severed him from the only source of happiness and holiness. It has ruined him body and soul. The one, the body, it is filled with sickness and disease. And the other, it has defaced and destroyed the image of God in which it was created. It has made him love sin and hate God. That is exactly what happened in the fall. So just like Mephibosheth was involved in a fall, likewise we have been involved in a fall. And very obviously, we are not now what we once were. Secondly, I want you to note that Mephibosheth was involved in a fall by the hands of another. If you would go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, look if you would what happened. 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4.

The Bible says, and Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame on his feet. Well, you begin to wonder, how did he get lame? He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. He not only was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another. His nurse was carrying him. She dropped him and he became lame.

Federal Headship and Imputation

Weaver explains that all sinned in Adam as their federal head, and this imputation of sin is paralleled by the imputation of Christ's righteousness.

Now, here's what God did. Instead of placing each member of Adam's race on probation separately and successively, it pleased God to put the whole of His descendants upon formal trial once and for all in the person of their head. Let me explain it like this. All of us have seen fields of corn. As you look at each field of corn, you will notice that field is made up of innumerable stalks of corn. Each stalk stands alone. Each stalk has its own root system. God did not deal with us as a field of corn. He did not deal with us individually and separately. If you would look at the tree outside, you'll find the tree has multitudinous branches, but it only has one root system. And so God dealt with us as a tree. He dealt with us, with our root, who happened to be Adam, our federal head and representative, and what the root did, the branches did. In other words, when the root died, basically the branches died as well. Thomas Manton put it like this.

Here's what he said. He said, we saw the forbidden fruit with Adam's eyes, we gathered it with Adam's hands, we ate it with Adam's mouth, and we were ruined by those things as though we had been there and consented to his acts. That's basically what happened. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 12. Now let me point something out that's extremely significant in verse 12. Romans 5 verse 12.

Look what the Scripture says. Romans 5 verse 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Now notice what the Bible says very specifically. It's only by one man that sin entered in the world. It's only by one man that death entered in the world. Now notice what he says in the latter part of verse 12. So death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. The interesting thing is this. When you look in the Greek, the phrase, for all have sinned, is an aorist passive.

An aorist means it happened once and for all. It's over. It's done with. When did all of us fall? When did all of us die? And the answer is in Adam. Because what he did, we did. Look down, if you would, please, to verse 15. He says it again. But not as the offense, So also is the free gift. Now watch this. For if through the offense of one, that's Adam, many be dead, that's us, much more the grace of God and the gift of grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Now there's a comparison and contrast between Adam and Christ. You're going to find where Adam failed, Christ succeeded. Where Adam sinned, Christ did not sin. Skip down to verse 16. Romans 5 verse 16, And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift. For the judgment was by one to condemnation, that's Adam, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. Now verse 17, For if by one man's offense, that's Adam, death reign by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Now skip down to verse 19, He says it again, for as by one man's disobedience, that's Adam, for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, that's Christ, shall many be made righteous. Now let me just tell you what is happening here. Romans chapter 5 is teaching imputation. Imputation is a legal act whereby something is charged to someone's account. Now, all of you really understand imputation. You may think you don't. Every woman here understands imputation. Because in times past, some of you have been in a store, seen a beautiful dress, you wanted it. You didn't have the money, but you really wanted the dress. And so you either took her credit card or you had a charge account and you go up and you say, impute this to my husband's account. Now, you didn't say impute, you just said charge it. Well, that's what imputation is. It's something that is charged to one's account. And so here is the first example of imputation in the Scripture when the sins of Adam are imputed to his posterity. Now, you say, wow, I don't like imputation. I don't like the fact that what Adam did was imputed to me. Let me just spell it out a little more plainly. If you had been in Adam's stead, if you had been Adam, you would have done exactly the same thing that Adam did. Exactly the same. But now when you start telling me you don't like imputation, then let me just go ahead and tell you this.

If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation. You see, there are only three illustrations of imputations in the Bible. Only three illustrations of the imputation. First of all, Adam's sin is imputed to his posterity. Secondly, are you listening? The believer's sins are imputed to Christ. And thirdly, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers. So you have imputation on the one hand unto condemnation, and imputation, on the other hand, unto salvation and justification." So just like Mephibosheth, he was involved in a fall.

Total Inability of the Sinner

Using John 3, 6, 8, and 12, Weaver argues that unregenerate man cannot see, enter, come, hear, or believe apart from God's drawing.

Now let me show you. I want you to look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. And I want to take the time to go through Scripture to make sure that we understand this point. Look in Romans 8. Let's begin there with verse 6. Romans 8 verse 6. For to be carnally minded or fleshly minded is death. But to be spiritually minded, that is, in reference to God, is life and peace. Now he tells you why to be carnally minded is death. Look in verse 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. By the way, the word enmity is a strong word for hatred. Here it is. Because the carnal mind is extreme hatred against God. Watch now. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Whoa! Wait a minute. Man by nature is not subject to the law of God. His mind is not.

It's so corrupted, so perverse. Neither indeed can be. Now watch verse 8. Verse 8 is the conclusion from verses 6 and 7. So then, they that are in the flesh, what's that next word? Cannot please God. Now let me ask you, based upon Romans 8, verses 6 through 8, how many who are born in the flesh have the ability to please God? None. How many are born in enmity against God? All of us.

Isn't it amazing that our parents never had to teach us to sin? I mean, we just do that. Nobody ever teach us how to lie. I mean, we do it normally. We do it naturally. Nobody ever had to teach us how to lust or how to covet. That's in us by nature. And I'm going to tell you something else I'm going to preach on a little bit later, but you know, we prefer our lusts and our desires more than the law of God by nature. By nature. So he says, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. There is not one thing any man in and of himself can do to please God.

I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, and let's begin chapter 3, because I just want to take you through the book of John and show you several verses. As I take you through the book of John and show you these verses, I want to remind you of a simple truth, and that is this. There is a vast difference between the words may and can. May is a term of permission. Can is a term of ability. So if Hobie asked me, Pastor, can I play the piano? My response would be, you may if you have the ability. Or you might have my permission if you have the ability to play it. I could give him permission, but that doesn't mean he has ability. Permission and ability are two totally different things.

Now watch what he says. John 3, verse 3. Help me out. In fact, let's read verse 1. You'll see the context. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. So here's a very erudite man. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Now wait a minute.

Did you hear what our Lord said? Except a man be born again, he cannot what? See the kingdom of God. So let's give an illustration. John 3 verse 3. Here we are out on the street of Waycross, and we're witnessing to people, we're telling them about Christ and the Kingdom of Christ. Here's my question. How many of those individuals that we witness to, who are unregenerate, unconverted, how many of them can really see and understand what we're talking about by nature? Not one. They cannot. Our Lord said, except a man be born from above, and by the way, the word again is anothen in the Greek, which means literally from above. Except a man be born from above, he cannot even see the kingdom of God. Now skip down to verse 5. Look in verse 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Now if a man can't see it apart from being regenerated, our Lord says he cannot even enter it.

apart from being regenerated. So how many can see and how many can enter into the Kingdom of God by nature? None. Not one. Let me just quote these verses. In Ephesians 4 and verse 18, just to give you the understanding of what our Lord meant when He said, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The Bible declares in Ephesians 4 and verse 18, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Why are men alienated from God? Because they're blind, they're ignorant, they can't see, they don't understand. You know what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14? Now listen carefully. But the natural man, that's man by nature, that's the way we're born, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, their foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Why do you think the world makes fun of Christ and Christians and the Word of God? Why do you think the political leaders of the day mock the Scriptures? The answer is because they're foolishness unto them. They can't see. They don't understand. They do not have the ability. Listen to what he said. Neither can he know them. Why? They're spiritually discerned. Man by nature does not have the ability to discern the things of God in and of himself. So our Lord says in John chapter 3, verse 3 and verse 5, Without Him, no man can see the Kingdom of God. No man can enter into the Kingdom of God. And if you look in John 6 and verse 44, John 6 and verse 44, our Lord makes another statement. John 6 verse 44, Jesus says, No man can come to Me except the Father who has sent Me, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day." Now watch that carefully. Our Lord says, no man can come to Me. Now did our Lord say that no man may come?

