Hello and welcome to
Thompsonville once again
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to the 3ABN Worship
Center as we continue
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our 2011 Spring Camp Meeting.
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We're beginning the day
with the Lord at our side,
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the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
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And we are preparing our
minds, our ears and our eyes
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to receive what the
Lord has in store for us.
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And thank you for joining
us. If you're busy right now,
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we'd like to encourage you
to stand still, maybe sit down.
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Invite your family members
to join you for this wonderful
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message entitled
"Does Truth Really Matter? "
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In our day and age there is
so much diversity in religion
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that truth doesn't seem to
make it to the top of the pile.
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But the truth of God
does matter. Can you say Amen?
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Amen. And Pastor David
Shin is going to bring us
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a Bible-centered
message from the Word of God.
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We want to pray
for his anointing.
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We want to pray for the Lord
to be glorified in the message.
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But we also want to encourage
you to listen very carefully
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because we are living in
a day and age of diversity
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where truth is
losing its relevance.
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And the Lord still has a
message for every one of us.
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If you are in the
southern Illinois area
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or driving distance, we'd
like to encourage you to come
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to Spring Camp Meeting.
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There are many, many
more messages to come.
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Maybe about 19 more
messages or 20 more.
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So we encourage you to come.
We have Pastor C.D. Brooks,
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uh, Dr. Rock. We're going
to have Pastor Stephen Bohr.
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Oh, the list goes on and on
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and if you could come,
we'd like to have you here
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for this Spirit-filled weekend.
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But before we
invite Pastor David Shin
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the Lord has given me the
opportunity to open your hearts
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through this
song that simply says
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if there's a place that you
can find courage and strength
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it is by turning
your eyes upon Jesus.
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O soul,
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are you weary and troubled?
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No light in the darkness
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you see?
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There's light for a look at
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the Savior,
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And there's life more abundant
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and free!
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Turn your eyes upon
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Jesus,
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Look full in His wonderful
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face,
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And the things of earth
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will grow strangely dim
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In the light
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of His glory
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and grace.
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His Word will not fail you
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He's promised;
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Believe it
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and all will be well:
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Then go to a world
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that is dying
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with His perfect salvation to
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tell!
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Turn your eyes
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upon Jesus,
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Look full in His wonderful
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face;
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And the things of earth
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will grow strangely dim
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In the light of His
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glory and grace.
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In the light of His
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glory
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and grace.
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In the light of God's
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glory
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and grace.
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Amen.
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Thank you, John.
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Hasn't the music here
been absolutely beautiful?
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Amen.
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We need to keep our
eyes fix on Jesus as we
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approach His
imminent second coming.
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Can't hear me?
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Let's bow our heads for prayer.
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Our Father in
heaven, we thank You
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this morning for the
privilege and opportunity
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that we have to
come into agreement
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of Your holy scriptures...
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to open Your holy Word.
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And as we delve into
today's seminar topic
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we pray that You would
speak to each one of our hearts.
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Amen. As we talk
about the nature of truth
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as we look at Jesus
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who is The Way,
The Truth, and The Life
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we pray that all
the things of this earth
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would grow strangely dim
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in the light of
His glory and grace.
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We pray that as we
approach these uncertain times
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of the future that our
feet would be firmly grounded
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in the rock of Jesus Christ.
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Lord, we pray that You'd
help us to love the truth
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because Jesus is Truth.
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For we ask these
things in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Our seminar this
morning is entitled
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"Does Truth Really Matter? "
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And it's going
to be a Bible study
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on the nature of truth.
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And many people
have asked the question:
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"does truth really matter? "
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"Does it matter
what one believes? "
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And we live in a culture
today where the answer is
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unfortunately "no. "
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We live in a culture
where as long as one believes in
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something it doesn't
matter what you believe.
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And it's almost a
respectful standpoint of view
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but I think they've
taken it a little bit too far
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in which they say: "What
you believe is good for you
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and what I
believe is good for me.
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And let's not judge each other.
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Let's not talk
about the nature of truth.
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What works for me works
for me and what works for you
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works for you. "
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Furthermore, we live in
an age where absolute truth
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is denied as even existing.
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We call that relativism.
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Relativism holds the mantra
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that all truth is relative.
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I heard one philosopher say
that, in response to relativism,
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that if all truth is relative
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then the
statement itself is relative
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and you have said nothing.
