The following sermon is by John MacArthur, pastor, author, and Bible teacher with Grace

to You.

If you've never contacted Grace to You, we want to send you a free booklet by John that

unpacks fifteen Greek words in Scripture that explain a stunning paradox, how a God

of perfect justice can show mercy to sinners who deserve only punishment.

Request your free booklet titled 15 Words of Hope by writing to Hope at gty.org.

This offer is good in North America and Europe through June 2023.

And now unleashing God's truth one verse at a time.

Here's Grace to You, Bible teacher John MacArthur.

This is beyond overwhelming.

I had prepared something to say, I don't know if I can recover it at this point.

My heart and mind are flooded with so many credible thoughts after this amazing time together.

Thanks to everybody, thanks to Michael and thanks to all those of you who made this happen here at Grace Church.

I am a singular, blessed person.

I have no idea why the Lord chose me and prepared me and set my course.

Put me in the family, put me in and put me in touch with this church when I was in my twenties.

Really too young for the responsibility, but here I was February 9, 1969 with absolutely no idea of what the future would hold.

But knowing I wanted to teach the Word of God, no pastor has, I can't imagine, ever had a more wonderful pastoral ministry than the Lord has given me.

It's not something I have earned, it's not something I deserve.

The Lord has overcome my weaknesses and my failures and singularly blessed me in spite of them by bringing me here.

I have never had a split second desire to be anywhere else.

This is my home, this is my life, you are my love, you are my joy and crown of rejoicing, and we will share this fellowship forever in heaven.

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