No, He didn't say that. Sinners are invited. What He said is no man can come. No man has the ability to come to Me, here's what He said, except the Father who has sent Me, draw him. In other words, sinners may be invited to come to Christ, they may be responsible to come to Christ, but they do not have the ability in and of themselves to come to Christ. It must be supernaturally done by the drawing of the Father.

So now look what our Lord has said. Our Lord says, no man can see, no man can enter, no man can come. Now look in John 8 and verse 43. John 8 verse 43. Wow. Look at this. John 8 verse 43. Look what our Lord tells these religious leaders. He says in John 8 verse 43, Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words. Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words.

You know, let me tell you something. I have no earthly idea how many sermons I've preached in 43 years, 44, whatever it is. I don't know how many people I've counseled. I never took notes or recorded numbers. But I can tell you one thing. I can tell you I've wasted a lot of breath toward a lot of people who never heard anything that I said, because they could not hear.

Now, what did our Lord say? Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You don't have the ability to hear.

Now, skip down to verse 47. He clarifies it. Look in verse 47. Our Lord says, he that is of God, heareth God's words, you therefore hear them not, because you're not of God. Why? He said, if you had been regenerated, you would hear my words. But you don't hear them, because you're not of God. God has never worked in your life. Now what did our Lord say? He said, man cannot see, man cannot enter, man cannot come, man cannot hear, And if you look in John 12, beginning there with verse 39, therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again, He had blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Therefore, they could not believe. Now let me ask you, how many of you have heard preachers all your life say, you can come to Christ, you can believe. What did our Lord say? He said, you cannot come, you cannot see, you cannot enter, you cannot hear, you cannot believe.

It is not in man to do that. Man does not have the ability. Why? Because faith is the gift of God. Man cannot believe in and of himself. He may be responsible to believe, he may be accountable to believe, but faith is God's gift. You know what the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 2? Let me just quote this one. 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 2.

Paul is asking a prayer request and he makes this statement. and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all men have not faith." Notice what he said, for all men have not faith. Faith is not inherent in all men. It is not there. It's not there by nature. You know, I've heard people try to explain this. All men have faith, you just have to exercise it. In other words, here's a chair. Now, you sit down, and when you sit down, you have faith that that chair is going to hold you up. Well, that may be a good illustration of human faith in objects, but there is a vast difference between human faith in objects and faith, saving faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, he says, they cannot believe. Why? All men have not faith. In other words, it's not in man by nature.

That's why He said, and everyone in this room can quote it. Help me out now. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself. It's what? The gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. So for by grace are you saved through faith. Here is how Mephibosheth is a perfect picture of a sinner.

Mephibosheth's Location and Redemption

Mephibosheth is found in Lo-debar (place of no pasture), sold into slavery, but David, as a kinsman-redeemer, rescues him.

After Ziba reveals that Mephibosheth is alive, he's the son of Jonathan, in verse 4, "...and the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar." And that's where David found him. That's where he's sent to bring him back to him. Now, interestingly, He said in verse 4, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. The word Machir means sold. Lo-debar means place of no pasture. Where was Mephibosheth found? Sold in the place of no pasture, a slave, barren and desolate.

Is that not what the Bible teaches concerning us? Did not our Lord say, He who committed sin is the servant or the slave of sin? Well, of course. And what does the Bible say in Ephesians 2? By man, by nature, we were without God and having no hope in the world. So Mephibosheth is the perfect picture of a sinner. The place of no pasture. Sold into slavery. Absolutely helpless.

You know, this to me is so exciting. Because when you look at Mephibosheth, you think all hope is gone. I mean, sold, place of no pasture, lame. And yet when you go back to verse 4, there's a ray of hope. Because when the king asked, where is he? Ziba said to the king, behold, he is in the house of Machir, who happened to be the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. The name Ammiel means, my kinsman is God. Do you ever remember reading in the Old Testament about the kinsman redeemer? When someone was sold into slavery? then the kinsman-redeemer could redeem his loved one out of slavery. The Lord Jesus Christ happens to be our kinsman-redeemer. David here is a picture of that kinsman-redeemer in that he rescued Mephibosheth from slavery and the place of no pasture.

In fact, you know what the Bible says concerning God's great salvation in our lives? In Colossians 1 and verse 13, He said this,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 1:13

"...who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."

What did God do? God took us out of the kingdom of darkness. He took us out of bondage and slavery and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. just like David took Mephibosheth out of the house of slavery and no pasture and transplanted him into the palace where David was himself.

Restoration and Exaltation

David restores all Saul's land to Mephibosheth and adopts him as a son, eating at the king's table, picturing the believer's restoration in Christ.

Is it not hard to kick against the bricks? And then Saul of Tarsus said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Same thing here. Mephibosheth, behold thy servant. I want you to see how this picture is just so perfect. In verse 7, And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. Now watch this. David restored everything to Mephibosheth that he had lost. David not only restored everything to Mephibosheth that he had lost, he gave Mephibosheth even more than he lost. Why? Because now Mephibosheth is going to be adopted as one of the king's sons, and he says, Mephibosheth, you're going to eat at my table and then some. Everything that Mephibosheth had lost being the son of Saul is now restored. Are you listening? Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored, and then some. I'm going to show you that. What did Adam have originally?

He had knowledge, he had righteousness, and he had dominion. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Colossians chapter 3, and look, if you would please, at verse 10. Let me show you what has restored us in Christ. Look in Colossians 3 and verse 10. Colossians 3 and verse 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Ah, didn't Adam have original knowledge? Yes, he did.

And he lost it in the fall. What do we get back in Christ? We get back now the knowledge of God. We're renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him. And in other words, now we can see and know God as He's revealed in His Word. Just like Adam knew God, now we know God through His Word. Oh, that's not all. Look in Ephesians 4 and verse 24. You will remember that Adam also was created with original righteousness. Ephesians 4. Verse 24, here's what the Scripture says, "...and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Wow! We not only get back our knowledge, we now get back righteousness and holiness through the Lord Jesus Christ. We've been given everything that we've lost in the fall.

But you say, wait a minute, Brother Weaver. Adam had dominion too. Well, turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 28. Matthew chapter 28. And I hope you'll remember that I have two messages on the biblical doctrine of dominion. But let me just show you this. Matthew 28, beginning there, verse 18. Matthew 28, verse 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, I love this, all power or all authority is given unto me in heaven and earth. How much power and how much authority does Jesus Christ have? All of it. Well, what does He do with all power and authority?

He says in verse 19, talking to His people, "...Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen." He now sends us back out into the world to exercise the dominion that's been given to Him. In other words, He gives us power to share in that dominion. Everything that Mephibosheth lost by being the son of Saul is now restored to him. Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored to us. But Mephibosheth got back more than he lost because he was adopted into the king's family, treated as a king's son, ate at the king's table continually, And if you look in your Bibles, first of all, Romans 8 and then 1 Corinthians 3. Romans 8, let me show you this, Romans 8, verse 17, and then 1 Corinthians 3. Did we get back more than we lost at Adam?

Oh yes. Notice Romans chapter 8 and verse 17. The Scripture says, and if children, that is if we're children of God, If we're children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If so be that we also, if we, that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. What are we now? We're heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Everything that Jesus Christ receives, we receive as well. We're joint heirs. We're heirs of God. God has become our God. That's not all. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 3.