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It's interesting that
the only absolute truth
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that these people
believe is that all truth
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is relative... that
there is no absolute truth.
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In addition to relativism
is the concept of pluralism.
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That there are many
even contradicting truths.
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There's not one
way but many ways.
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And so in response to this
even in the churches of today
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there's an attitude
that minimizes truth
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and says it doesn't
matter what one believes
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as long as you have a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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Now there's elements of
that statement that are true.
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But there's a couple texts
that I would like to turn our
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attention to this morning
that even muddles the issue
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even more as we delve
into this morning's study...
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this morning's presentation.
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And I'd like to start out
by answering three fundamental
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questions in our study
this morning, in our seminar.
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And the first one is: does truth
really matter as evidenced by
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the title. The second
part of this morning's seminar
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is: how do I
recognize or perceive the truth?
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And the third part is:
where is the center of truth?
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I'd like to turn our attention
to James chapter 4 and verse 17
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if you can turn
with me in your Bibles.
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The Bible does give some
evidence that God does take
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a subjective nature of how
He looks at our individual lives
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even if
objective truth does exist.
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James chapter 4 and verse 17
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makes this statement in
relation to how God views sin
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in the individual's life.
James chapter 4 and verse 17.
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The Bible says: "To him
therefore who knows to do good
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and doesn't do it,
to him it is sin. "
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The Bible is pointing out
that the person does not know,
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does not perceive, or
does not understand truth.
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That we are not held accountable
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for the truth that we
do not understand. Amen?
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So God is fair; God is just.
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The other one is in
Acts chapter 17 and verse 30.
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Acts chapter 17 and verse 30.
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How God views each one of us in
relationship to His moral law.
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Acts chapter 17 and verse 30.
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"Therefore, having overlooked
the times of... " what?
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"the times of ignorance. "
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Another translation
says that God "blinked"
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in times of ignorance.
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God is fair; God is just.
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And for the person out there
that does not know the truth
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he's only held accountable for
the truth that he understands
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and perceives to be truth.
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Now I'd like to go through
three fundamental reasons
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very quickly why
truth matters the more.
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And we live in a society
today where unfortunately
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Jesus is placed over here
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and truth is placed over here.
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I'd like to go further in saying
that we live in a society today
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and a culture
where Jesus is over here
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and doctrine is over here.
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Now doctrine is Biblical
teaching, i. e. the truth.
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And I have had people
come to me and say: "Pastor,
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don't teach or
preach doctrine. "
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"Ah, let's not deal with
this doctrinal stuff anymore;
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let's not teach doctrine...
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let's preach and teach Jesus. "
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Now I will say this morning
that I believe that we need to
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do a better job as
Christians - as Adventists -
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of linking every single
doctrine with Jesus. Amen.
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Every truth, every doctrine,
every teaching from scripture
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needs to be rooted
and grounded in Christ.
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It needs to be Christ-o-centric.
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I believe we need to integrate
Christ into every single one
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of our messages. But we
face this false dichotomy:
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Christ/truth; Christ/doctrine.
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I just have to ask
them this question:
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"Do you believe that
this Jesus rose from the dead
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on the third day? " And
they say: "Yes, pastor. "
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Well there you have a doctrine!
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"Do you believe that Jesus
is coming the second time? "
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They say: "Yes! " Well
there you have a doctrine:
00:14:09.84\00:14:12.58
the second coming.
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"Do you believe that
Jesus forgives us for our sins
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and places us in right standing
before God as if we have
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never sinned? "
00:14:24.17\00:14:25.59
Say: "Yes. " Well
there you have a doctrine.
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It's called justification.
00:14:27.93\00:14:29.70
"Do you believe that God -
Jesus Christ - is ministering
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right now in the
heavenly sanctuary on our behalf
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as our intercessor,
as our high priest? "
00:14:37.60\00:14:39.56
And they say: "Yes. "
Well, there you have a doctrine.
00:14:39.76\00:14:42.75
Every doctrine is rooted
and grounded in Jesus Christ.
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And so it's
really a false dichotomy:
00:14:47.83\00:14:49.99
Christ versus doctrine,
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Christ versus truth.
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I'd like to turn our
attention here in our seminar to
00:14:56.19\00:15:00.07
John chapter 14 and verse 6.