Here's another very powerful passage. Let's begin with verse 21. I want you to see how much more we got back in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3 verse 21. Therefore we'll let no man glory in men." Why? For all things are yours.

Now look, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, are you looking? Or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and you're Christ's, and Christ is God's. What did we get in Christ? Everything. Everything is ours. We didn't have everything in Adam. We had some things, but now we have everything. You know, the king told Ziba, Ziba listen, everything that belonged to Saul, I'm giving to Mephibosheth.

Covered Lameness and Justification

Though still lame, Mephibosheth's lameness is covered at the table, just as believers' sins are covered by Christ's righteousness.

And here's what you do. You take your 15 sons and your 20 servants and you work all that land so that Mephibosheth's son Micah may have food to eat. But you don't have to worry about Mephibosheth because he's going to eat at the king's table as one of the king's sons. Now listen carefully. Mephibosheth, although he was adopted in the king's family, was still lame on both feet, wasn't he? Although we're adopted in the king's family, we're still sinners, aren't we? But when Mephibosheth came to the king's table, and he was put in that chair, and the tablecloth flowed down, it covered his lameness. You couldn't see his lameness. Couldn't tell he's a lame man.

And each of us, by the grace of God, has been covered with the robe of righteousness of Jesus Christ. And although we're sinners, when God sees us, He sees us in Christ. And He sees us justified, just as if we had never sinned. Everything that we lost in Adam, we got back, and then some, through Jesus Christ. David and Mephibosheth give us a perfect portrait of the grace of God, how we ought to praise Him and thank Him for His marvelous, wonderful grace. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for Your mercy and Your grace.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Total Depravity and Inability

Summary: Humanity is spiritually crippled by the fall, unable to see, enter, come, hear, or believe the gospel apart from divine grace.

Evidence: Weaver cites Romans 8:7-8, John 3:3,5, 6:44, 8:43, 12:39, and 1 Corinthians 2:14 to show man's inability.

Federal Headship and Imputation

Summary: Adam's sin is imputed to all his descendants, just as Christ's righteousness is imputed to believers, making imputation central to both condemnation and salvation.

Evidence: Weaver explains Romans 5:12-19, emphasizing the aorist passive 'all have sinned' and the analogy of a tree's root system.

Grace Initiated by God

Summary: Salvation begins with God's sovereign decree and is based on the merits of Christ, not on human seeking or merit.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the decree and the origination, the source, the initiation of grace began with the king' and references the covenant between David and Jonathan.

Restoration and Adoption in Christ

Summary: Believers regain what was lost in Adam—knowledge, righteousness, and dominion—and receive even more as joint-heirs with Christ.

Evidence: Weaver cites Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:17, and 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

The Sinner's Helpless Condition

Summary: Mephibosheth's lameness and location in Lo-debar picture the sinner's bondage, barrenness, and inability to remedy his situation.

Evidence: Weaver notes Mephibosheth was 'sold in the place of no pasture, a slave, barren and desolate' and connects it to John 8:34 and Ephesians 2:12.

Key Arguments

Mephibosheth's fall mirrors humanity's fall in Adam

Summary: Just as Mephibosheth fell and became lame through no fault of his own, all humanity fell in Adam and became spiritually crippled.

Evidence: Weaver reads 2 Samuel 4:4 and states, 'He not only was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another... Each of us were involved in a fall, at the hands of another. We fell through our federal head and representative who was Adam.'

Imputation is essential to understanding salvation

Summary: The imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity is paralleled by the imputation of the believer's sins to Christ and Christ's righteousness to believers.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation.'

Unregenerate man cannot believe or come to Christ

Summary: Scripture teaches that no one can see, enter, come, hear, or believe apart from the Father's drawing and regeneration.

Evidence: Weaver cites John 3:3, 3:5, 6:44, 8:43, 12:39, and 2 Thessalonians 3:2, concluding, 'Man cannot believe in and of himself.'

David's kindness to Mephibosheth is pure grace

Summary: David owed Mephibosheth nothing; everything belonged to David by right. His mercy was entirely unmerited.

Evidence: Weaver explains David's legal right to Saul's estate through marriage and conquest, stating, 'David did not owe Mephibosheth anything.'

Believers receive more in Christ than was lost in Adam

Summary: In Christ, believers regain knowledge, righteousness, and dominion, and become joint-heirs with Christ, possessing all things.

Evidence: Weaver cites Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:17, and 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

Scripture References

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Context: The entire chapter is read and expounded as the basis for the portrait of grace.

2 Samuel 4:4

Context: Explains how Mephibosheth became lame at age five when his nurse dropped him while fleeing.

Numbers 27:8

Context: Cited to show that David inherited Saul's estate through his wife Michal, Saul's daughter.

Isaiah 1:5-6

Context: Describes the total depravity of man from head to toe, with no soundness.

Romans 3:10-12

Context: Paul's description of universal sinfulness: none righteous, none seeking God, none doing good.

Romans 5:12-19

Context: Explains imputation: sin entered through one man, Adam, and death passed to all; contrasts with Christ's obedience.

Romans 8:6-8

Context: The carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to God's law; those in the flesh cannot please God.

John 3:3,5

Context: Jesus teaches that unless one is born again, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.

John 6:44

Context: No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him.

John 8:43,47

Context: Jesus says the Jews cannot hear His word because they are not of God.

John 12:39-40

Context: They could not believe because God blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Context: Salvation by grace through faith is the gift of God, not of works.

Ephesians 4:18

Context: Gentiles have darkened understanding and are alienated from God due to ignorance and blindness.

1 Corinthians 2:14

Context: The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit; they are foolishness to him.

2 Thessalonians 3:2

Context: Paul asks for deliverance from wicked men, for not all have faith.

Colossians 1:13

Context: God has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His Son.

Colossians 3:10

Context: The new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.

Ephesians 4:24

Context: The new man is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Matthew 28:18-20

Context: All authority is given to Christ; He sends believers to teach and baptize, exercising dominion.

Romans 8:17

Context: Believers are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Historical References

J.C. Philpot

Context: Quoted on the wretchedness and ruin of sin: 'as no heart can sufficiently conceive, so no tongue can adequately express the state of wretchedness and ruin into which sin has cast guilty, miserable man.'

Thomas Manton

Context: Quoted on federal headship: 'we saw the forbidden fruit with Adam's eyes, we gathered it with Adam's hands, we ate it with Adam's mouth, and we were ruined by those things as though we had been there and consented to his acts.'

A. A. Hodge

Context: Cited on the three consequences of Adam's sin: guilt imputed, entire depravity, and entire inability.

Important Quotes

David did not owe Mephibosheth anything. Everything that Saul and his family had legally, lawfully, and rightfully belonged to David. So the very fact that David now wants to have mercy upon Mephibosheth, it is pure grace.

Significance: Emphasizes that salvation is entirely unmerited, a key point in the portrait of grace.

If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation.

Significance: Highlights the necessity of imputation for understanding both condemnation and justification.

Everything that Mephibosheth lost by being the son of Saul is now restored to him. Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored to us. But Mephibosheth got back more than he lost because he was adopted into the king's family, treated as a king's son, ate at the king's table continually.

Significance: Summarizes the restoration and exaltation believers receive in Christ.

Mephibosheth, although he was adopted in the king's family, was still lame on both feet, wasn't he? Although we're adopted in the king's family, we're still sinners, aren't we? But when Mephibosheth came to the king's table, and he was put in that chair, and the tablecloth flowed down, it covered his lameness.

Significance: Illustrates justification: believers' sins are covered by Christ's righteousness.

Discussion Questions

How does Mephibosheth's fall and lameness illustrate the biblical doctrine of total depravity?

Context: Weaver explains that Mephibosheth was crippled and helpless, just as sinners are spiritually unable to please God.

What is the difference between 'may' and 'can' in the context of coming to Christ, and why is this distinction important?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that while sinners are invited (may), they lack the ability (can) apart from God's drawing.

How does the doctrine of imputation help us understand both our condemnation in Adam and our justification in Christ?

Context: Weaver explains the three imputations in Scripture and argues that rejecting imputation is rejecting salvation.

In what ways do believers receive more in Christ than was lost in Adam?

Context: Weaver cites Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, and 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 to show restoration and exaltation.

What does Mephibosheth's location in Lo-debar teach us about the sinner's condition before salvation?

Context: Weaver notes that Lo-debar means 'place of no pasture,' symbolizing spiritual barrenness and slavery.

Applications

Humility before God

Summary: Like Mephibosheth falling on his face before David, sinners should humble themselves and submit to Christ as Lord.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'When God comes to us in convicting and converting grace as sinners, what do we do? We fall on our face. We submit to Him.'

Praise for God's grace

Summary: Believers should continually thank God for His marvelous grace that restores and exalts them beyond what was lost.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'David and Mephibosheth give us a perfect portrait of the grace of God, how we ought to praise Him and thank Him for His marvelous, wonderful grace.'

Rest in Christ's righteousness

Summary: Though still sinners, believers can rest assured that their lameness is covered by Christ's righteousness at God's table.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'each of us, by the grace of God, has been covered with the robe of righteousness of Jesus Christ.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:23:50Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T07:06:33Z