00:15:00.27\00:15:02.67
And Jesus makes
this profound statement
00:15:02.87\00:15:05.72
in relationship to
the nature of truth.
00:15:05.93\00:15:08.46
John chapter 14 and verse 6.
00:15:08.66\00:15:12.59
Jesus is speaking. The gospel
of John chapter 14 and verse 6:
00:15:17.38\00:15:22.82
"And Jesus said to him... "
00:15:23.12\00:15:27.08
I want you to notice
the nuances of this verse.
00:15:27.28\00:15:30.75
"Jesus said to
him: 'I am The Way,
00:15:30.95\00:15:34.38
The Truth, and The Life.
00:15:34.58\00:15:38.28
No one comes to the
Father except through Me. ' "
00:15:38.58\00:15:42.33
Now we could spend an entire
presentation just on this verse
00:15:42.53\00:15:45.60
alone. Jesus
says: "I am The Way. "
00:15:45.71\00:15:49.55
Singular definite article.
00:15:49.75\00:15:51.73
Notice Jesus does
not say "I am a way. "
00:15:51.94\00:15:54.14
I remember I met a
gentleman that said
00:15:54.34\00:15:56.75
"Jesus did not really
mean The Way, He meant
00:15:56.95\00:16:00.24
A Way. " In other words,
Jesus is one of the many ways
00:16:00.44\00:16:04.29
to salvation. Buddha is one way.
00:16:04.50\00:16:07.35
Hinduism is another way.
00:16:07.55\00:16:08.90
Jesus is another way.
00:16:09.11\00:16:10.28
But Jesus makes the
unequivocal statement
00:16:10.48\00:16:13.69
"I am The Way. "
00:16:13.89\00:16:16.68
The only way.
And then He goes on:
00:16:16.88\00:16:20.93
"I am The Truth. "
00:16:21.13\00:16:24.62
This is a profound
statement that boggles the mind.
00:16:26.10\00:16:30.20
Especially those of us
- all of us in this room -
00:16:30.41\00:16:33.02
are from a Greek and
Western point of view.
00:16:33.23\00:16:35.68
In other words, we think of
truth in terms of propositions.
00:16:36.28\00:16:42.13
In terms of an
idea or a concept.
00:16:42.43\00:16:44.80
That's why we have this false
dichotomy: truth is over here;
00:16:44.90\00:16:48.17
Jesus is over here.
00:16:48.37\00:16:49.57
But Jesus says truth is
not simply a theological idea.
00:16:49.77\00:16:53.72
It is not just a concept,
a proposition, a doctrine
00:16:53.92\00:16:58.67
that we talk about.
00:16:58.77\00:17:00.05
But Jesus makes
the profound statement
00:17:01.17\00:17:04.01
"I am The Truth. "
00:17:04.41\00:17:09.02
Jesus says that truth
is not just a proposition,
00:17:09.32\00:17:15.22
not just a theological idea,
00:17:15.42\00:17:17.95
but truth is His person.
00:17:18.16\00:17:21.86
Are you following me here?
00:17:23.05\00:17:24.63
Jesus says that truth is not
just an ideology, pie in the sky
00:17:24.83\00:17:29.19
bye and bye, that theologians
do exegesis or theological
00:17:29.40\00:17:33.10
propositions in the
ivory tower on. But Jesus says
00:17:33.21\00:17:36.73
that He is "The Truth. "
00:17:36.83\00:17:39.66
When we talk about
truth as it is in the Bible
00:17:39.86\00:17:43.50
we're talking about
the person Jesus Christ.
00:17:43.70\00:17:47.39
The two cannot be separated.
00:17:47.59\00:17:50.00
Truth is in the
personhood of Jesus Christ.
00:17:50.20\00:17:54.95
So you can unabashedly
00:17:57.90\00:18:02.35
go to the person on the street
00:18:02.55\00:18:05.86
with boldness, with literature,
00:18:06.06\00:18:10.97
with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:18:11.17\00:18:14.00
Now, I've asked
myself this question:
00:18:15.95\00:18:20.53
if this is indeed true
that in times of ignorance
00:18:20.83\00:18:26.67
God winks and if you love
the Lord with all your heart
00:18:26.87\00:18:31.42
yet you don't know all of
the truth and you die today,
00:18:31.92\00:18:37.53
are you going to be saved?