Clean Transcript

A Portrait of Grace Part 2 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

So let's read 2 Samuel 9, beginning with verse 1. 2 Samuel 9, verse 1. And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. And when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence.
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And David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, Behold thy servant. And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertain to Saul and to all his house. Thou therefore and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits that thy master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons.
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And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, and he did eat continually at the king's table, and was lame on both his feet." I hope that you will remember that last week I began this message, A Portrait of Grace, and I was trying to deal with it in two parts. I was showing, first of all, the divine side, how that basically the salvation and the exaltation of Mephibosheth, first of all, began with David the king. Mephibosheth certainly was not seeking out King David. He was not seeking to be exalted or saved in any sense of the word. But the decree and the origination, the source, the initiation of grace began with the king.
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And of course then I developed that from Scripture, and showed you how that salvation began with our great God and King, because the Bible tells us that He gave the decree before the foundation of the world.
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Secondly, I pointed out that the salvation and exaltation of Mephibosheth was due to the merits of another. David said, Is there any left of the house of Saul that I may show him mercy for Jonathan's sake? And I went through the Bible, and I showed you how David and Jonathan had entered into a covenant together. And then, of course, we went to several other passages, like Hebrews 13 and verse 20, where the Bible speaks about that eternal covenant that was made between God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. And very obviously, the only reason that God has mercy upon us is because of the merits of another, that is, the merits of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was not only made of a woman and made under the law, the Bible says, He's the only one who has ever obeyed the law of God personally, perfectly, and perpetually. So He rendered unto God a perfect obedience to that law. And then, of course, He was given as our sacrifice, as our substitutionary atonement.
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He was the sinless Son of God and thus, therefore, He died in our stead. And so, therefore, God has mercy upon us because of Jesus Christ. We have mercy because of the merits of another.
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Now, today I want to come and look at Mephibosheth more specifically, and I want you to see how Mephibosheth in his condition, in his status, and ultimately in his end, ultimately portrays the sinner. We've used the term picture perfect. Well, certainly in the life of Mephibosheth, we have a perfect picture of each one of us, because Mephibosheth is the picture perfect representation of a sinner. So today I want to look particularly at verses 2 through 13 and I want you to see just one point and that is the recipient of grace. Of course the recipient of grace in 2 Samuel chapter 9 is Mephibosheth. You must remember that Mephibosheth by nature and by lineage was an enemy of David.
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He had forfeited everything by virtue of the fact that he was the house and lineage of Saul. Saul has been killed. His kingdom has been taken from him. David has now been elevated to the throne. And if you'll remember, last week I told you it was the standard operating procedure that when a new king came to the throne, he immediately killed all the former kings' family and friends.
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And he did so to prevent any insurrection and any sedition. So very obviously now, David has ascended to the throne and by virtue of the fact that he is now king, everything that Saul had belongs to David. Now listen carefully. It was David's by virtue of two very important facts. First of all, it fell to David by right of his inheritance through his wife. You remember he had married Michal, who was the daughter of Saul. And the Bible tells you in Numbers chapter 27 and verse 8, if a man dies and he has no sons, then everything goes to his daughter. And so Saul's daughter now is married to David. So by virtue of the very fact that he married Saul's daughter, he now owns everything that Saul had. Also, Ish-bosheth, who was another son of Saul, was in rebellion, and God killed him, and everything was transferred over to David. So by virtue of these two facts, David now owns everything that Saul and his family formerly possessed. Now let me put it to you very bluntly.
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David did not owe Mephibosheth anything. Everything that Saul and his family had legally, lawfully, and rightfully belonged to David. So the very fact that David now wants to have mercy upon Mephibosheth, it is pure grace.
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Now, I want you to look in verse 2. After he asked in verse 1, is there any left of the house of Saul that he may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? In verse 2, And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. Now, I want you to understand that Ziba was the last servant of King Saul. Verse 3, And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son who is lame on his feet. So David now finds out through Ziba that there is a descendant of Jonathan that's still alive, and it happens to be Mephibosheth. Now, I'm going to show you in just a moment, but Mephibosheth was five years old at his father's death when Jonathan and Saul and some of the others were killed on Mount Gilboa.
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Mephibosheth was only five. You have to also remember that during the years preceding this, David had been driven from the land through the wickedness of King Saul. So Mephibosheth has been born. David does not know him. David did not even know that he existed. Because David had been on the run until that particular time, until God made him king over Judah, and he was king over Judah seven years before he got to be king over all Israel.
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Now, if you'll look in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, you might as well hold this passage, because we will refer to it several times today. But 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, The Bible says, and Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame on his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled, and it came to pass as she made haste to flee that he fell and became lame, and his name was Mephibosheth. Now, you remember after Saul and Jonathan died, Saul had another son by the name of Ish-bosheth who ascended the throne. Literally, Mephibosheth would have had a greater claim to the throne through Jonathan, because Jonathan was supposed to be the next in line. Saul said so himself on several occasions. But undoubtedly, the lameness of Mephibosheth kept him from contesting the throne. May I also point out, that it was also this lameness that in all probability saved his life because you remember Ish-bosheth was killed.
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And then the kingdom was delivered over to David. So here he is, lame on both feet. So, by the way, the word Mephibosheth literally means exterminating the idol. Exterminating the idol. And you're going to see in this passage how God exterminates the idol through the grace and the mercy of God. Now, how does Mephibosheth represent the sinner? How does Mephibosheth give us a picture-perfect representation of the sinner? Let me show you.
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First of all, he was involved in a fall. The Bible tells you there in 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, that he was involved in a fall. In fact, he fell and, of course, became lame. The very fact that he was involved in a fall is very, very significant because the fall of man is extremely significant. When you talk about the fall of man, you have to understand that man is not now as God made him originally.
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We have been plunged into a sea of sin and misery. We've been ruined. We're wretched. We're rebellious. We're wicked. God created Adam. He created man with original knowledge, with original righteousness, holiness, and dominion. We have lost all of those characteristics by virtue of the fall. In fact, I want you to turn in your Bibles, hold 2 Samuel 9, but turn to the book of Isaiah chapter 1. Let me show you a picture of what man is now since the fall. Notice Isaiah chapter 1, and let's begin reading there with verse 5. And then we'll turn to Romans chapter 3. We'll look at Isaiah 1 verse 5. Here is now the picture of man since the fall. God says this, Isaiah 1 and verse 5, Why should you be stricken anymore?
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You will revolt more and more. Now look what God says, "...the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores. They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
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Now the corruption and depravity of man is pictured here from head to toe. Man lost everything in the fall. If you would turn right over to the book of Romans chapter 3, you'll see how the Apostle Paul tells us about man since the fall. Different words, but certainly the same truth. Notice in Romans chapter 3, beginning there with verse 10. Romans 3 verse 10, the Apostle Paul writes, as it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one. Note, there is none that seeketh after God. There is none that doeth good. There's none that understands. There's none that seeketh after God.
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They're all going out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Now note, there is none righteous. There's none that understands. There's none that seeks after God. They're all going out of the way. There's none good. No, not one. In other words, man is now totally different than when God originally made him. Like Mephibosheth, we have fallen from our first estate. It was J.C.
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Philpot who said this, and let me give you the quote. He said, "...as no heart can sufficiently conceive, so no tongue can adequately express the state of wretchedness and ruin into which sin has cast guilty, miserable man." In separating him from God, it severed him from the only source of happiness and holiness. It has ruined him body and soul. The one, the body, it is filled with sickness and disease. And the other, it has defaced and destroyed the image of God in which it was created. It has made him love sin and hate God.
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That is exactly what happened in the fall. So just like Mephibosheth was involved in a fall, likewise we have been involved in a fall. And very obviously, we are not now what we once were. Secondly, I want you to note that Mephibosheth was involved in a fall by the hands of another. If you would go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4, look if you would what happened. 2 Samuel chapter 4 and verse 4.
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The Bible says, and Jonathan Saul's son had a son that was lame on his feet. Well, you begin to wonder, how did he get lame? He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up and fled. And it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell and became lame. He not only was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another. His nurse was carrying him. She dropped him and he became lame.
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May I point out the fact the same is exactly true of each of us. Each of us were involved in a fall, at the hands of another. We fell through our federal head and representative who was Adam.
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Now, here's what God did. Instead of placing each member of Adam's race on probation separately and successively, it pleased God to put the whole of His descendants upon formal trial once and for all in the person of their head. Let me explain it like this. All of us have seen fields of corn. As you look at each field of corn, you will notice that field is made up of innumerable stalks of corn. Each stalk stands alone. Each stalk has its own root system. God did not deal with us as a field of corn. He did not deal with us individually and separately. If you would look at the tree outside, you'll find the tree has multitudinous branches, but it only has one root system. And so God dealt with us as a tree. He dealt with us, with our root, who happened to be Adam, our federal head and representative, and what the root did, the branches did. In other words, when the root died, basically the branches died as well. Thomas Manton put it like this.
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Here's what he said. He said, we saw the forbidden fruit with Adam's eyes, we gathered it with Adam's hands, we ate it with Adam's mouth, and we were ruined by those things as though we had been there and consented to his acts. That's basically what happened. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 5, and let's begin reading there with verse 12. Now let me point something out that's extremely significant in verse 12. Romans 5 verse 12.
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Look what the Scripture says. Romans 5 verse 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
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Now notice what the Bible says very specifically. It's only by one man that sin entered in the world. It's only by one man that death entered in the world. Now notice what he says in the latter part of verse 12. So death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. The interesting thing is this. When you look in the Greek, the phrase, for all have sinned, is an aorist passive.
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An aorist means it happened once and for all. It's over. It's done with. When did all of us fall? When did all of us die? And the answer is in Adam. Because what he did, we did. Look down, if you would, please, to verse 15. He says it again. But not as the offense, So also is the free gift. Now watch this. For if through the offense of one, that's Adam, many be dead, that's us, much more the grace of God and the gift of grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. Now there's a comparison and contrast between Adam and Christ. You're going to find where Adam failed, Christ succeeded. Where Adam sinned, Christ did not sin. Skip down to verse 16. Romans 5 verse 16, And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift. For the judgment was by one to condemnation, that's Adam, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification. Now verse 17, For if by one man's offense, that's Adam, death reign by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
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Now skip down to verse 19, He says it again, for as by one man's disobedience, that's Adam, for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, that's Christ, shall many be made righteous. Now let me just tell you what is happening here. Romans chapter 5 is teaching imputation. Imputation is a legal act whereby something is charged to someone's account. Now, all of you really understand imputation.
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You may think you don't. Every woman here understands imputation. Because in times past, some of you have been in a store, seen a beautiful dress, you wanted it. You didn't have the money, but you really wanted the dress. And so you either took her credit card or you had a charge account and you go up and you say, impute this to my husband's account. Now, you didn't say impute, you just said charge it. Well, that's what imputation is. It's something that is charged to one's account. And so here is the first example of imputation in the Scripture when the sins of Adam are imputed to his posterity. Now, you say, wow, I don't like imputation. I don't like the fact that what Adam did was imputed to me. Let me just spell it out a little more plainly. If you had been in Adam's stead, if you had been Adam, you would have done exactly the same thing that Adam did. Exactly the same. But now when you start telling me you don't like imputation, then let me just go ahead and tell you this.
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If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation. You see, there are only three illustrations of imputations in the Bible. Only three illustrations of the imputation. First of all, Adam's sin is imputed to his posterity. Secondly, are you listening? The believer's sins are imputed to Christ. And thirdly, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to believers. So you have imputation on the one hand unto condemnation, and imputation, on the other hand, unto salvation and justification." So just like Mephibosheth, he was involved in a fall.
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He fell at the hands of another. And likewise, we fell in the hands of another. We fell, and our federal head and representative, Adam. Let me show you something else, and you already know this because you've already read the Scripture. The representation given to us is this. Mephibosheth was not only involved in the fall, he not only fell at the hands of another, he was crippled in the fall. He lost all of his ability when he fell. He was crippled. He could not function. He could not walk. A. A. Hodge, who was that great Presbyterian theologian and author, said this concerning the fall of Adam. Listen carefully. He said, the three main elements involved in the consequences entailed by the sin of Adam upon his posterity are these. First, the guilt or just penal responsibility of Adam's first sin or apostatizing act which is imputed or judicially charged upon his descendants whereby every child is born into the world in a state of antenatal forfeiture or condemnation." In other words, we're born sinners.
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Secondly, the entire depravity of our nature involving a sinful innate disposition inevitably leading to actual transgression. Let me interpret that for you. He says we're not only born sinners, we like to sin. Our sinful nature motivates us to sin. And then thirdly, he says this, the entire inability of the soul to change its own nature or to do anything spiritually good in obedience to divine law. So basically, he says there's three consequences involved in the fall. First, we were made sinners. Secondly, we now love sin. And number three, we've lost our ability. We can't do anything to please God.
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We became, to use a term, we became totally depraved. That's what God was speaking about in Isaiah 1, verses 5 and 6, from the top of the head to the toe of the foot. How much is involved? When you get to the bottom of the foot to the top of the head, that encompasses everything. That means, and without me going into it, pointing out all the scriptures, our mind became corrupted. Our will became enslaved to sin. Everything about us became absolutely perverted.
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There's another picture of a cripple, and I'm not going to take time to go there, but in John 5, don't you remember that cripple our Lord found by the pool of Siloam? When that angel would come down and trouble the water, and the Lord asked him, wilt thou be made whole? He said, I have no man to help me into the pool. But while I'm trying to get there, another steps in in front of me.
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In other words, he was absolutely helpless. He had no ability. You know, the biggest effect of the fall upon man is not just that we are totally depraved. We are. But total depravity equals loss of ability. We can do absolutely nothing in and of ourselves to rectify or remedy our problem or our situation. We are absolutely totally helpless and hopeless.
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Now let me show you. I want you to look in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8. And I want to take the time to go through Scripture to make sure that we understand this point. Look in Romans 8. Let's begin there with verse 6. Romans 8 verse 6. For to be carnally minded or fleshly minded is death. But to be spiritually minded, that is, in reference to God, is life and peace. Now he tells you why to be carnally minded is death. Look in verse 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. By the way, the word enmity is a strong word for hatred. Here it is. Because the carnal mind is extreme hatred against God. Watch now. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Whoa! Wait a minute. Man by nature is not subject to the law of God. His mind is not.
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It's so corrupted, so perverse. Neither indeed can be. Now watch verse 8. Verse 8 is the conclusion from verses 6 and 7. So then, they that are in the flesh, what's that next word? Cannot please God. Now let me ask you, based upon Romans 8, verses 6 through 8, how many who are born in the flesh have the ability to please God? None. How many are born in enmity against God? All of us.
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Isn't it amazing that our parents never had to teach us to sin? I mean, we just do that. Nobody ever teach us how to lie. I mean, we do it normally. We do it naturally. Nobody ever had to teach us how to lust or how to covet. That's in us by nature. And I'm going to tell you something else I'm going to preach on a little bit later, but you know, we prefer our lusts and our desires more than the law of God by nature. By nature. So he says, so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. There is not one thing any man in and of himself can do to please God.
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I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John, and let's begin chapter 3, because I just want to take you through the book of John and show you several verses. As I take you through the book of John and show you these verses, I want to remind you of a simple truth, and that is this. There is a vast difference between the words may and can.
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May is a term of permission. Can is a term of ability. So if Hobie asked me, Pastor, can I play the piano? My response would be, you may if you have the ability. Or you might have my permission if you have the ability to play it. I could give him permission, but that doesn't mean he has ability. Permission and ability are two totally different things.
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Now watch what he says. John 3, verse 3. Help me out. In fact, let's read verse 1. You'll see the context. There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. So here's a very erudite man. The same came to Jesus by night and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Now wait a minute.
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Did you hear what our Lord said? Except a man be born again, he cannot what? See the kingdom of God. So let's give an illustration. John 3 verse 3. Here we are out on the street of Waycross, and we're witnessing to people, we're telling them about Christ and the Kingdom of Christ. Here's my question. How many of those individuals that we witness to, who are unregenerate, unconverted, how many of them can really see and understand what we're talking about by nature? Not one. They cannot. Our Lord said, except a man be born from above, and by the way, the word again is anothen in the Greek, which means literally from above. Except a man be born from above, he cannot even see the kingdom of God. Now skip down to verse 5. Look in verse 5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Now if a man can't see it apart from being regenerated, our Lord says he cannot even enter it.
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apart from being regenerated. So how many can see and how many can enter into the Kingdom of God by nature? None. Not one. Let me just quote these verses. In Ephesians 4 and verse 18, just to give you the understanding of what our Lord meant when He said, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The Bible declares in Ephesians 4 and verse 18, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Why are men alienated from God? Because they're blind, they're ignorant, they can't see, they don't understand. You know what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14? Now listen carefully. But the natural man, that's man by nature, that's the way we're born, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, their foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
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Why do you think the world makes fun of Christ and Christians and the Word of God? Why do you think the political leaders of the day mock the Scriptures? The answer is because they're foolishness unto them. They can't see. They don't understand. They do not have the ability. Listen to what he said. Neither can he know them. Why? They're spiritually discerned. Man by nature does not have the ability to discern the things of God in and of himself. So our Lord says in John chapter 3, verse 3 and verse 5, Without Him, no man can see the Kingdom of God. No man can enter into the Kingdom of God. And if you look in John 6 and verse 44, John 6 and verse 44, our Lord makes another statement. John 6 verse 44, Jesus says, No man can come to Me except the Father who has sent Me, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day." Now watch that carefully. Our Lord says, no man can come to Me. Now did our Lord say that no man may come?
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No, He didn't say that. Sinners are invited. What He said is no man can come. No man has the ability to come to Me, here's what He said, except the Father who has sent Me, draw him. In other words, sinners may be invited to come to Christ, they may be responsible to come to Christ, but they do not have the ability in and of themselves to come to Christ. It must be supernaturally done by the drawing of the Father.
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So now look what our Lord has said. Our Lord says, no man can see, no man can enter, no man can come. Now look in John 8 and verse 43. John 8 verse 43. Wow. Look at this. John 8 verse 43. Look what our Lord tells these religious leaders. He says in John 8 verse 43, Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words. Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my words.
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You know, let me tell you something. I have no earthly idea how many sermons I've preached in 43 years, 44, whatever it is. I don't know how many people I've counseled. I never took notes or recorded numbers. But I can tell you one thing. I can tell you I've wasted a lot of breath toward a lot of people who never heard anything that I said, because they could not hear.
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Now, what did our Lord say? Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You don't have the ability to hear.
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Now, skip down to verse 47. He clarifies it. Look in verse 47. Our Lord says, he that is of God, heareth God's words, you therefore hear them not, because you're not of God. Why? He said, if you had been regenerated, you would hear my words. But you don't hear them, because you're not of God. God has never worked in your life. Now what did our Lord say? He said, man cannot see, man cannot enter, man cannot come, man cannot hear, And if you look in John 12, beginning there with verse 39, therefore they could not believe because Isaiah said again, He had blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. Therefore, they could not believe. Now let me ask you, how many of you have heard preachers all your life say, you can come to Christ, you can believe. What did our Lord say? He said, you cannot come, you cannot see, you cannot enter, you cannot hear, you cannot believe.
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It is not in man to do that. Man does not have the ability. Why? Because faith is the gift of God. Man cannot believe in and of himself. He may be responsible to believe, he may be accountable to believe, but faith is God's gift. You know what the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 2? Let me just quote this one. 2 Thessalonians 3 and verse 2.
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Paul is asking a prayer request and he makes this statement. and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men, for all men have not faith." Notice what he said, for all men have not faith. Faith is not inherent in all men. It is not there. It's not there by nature. You know, I've heard people try to explain this. All men have faith, you just have to exercise it.
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In other words, here's a chair. Now, you sit down, and when you sit down, you have faith that that chair is going to hold you up. Well, that may be a good illustration of human faith in objects, but there is a vast difference between human faith in objects and faith, saving faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, he says, they cannot believe. Why? All men have not faith. In other words, it's not in man by nature.
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That's why He said, and everyone in this room can quote it. Help me out now. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourself. It's what? The gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9. So for by grace are you saved through faith. Here is how Mephibosheth is a perfect picture of a sinner.
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He was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another, and he was crippled in a fall. Now, let me show you how the picture even goes further. Go back in your Bibles to 2 Samuel 9, and let me show you where Mephibosheth is found. 2 Samuel 9, and look in verse 4.
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After Ziba reveals that Mephibosheth is alive, he's the son of Jonathan, in verse 4, "...and the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar." And that's where David found him. That's where he's sent to bring him back to him. Now, interestingly, He said in verse 4, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. The word Machir means sold. Lo-debar means place of no pasture. Where was Mephibosheth found? Sold in the place of no pasture, a slave, barren and desolate.
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Is that not what the Bible teaches concerning us? Did not our Lord say, He who committed sin is the servant or the slave of sin? Well, of course. And what does the Bible say in Ephesians 2? By man, by nature, we were without God and having no hope in the world. So Mephibosheth is the perfect picture of a sinner. The place of no pasture. Sold into slavery. Absolutely helpless.
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You know, this to me is so exciting. Because when you look at Mephibosheth, you think all hope is gone. I mean, sold, place of no pasture, lame. And yet when you go back to verse 4, there's a ray of hope. Because when the king asked, where is he? Ziba said to the king, behold, he is in the house of Machir, who happened to be the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. The name Ammiel means, my kinsman is God. Do you ever remember reading in the Old Testament about the kinsman redeemer? When someone was sold into slavery? then the kinsman-redeemer could redeem his loved one out of slavery. The Lord Jesus Christ happens to be our kinsman-redeemer. David here is a picture of that kinsman-redeemer in that he rescued Mephibosheth from slavery and the place of no pasture.
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In fact, you know what the Bible says concerning God's great salvation in our lives? In Colossians 1 and verse 13, He said this, "...who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son." What did God do? God took us out of the kingdom of darkness. He took us out of bondage and slavery and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. just like David took Mephibosheth out of the house of slavery and no pasture and transplanted him into the palace where David was himself.
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Now, I want you to look back in 2 Samuel 9 and verse 6. Oh, you can see this picture and I could develop it a hundred times, but look in verse 6.
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Now, when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was coming to David, he fell on his face and did him reverence. Let me ask you a question. When God comes to us in convicting and converting grace as sinners, what do we do? We fall on our face. We submit to Him. We humble ourselves. We acknowledge that He and He alone is the King, the Lord, and the Savior.
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Now that's exactly what happened. Now watch this. Verse 6, and David said, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth. All he said was his name. Mephibosheth. Boy, I hope you remember John chapter 10. What did our Lord say? I know my sheep, and I call them by name, and they follow me. David called his name, and notice what happened, and he answered, Behold thy servant. You remember that passage in Acts chapter 9, when Saul was knocked flat on his face, and he said, Who art thou, Lord? And you remember the word Lord means boss, owner, master, sovereign? Saul said, I don't know who you are, but whoever you are, you're Lord. And then our Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.
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Is it not hard to kick against the bricks? And then Saul of Tarsus said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Same thing here. Mephibosheth, behold thy servant. I want you to see how this picture is just so perfect. In verse 7, And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. Now watch this. David restored everything to Mephibosheth that he had lost. David not only restored everything to Mephibosheth that he had lost, he gave Mephibosheth even more than he lost. Why? Because now Mephibosheth is going to be adopted as one of the king's sons, and he says, Mephibosheth, you're going to eat at my table and then some. Everything that Mephibosheth had lost being the son of Saul is now restored. Are you listening? Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored, and then some. I'm going to show you that. What did Adam have originally?
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He had knowledge, he had righteousness, and he had dominion. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Colossians chapter 3, and look, if you would please, at verse 10. Let me show you what has restored us in Christ. Look in Colossians 3 and verse 10. Colossians 3 and verse 10. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Ah, didn't Adam have original knowledge? Yes, he did.
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And he lost it in the fall. What do we get back in Christ? We get back now the knowledge of God. We're renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him. And in other words, now we can see and know God as He's revealed in His Word. Just like Adam knew God, now we know God through His Word. Oh, that's not all. Look in Ephesians 4 and verse 24. You will remember that Adam also was created with original righteousness. Ephesians 4. Verse 24, here's what the Scripture says, "...and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Wow! We not only get back our knowledge, we now get back righteousness and holiness through the Lord Jesus Christ. We've been given everything that we've lost in the fall.
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But you say, wait a minute, Brother Weaver. Adam had dominion too. Well, turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 28. Matthew chapter 28. And I hope you'll remember that I have two messages on the biblical doctrine of dominion. But let me just show you this. Matthew 28, beginning there, verse 18. Matthew 28, verse 18. And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, I love this, all power or all authority is given unto me in heaven and earth. How much power and how much authority does Jesus Christ have? All of it. Well, what does He do with all power and authority?
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He says in verse 19, talking to His people, "...Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen." He now sends us back out into the world to exercise the dominion that's been given to Him. In other words, He gives us power to share in that dominion. Everything that Mephibosheth lost by being the son of Saul is now restored to him. Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored to us. But Mephibosheth got back more than he lost because he was adopted into the king's family, treated as a king's son, ate at the king's table continually, And if you look in your Bibles, first of all, Romans 8 and then 1 Corinthians 3. Romans 8, let me show you this, Romans 8, verse 17, and then 1 Corinthians 3. Did we get back more than we lost at Adam?
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Oh yes. Notice Romans chapter 8 and verse 17. The Scripture says, and if children, that is if we're children of God, If we're children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. If so be that we also, if we, that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. What are we now? We're heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Everything that Jesus Christ receives, we receive as well. We're joint heirs. We're heirs of God. God has become our God. That's not all. Look in 1 Corinthians chapter 3.
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Here's another very powerful passage. Let's begin with verse 21. I want you to see how much more we got back in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3 verse 21. Therefore we'll let no man glory in men." Why? For all things are yours.
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Now look, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, are you looking? Or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours, and you're Christ's, and Christ is God's. What did we get in Christ? Everything. Everything is ours. We didn't have everything in Adam. We had some things, but now we have everything. You know, the king told Ziba, Ziba listen, everything that belonged to Saul, I'm giving to Mephibosheth.
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And here's what you do. You take your 15 sons and your 20 servants and you work all that land so that Mephibosheth's son Micah may have food to eat. But you don't have to worry about Mephibosheth because he's going to eat at the king's table as one of the king's sons. Now listen carefully. Mephibosheth, although he was adopted in the king's family, was still lame on both feet, wasn't he? Although we're adopted in the king's family, we're still sinners, aren't we? But when Mephibosheth came to the king's table, and he was put in that chair, and the tablecloth flowed down, it covered his lameness. You couldn't see his lameness. Couldn't tell he's a lame man.
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And each of us, by the grace of God, has been covered with the robe of righteousness of Jesus Christ. And although we're sinners, when God sees us, He sees us in Christ. And He sees us justified, just as if we had never sinned. Everything that we lost in Adam, we got back, and then some, through Jesus Christ. David and Mephibosheth give us a perfect portrait of the grace of God, how we ought to praise Him and thank Him for His marvelous, wonderful grace. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask for Your mercy and Your grace.
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Lord, You've been so good to us. And Lord, You've not only covered our sins, You have forgiven our sins. The Bible says You've put them as far away as the east is from the west. You've put them behind your back never to remember them anymore. You will not charge them against us. You will not hold them against us. We've been forgiven. And Lord, we thank You and acknowledge with Jonah that salvation is of the Lord.
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Give us grace now that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In the name of Jesus Christ we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:23:50Z