00:18:37.83\00:18:39.89
You have a
relationship with Jesus;
00:18:40.40\00:18:42.47
you don't have all the truth
00:18:42.48\00:18:44.18
but you're walking in
of the light that you have
00:18:44.38\00:18:46.28
and you die today...
you will be in the kingdom
00:18:46.38\00:18:49.64
because the Bible tells
us that once we accept Jesus
00:18:50.80\00:18:52.80
our names are written
in the Lamb's Book of Life.
00:18:53.00\00:18:54.88
No question of that.
00:18:55.08\00:18:56.58
Now why is it
00:18:58.25\00:19:00.58
that I must be
compelled to go out there,
00:19:00.98\00:19:06.03
knock on those
doors, broadcast on 3ABN,
00:19:06.13\00:19:09.77
and proclaim the truth
when they are just as saved -
00:19:09.97\00:19:13.97
are you following me? -
00:19:14.07\00:19:15.13
in the condition
they are out there?
00:19:15.33\00:19:17.51
They don't know
about the Bible Sabbath
00:19:17.61\00:19:19.17
but they're walking in all
of the light that they have.
00:19:19.37\00:19:21.42
Why go in there
and rock the boat?
00:19:21.62\00:19:23.68
Why make things more difficult?
00:19:24.08\00:19:26.55
Why make life more difficult?
00:19:26.65\00:19:27.98
Why present all these
Sabbath challenges and
00:19:28.18\00:19:30.72
challenges with work
and challenges with family?
00:19:30.93\00:19:34.11
Why not just leave them
in the state that they're in
00:19:34.32\00:19:37.87
because ignorance is bliss?
00:19:38.08\00:19:40.78
They're just as saved
00:19:42.06\00:19:45.33
walking in the
light that they have.
00:19:45.63\00:19:48.18
But this
presents this principle.
00:19:48.58\00:19:52.95
When Jesus said: "I am The
Way, The Truth, and The Life"
00:19:53.15\00:19:55.98
that I can knock on
that gentleman's door
00:19:56.18\00:20:00.83
in Thompsonville, Illinois.
00:20:01.03\00:20:04.16
I can ask them the question:
"Sir, do you love Jesus? "
00:20:04.36\00:20:08.16
He'll say: "You'd
better believe I love Jesus. "
00:20:09.78\00:20:11.96
I'll say: "Well, you'll want
to know the truth about Him. "
00:20:13.40\00:20:19.08
Because Satan has
painted a picture of God
00:20:19.28\00:20:23.08
that is inaccurate.
00:20:23.28\00:20:25.47
Let me deal with one: hell fire.
00:20:25.77\00:20:27.75
Satan has painted a picture
that God roasts and toasts
00:20:28.05\00:20:30.89
sinners throughout the
ceaseless ages of eternity.
00:20:31.09\00:20:33.47
This is a lie
regarding the character of God.
00:20:33.77\00:20:38.07
And I can go to
that door and say: "Sir,
00:20:38.27\00:20:40.95
the God that you
are worshiping...
00:20:41.15\00:20:43.54
there are some
misconceptions about God
00:20:43.74\00:20:46.24
and you relationship with
Him can be tremendously enhanced
00:20:46.44\00:20:50.89
if you know this truth. "
00:20:51.09\00:20:54.03
I have a friend of mine
that I went to high school with.
00:20:55.34\00:20:59.41
And we lost touch over the
years. I found out that she
00:20:59.61\00:21:05.15
got married -
happily married, by the way.
00:21:05.35\00:21:07.63
And she was married to this man
00:21:07.83\00:21:11.77
that was her dream husband.
00:21:11.97\00:21:16.10
He had all the characteristics
that she could think of.
00:21:16.40\00:21:19.64
She had this list of all the
qualities that were to be in her
00:21:19.84\00:21:22.91
future husband...
and she found him!
00:21:23.05\00:21:26.25
He was good
looking... tall, handsome.
00:21:26.38\00:21:30.87
Had a good way of
providing for his wife.
00:21:31.00\00:21:35.70
And for three years
their relationship was just
00:21:35.98\00:21:41.52
picture perfect.
00:21:41.72\00:21:43.80
Their marriage was wonderful.
00:21:44.10\00:21:46.34
And in a matter of
just weeks her fantasy
00:21:46.54\00:21:51.72
of a marriage came
crashing down around her
00:21:51.92\00:21:54.71
because she found out
that her marriage was a facade.
00:21:54.81\00:21:58.37
It was a farce.
00:21:58.47\00:21:59.71
He was not going to
this up-scale business
00:21:59.91\00:22:03.10
every day in his suit.
00:22:03.21\00:22:04.80
He was actually
involved with the mafia.
00:22:05.00\00:22:07.63
He had married her to be a prop
00:22:07.83\00:22:11.36
that would not cause suspicion
in the eyes of the authorities.
00:22:11.56\00:22:15.35
And for three years she realized
00:22:15.65\00:22:19.69
that her marriage
was not a reality.
00:22:19.89\00:22:23.39
All of her commitment,
all of her marriage -
00:22:25.02\00:22:28.87
her whole
relationship with this man -
00:22:29.07\00:22:31.69
was built on a lie.
00:22:31.90\00:22:34.66
Now there's a lot of people
out there that love the Lord
00:22:39.15\00:22:41.52
but their relationship
with Jesus is built on lies...
00:22:43.49\00:22:49.45
lies from the devil himself.
00:22:51.73\00:22:56.37
They may have a relationship
with God, but their picture is
00:22:56.67\00:23:00.24
so warped, so skewed,
00:23:00.44\00:23:02.96
that we are
compelled to knock on that door
00:23:03.56\00:23:09.52
and say that your relationship
with God could be so much
00:23:09.82\00:23:13.66
better...
exponentially better...
00:23:13.86\00:23:16.07
if you know the truth.
00:23:16.27\00:23:18.58
Because the
truth is Jesus Christ;
00:23:18.78\00:23:22.97
you want to know
the truth about Him.
00:23:23.18\00:23:25.17
The fact of the matter is
this quote in John chapter 14
00:23:25.37\00:23:29.99
and verse 6 is telling us that
if we don't have any truth...
00:23:30.20\00:23:33.58
guess what? You
don't have any Jesus.
00:23:33.78\00:23:36.71
Know truth, know Jesus.
That's the reality of it.
00:23:37.01\00:23:41.84
The truth of
Jesus is bound together
00:23:42.96\00:23:47.22
in an indisolvable union.
00:23:47.42\00:23:51.14
The first and fundamental
reason why truth matters is
00:23:51.34\00:23:54.59
because Jesus matters
00:23:54.79\00:23:56.42
and Jesus said: "I am The
Way, The Truth, and The Life. "
00:23:56.62\00:24:01.56
Let's go to our second
reason here in our Bible study.
00:24:01.96\00:24:05.62
Let's go to Mark
chapter 4 and verse 28.
00:24:05.82\00:24:10.18
Does truth matter
in today's society?
00:24:10.38\00:24:12.78
You'd better believe
it because Jesus matters.
00:24:12.98\00:24:15.27
Jesus said: "I am The
Way, The Truth, and The Life, "
00:24:15.47\00:24:17.45
and Mark chapter 4 and
verse 28 presents this principle
00:24:17.55\00:24:22.62
in relationship to
the Christian life.
00:24:22.82\00:24:24.93
Mark chapter 4 and verse 28.
00:24:26.09\00:24:30.42
Jesus uses this
illustration from agriculture
00:24:31.76\00:24:35.03
to describe the Christian life.
Mark chapter 4 and verse 28.
00:24:35.24\00:24:38.83
The Bible tells us:
"For the earth yields crops
00:24:39.03\00:24:43.20
by itself. First the blade,
00:24:43.30\00:24:46.83
then the head, and after that
the full grain in the head. "
00:24:47.03\00:24:52.40
Now we're told in the
book Christ Object Lessons
00:24:52.81\00:24:55.84
that this is a description
of the Christian life.
00:24:56.04\00:24:58.19
I want you to notice
that there are stages
00:24:58.39\00:25:00.33
to the Christian life. It says:
00:25:00.43\00:25:01.61
"For the earth
yields crops by itself. "
00:25:01.81\00:25:03.79
First the what?
"First the blade,
00:25:03.99\00:25:06.59
and then the head,
and then the full grain
00:25:06.79\00:25:09.53
in the head. " This
is an example, an analogy
00:25:09.73\00:25:12.65
from agriculture telling
us that the Christian life
00:25:12.86\00:25:15.58
has some parallels to
the growth of a plant.