A Portrait of Grace Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of 2 Samuel 9, focusing on Mephibosheth as a picture-perfect representation of the sinner. He explains how Mephibosheth's fall, lameness, and helpless condition mirror humanity's fall in Adam, total depravity, and inability to please God or come to Christ apart from divine grace. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is entirely by grace, initiated by God, based on the merits of Christ, and results in the restoration and exaltation of the believer, who is adopted into God's family and covered by Christ's righteousness.

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the first part of the message, highlighting that salvation originates with God's decree and is based on the merits of another, Jesus Christ.

So let's read 2 Samuel 9, beginning with verse 1. 2 Samuel 9, verse 1.

Scripture Reading — 2 Samuel 9:1-13

And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame on his feet. And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar. Then king David sent and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. And when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth, and he answered, Behold thy servant. And David said unto him, Fear not, for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father, and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am? Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertain to Saul and to all his house. Thou therefore and thy sons and thy servants shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits that thy master's son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread always at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table as one of the king's sons. And Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Micah, and all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, and he did eat continually at the king's table, and was lame on both his feet."

He was the sinless Son of God and thus, therefore, He died in our stead. And so, therefore, God has mercy upon us because of Jesus Christ. We have mercy because of the merits of another.

Mephibosheth as the Recipient of Grace

The sermon shifts to Mephibosheth as the picture-perfect representation of a sinner, emphasizing his enemy status and forfeiture of all rights.

The Fall of Mephibosheth and Humanity

Mephibosheth's fall and lameness illustrate humanity's fall in Adam, resulting in total depravity and loss of original righteousness.

Federal Headship and Imputation

Weaver explains that all sinned in Adam as their federal head, and this imputation of sin is paralleled by the imputation of Christ's righteousness.