00:25:15.78\00:25:19.51
Now when you plant
the seed in the ground
00:25:19.71\00:25:22.42
you do not wake
up the next morning -
00:25:22.62\00:25:24.61
at least I've
never seen this before -
00:25:24.81\00:25:26.18
and you have a full ear of corn.
00:25:26.38\00:25:28.76
I wish it was
like that sometimes.
00:25:29.06\00:25:32.17
But this is telling us
that the Christian life
00:25:32.37\00:25:35.26
is a process. It's a what?
00:25:35.46\00:25:37.63
It's a process.
00:25:37.83\00:25:39.60
There's a progression to
the Christian life that even if
00:25:39.80\00:25:43.16
you are born
again in Jesus Christ
00:25:43.26\00:25:46.88
that afterward there
is growth as a Christian.
00:25:47.08\00:25:50.46
The Bible tells us that
there's the blade then the head
00:25:50.66\00:25:52.78
then the full ear.
00:25:52.98\00:25:54.66
There's a process in
the Christian experience.
00:25:54.86\00:25:57.83
Now when we accept Jesus
00:25:58.03\00:25:59.74
and we ask for the
forgiveness of our sins
00:25:59.94\00:26:02.16
and we stand before God
as though we had never sinned
00:26:02.66\00:26:06.88
that is instantaneous.
00:26:07.08\00:26:09.76
Known as justification.
00:26:09.96\00:26:11.58
That I can stand before God
and God doesn't see David Shin
00:26:11.78\00:26:17.07
the sinner. He looks
at me and He sees Jesus.
00:26:17.17\00:26:22.01
The robe of
Christ's righteousness.
00:26:22.31\00:26:26.31
That takes place in a moment.
00:26:26.51\00:26:29.19
I can kneel down...
you can bow right now
00:26:29.29\00:26:31.74
and have the
assurance of Jesus Christ,
00:26:31.94\00:26:33.77
accepting Him as
your personal Savior.
00:26:33.97\00:26:36.17
Now after that, God
takes you on a walk.
00:26:36.38\00:26:41.58
He's like: "You're covered but
there are some character traits,
00:26:43.07\00:26:47.25
some character transformations,
00:26:47.45\00:26:49.08
that I want to
work in your life. "
00:26:49.29\00:26:51.00
And sometimes that
comes through trials,
00:26:51.20\00:26:54.05
through the Word of God,
and many times through people.
00:26:54.25\00:26:58.60
And I accepted
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:26:59.81\00:27:03.19
It was a beautiful experience.
00:27:03.39\00:27:04.54
Woke up the next
morning and Jesus said:
00:27:04.84\00:27:07.44
"I want you to walk with Me. "
00:27:07.54\00:27:09.57
And I keep a journal, and it's
amazing as I read my journal
00:27:09.77\00:27:14.06
from many years ago in
the beginning of my Christian
00:27:14.26\00:27:16.07
experience and I
just shake my head
00:27:16.17\00:27:18.34
and say: "Lord, thank
you for having mercy on me. "
00:27:19.73\00:27:22.48
Because there's
been growth in my life.
00:27:22.69\00:27:24.74
There's been a projection.
00:27:24.94\00:27:26.31
I'm nowhere near
where I need to be
00:27:26.42\00:27:28.57
but I thank God I'm
nowhere near where I was.
00:27:28.77\00:27:31.47
Hallelujah! The Lord
takes us step by step.
00:27:31.67\00:27:34.30
He's there to pick us
up. But there's a process,
00:27:34.51\00:27:36.95
there's a
trajectory of constant growth
00:27:37.15\00:27:39.81
getting closer and
closer to Jesus Christ.
00:27:40.01\00:27:42.39
The Bible says that
the path of the just
00:27:42.59\00:27:44.39
is like a shining light
00:27:44.49\00:27:46.04
that gets brighter and
brighter until the noonday.
00:27:46.24\00:27:49.08
And so when we walk with Jesus
00:27:49.28\00:27:51.43
we're still in
that saved condition
00:27:51.63\00:27:53.59
but He leads us moment
by moment, step by step.