Total Inability of the Sinner

Using John 3, 6, 8, and 12, Weaver argues that unregenerate man cannot see, enter, come, hear, or believe apart from God's drawing.

Now, what did our Lord say? Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. You don't have the ability to hear.

Mephibosheth's Location and Redemption

Mephibosheth is found in Lo-debar (place of no pasture), sold into slavery, but David, as a kinsman-redeemer, rescues him.

In fact, you know what the Bible says concerning God's great salvation in our lives? In Colossians 1 and verse 13, He said this,

Scripture Reading — Colossians 1:13

"...who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."

Restoration and Exaltation

David restores all Saul's land to Mephibosheth and adopts him as a son, eating at the king's table, picturing the believer's restoration in Christ.

Covered Lameness and Justification

Though still lame, Mephibosheth's lameness is covered at the table, just as believers' sins are covered by Christ's righteousness.

A Portrait of Grace Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	N0tBfMFatoM
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Justification, Faith, and Imputed Righteousness: Who is Israel?
Genre	Sermon
Date	2012-01-27
Dictation Name
Book	Book 170: A Portrait of Grace — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	74

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the first part of the message, highlighting that salvation originates with God's decree and is based on the merits of another, Jesus Christ.
Mephibosheth as the Recipient of Grace: The sermon shifts to Mephibosheth as the picture-perfect representation of a sinner, emphasizing his enemy status and forfeiture of all rights.
The Fall of Mephibosheth and Humanity: Mephibosheth's fall and lameness illustrate humanity's fall in Adam, resulting in total depravity and loss of original righteousness.
Federal Headship and Imputation: Weaver explains that all sinned in Adam as their federal head, and this imputation of sin is paralleled by the imputation of Christ's righteousness.
Total Inability of the Sinner: Using John 3, 6, 8, and 12, Weaver argues that unregenerate man cannot see, enter, come, hear, or believe apart from God's drawing.
Mephibosheth's Location and Redemption: Mephibosheth is found in Lo-debar (place of no pasture), sold into slavery, but David, as a kinsman-redeemer, rescues him.
Restoration and Exaltation: David restores all Saul's land to Mephibosheth and adopts him as a son, eating at the king's table, picturing the believer's restoration in Christ.
Covered Lameness and Justification: Though still lame, Mephibosheth's lameness is covered at the table, just as believers' sins are covered by Christ's righteousness.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Mephibosheth's fall mirrors humanity's fall in Adam

Just as Mephibosheth fell and became lame through no fault of his own, all humanity fell in Adam and became spiritually crippled.

Weaver reads 2 Samuel 4:4 and states, 'He not only was involved in a fall, he fell at the hands of another... Each of us were involved in a fall, at the hands of another. We fell through our federal head and representative who was Adam.'

Imputation is essential to understanding salvation

The imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity is paralleled by the imputation of the believer's sins to Christ and Christ's righteousness to believers.

Weaver says, 'If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation.'

Unregenerate man cannot believe or come to Christ

Scripture teaches that no one can see, enter, come, hear, or believe apart from the Father's drawing and regeneration.

Weaver cites John 3:3, 3:5, 6:44, 8:43, 12:39, and 2 Thessalonians 3:2, concluding, 'Man cannot believe in and of himself.'

David's kindness to Mephibosheth is pure grace

David owed Mephibosheth nothing; everything belonged to David by right. His mercy was entirely unmerited.

Weaver explains David's legal right to Saul's estate through marriage and conquest, stating, 'David did not owe Mephibosheth anything.'

Believers receive more in Christ than was lost in Adam

In Christ, believers regain knowledge, righteousness, and dominion, and become joint-heirs with Christ, possessing all things.

Weaver cites Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 8:17, and 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

Scripture References

2 Samuel 9:1-13: The entire chapter is read and expounded as the basis for the portrait of grace.
2 Samuel 4:4: Explains how Mephibosheth became lame at age five when his nurse dropped him while fleeing.
Numbers 27:8: Cited to show that David inherited Saul's estate through his wife Michal, Saul's daughter.
Isaiah 1:5-6: Describes the total depravity of man from head to toe, with no soundness.
Romans 3:10-12: Paul's description of universal sinfulness: none righteous, none seeking God, none doing good.
Romans 5:12-19: Explains imputation: sin entered through one man, Adam, and death passed to all; contrasts with Christ's obedience.
Romans 8:6-8: The carnal mind is enmity against God and cannot be subject to God's law; those in the flesh cannot please God.
John 3:3,5: Jesus teaches that unless one is born again, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God.
John 6:44: No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him.
John 8:43,47: Jesus says the Jews cannot hear His word because they are not of God.
John 12:39-40: They could not believe because God blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts.
Ephesians 2:8-9: Salvation by grace through faith is the gift of God, not of works.
Ephesians 4:18: Gentiles have darkened understanding and are alienated from God due to ignorance and blindness.
1 Corinthians 2:14: The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit; they are foolishness to him.
2 Thessalonians 3:2: Paul asks for deliverance from wicked men, for not all have faith.
Colossians 1:13: God has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His Son.
Colossians 3:10: The new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.
Ephesians 4:24: The new man is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Matthew 28:18-20: All authority is given to Christ; He sends believers to teach and baptize, exercising dominion.
Romans 8:17: Believers are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Historical References

J.C. Philpot: Quoted on the wretchedness and ruin of sin: 'as no heart can sufficiently conceive, so no tongue can adequately express the state of wretchedness and ruin into which sin has cast guilty, miserable man.'
Thomas Manton: Quoted on federal headship: 'we saw the forbidden fruit with Adam's eyes, we gathered it with Adam's hands, we ate it with Adam's mouth, and we were ruined by those things as though we had been there and consented to his acts.'
A. A. Hodge: Cited on the three consequences of Adam's sin: guilt imputed, entire depravity, and entire inability.

Important Quotes

David did not owe Mephibosheth anything. Everything that Saul and his family had legally, lawfully, and rightfully belonged to David. So the very fact that David now wants to have mercy upon Mephibosheth, it is pure grace.

Emphasizes that salvation is entirely unmerited, a key point in the portrait of grace.

If you don't like imputation, then you don't like salvation. Because the only salvation that exists is the salvation by imputation.

Highlights the necessity of imputation for understanding both condemnation and justification.

Everything that Mephibosheth lost by being the son of Saul is now restored to him. Everything that we lost in Adam is now restored to us. But Mephibosheth got back more than he lost because he was adopted into the king's family, treated as a king's son, ate at the king's table continually.

Summarizes the restoration and exaltation believers receive in Christ.

Mephibosheth, although he was adopted in the king's family, was still lame on both feet, wasn't he? Although we're adopted in the king's family, we're still sinners, aren't we? But when Mephibosheth came to the king's table, and he was put in that chair, and the tablecloth flowed down, it covered his lameness.

Illustrates justification: believers' sins are covered by Christ's righteousness.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does Mephibosheth's fall and lameness illustrate the biblical doctrine of total depravity?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Mephibosheth was crippled and helpless, just as sinners are spiritually unable to please God.

[Question]

What is the difference between 'may' and 'can' in the context of coming to Christ, and why is this distinction important?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that while sinners are invited (may), they lack the ability (can) apart from God's drawing.

[Question]

How does the doctrine of imputation help us understand both our condemnation in Adam and our justification in Christ?

[Context]

Weaver explains the three imputations in Scripture and argues that rejecting imputation is rejecting salvation.

[Question]

In what ways do believers receive more in Christ than was lost in Adam?

[Context]

Weaver cites Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, and 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 to show restoration and exaltation.

[Question]

What does Mephibosheth's location in Lo-debar teach us about the sinner's condition before salvation?

[Context]

Weaver notes that Lo-debar means 'place of no pasture,' symbolizing spiritual barrenness and slavery.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T07:06:33Z