00:27:53.79\00:27:56.77
Every day we're becoming
more and more like Jesus Christ.
00:27:56.97\00:28:00.08
There were 3 roommates
that God brought into my life
00:28:01.52\00:28:04.63
to hone down my character
00:28:04.93\00:28:08.19
and make me more like Him.
00:28:08.39\00:28:11.77
I thank God for the
process of sanctification.
00:28:12.99\00:28:16.60
I want to read this from
Christ Object Lessons page 65.
00:28:16.80\00:28:21.59
Commenting on Mark
chapter 4 and verse 28:
00:28:21.79\00:28:25.85
"The germination of the
seed represents the beginning
00:28:26.06\00:28:30.67
of spiritual life.
00:28:30.87\00:28:32.60
And the development of the
plant is a beautiful figure
00:28:32.80\00:28:36.86
of Christian growth.
00:28:37.06\00:28:39.12
As in nature, so in grace.
00:28:39.42\00:28:42.39
There can be no
life without growth.
00:28:42.59\00:28:46.18
The plant must
either grow or die.
00:28:46.38\00:28:50.00
As its growth is silent and
imperceptible but continuous,
00:28:50.20\00:28:54.83
so in the development
of the Christian life. "
00:28:55.03\00:28:57.22
And listen to this:
"At every stage of our life
00:28:57.42\00:29:01.17
development we may be perfect. "
00:29:01.38\00:29:05.07
The Bible presents perfection
not as a state that you achieve
00:29:06.21\00:29:09.57
at and you say: "I have
arrived at perfection, "
00:29:09.77\00:29:11.82
but the Bible tells
us that at every stage
00:29:12.02\00:29:14.26
of our
development as a Christian -
00:29:14.46\00:29:15.85
as a seed, as a
blade, and as the full ear -
00:29:16.05\00:29:19.21
we can be perfect at every
stage as a Christian. Amen?
00:29:19.24\00:29:23.17
"There will be
continual advancement.
00:29:23.57\00:29:28.48
Sanctification is
the work of a lifetime.
00:29:28.68\00:29:33.70
As our opportunities multiply
our experience will enlarge
00:29:33.90\00:29:38.41
and our knowledge will increase.
00:29:38.61\00:29:40.41
We shall become
strong to bear responsibility
00:29:40.61\00:29:44.96
and our maturity will be in
proportion to our privileges. "
00:29:45.16\00:29:50.88
The Bible tells us that the
Christian life is a process.
00:29:51.08\00:29:55.41
There's a growth;
there's a trajectory.
00:29:55.51\00:29:57.19
Sanctification is
the work of a lifetime.
00:29:57.39\00:29:59.14
There can be no
life without growth.
00:29:59.44\00:30:02.04
It's one thing to
be born into this world
00:30:02.24\00:30:05.12
physically as a human being.
00:30:05.32\00:30:07.15
But if a baby is
born and does not grow,
00:30:07.35\00:30:11.58
we call that an abnormality.
00:30:11.78\00:30:14.60
We call it a
disease; something is wrong.
00:30:14.80\00:30:17.42
If a baby stops growing,
there is something that is not
00:30:17.62\00:30:22.06
functioning right.
00:30:22.16\00:30:23.71
In the same way, as a Christian
00:30:23.91\00:30:25.71
we need to not only
focus on being born again
00:30:25.91\00:30:29.10
but growing in Jesus Christ.
00:30:29.30\00:30:32.31
There is no life without growth.
00:30:32.51\00:30:34.68
Now the question
is: in this metaphor,
00:30:34.98\00:30:38.54
in this analogy of agriculture -
00:30:38.74\00:30:41.97
the Christian life is
like the growth of a plant -
00:30:42.17\00:30:44.00
what is the fertilizer
00:30:44.20\00:30:47.30
that helps us to
grow as never before?
00:30:47.50\00:30:50.24
There's several different
elements. You need the rain,
00:30:50.44\00:30:52.85
the Latter
Rain, the Holy Spirit.
00:30:53.06\00:30:54.77
There's trials. There's
different things that God
00:30:54.98\00:30:57.83
brings into your life.
00:30:58.03\00:30:59.40
But I want to turn our
attention to John 17:17.
00:30:59.60\00:31:03.03
What is the element that
helps us to grow as a Christian?
00:31:03.23\00:31:07.02
What is the fertilizer as it is
00:31:07.22\00:31:10.03
that helps the Christian
to grow as never before?
00:31:10.23\00:31:13.10
John chapter 17 and verse 17.
00:31:13.30\00:31:17.23
Jesus is speaking and
He talks about this element
00:31:17.43\00:31:21.66
that helps the Christian grow.
00:31:21.96\00:31:23.71
John 17:17... are you there?
00:31:24.01\00:31:26.97
It says "Sanctify
them by the... " what?
00:31:27.18\00:31:30.27
"Sanctify them by the truth. "
00:31:30.67\00:31:33.14
Sanctification is growth.
00:31:33.34\00:31:34.94
The Bible tells us:
"Sanctify them by the... " what?
00:31:35.14\00:31:38.53
Truth. "by the
truth. Thy Word is truth. "
00:31:38.54\00:31:41.53
In other words, for the
Christian, the element -
00:31:41.73\00:31:44.33
the fertilizer that enables
us to grow as never before -
00:31:44.53\00:31:48.16
is truth.
00:31:48.36\00:31:50.14
Without truth,
there is no growth.
00:31:50.45\00:31:54.91
Have you ever known
someone that gets baptized?
00:31:56.12\00:31:59.61
I baptized a young
gentleman last year.
00:31:59.81\00:32:01.54
We knocked on his door.
By the way, knocking on doors
00:32:01.74\00:32:04.56
still works.
00:32:04.76\00:32:06.97
I believe that we
need to do other ministries
00:32:07.17\00:32:08.75
but there's certain people
that you would never reach
00:32:08.95\00:32:11.09
unless you knock on their door.
00:32:11.29\00:32:12.75
And a young lady in our
church was going canvassing
00:32:12.95\00:32:16.27
and she knocked on his door.
To make a long story short,
00:32:17.57\00:32:21.80
he was baptized. And it's
just been amazing to see this
00:32:21.90\00:32:25.33
gentleman grow.
00:32:25.53\00:32:26.82
The Bible study
was... was amazingly simple
00:32:27.02\00:32:29.65
because I'd present truth.
He says: "It's in the Bible,
00:32:29.85\00:32:32.97
I believe it... I
want to follow it. "
00:32:33.18\00:32:34.60
Every time a
testing truth was presented
00:32:34.80\00:32:37.99
he said: "Yes, I
will follow it. "
00:32:38.19\00:32:40.30
And it's been amazing to
see this person's growth.
00:32:40.50\00:32:43.18
He was just baptized last year.
00:32:43.38\00:32:44.98
He's already been canvassing.
00:32:45.18\00:32:46.47
He's already gone through
a missionary training program
00:32:46.67\00:32:49.45
and he's preparing
for the gospel ministry.
00:32:49.65\00:32:52.00
And for those of
us including myself
00:32:52.40\00:32:56.03
who's a
multi-generational church goer
00:32:56.23\00:32:59.40
I look around and I see gentle-
men that were just baptized
00:32:59.60\00:33:03.49
a number of years ago and
I'm just like: "What happened? "
00:33:03.69\00:33:06.68
This gentleman went from
like A to Z in just a matter of
00:33:06.88\00:33:11.12
a few years. Their Biblical
understanding is phenomenal.
00:33:11.32\00:33:14.93
Well I found the
secret to be that every time
00:33:15.13\00:33:19.33
truth was
presented they said "Yes. "
00:33:19.53\00:33:22.78
No matter how
uncomfortable it was,
00:33:22.98\00:33:26.08
their interaction,
their relationship with truth
00:33:26.28\00:33:29.23
was always: "Yes, Lord"
00:33:29.43\00:33:32.13
no matter how small
or how great it was.
00:33:32.43\00:33:35.65
And it fostered their
growth as never before.
00:33:35.85\00:33:39.38
On a personal note, if there's
something that God is calling
00:33:39.58\00:33:43.23
you today, walk in the light.
00:33:43.44\00:33:47.03
Walk in the truth, because
there's nothing more detrimental
00:33:47.23\00:33:50.72
to your Christian growth
than saying "no" to light.
00:33:50.75\00:33:55.18
Because the light will move on
00:33:55.38\00:33:57.23
the Bible tells us and
then you'll be left in darkness.
00:33:57.33\00:34:01.98
Know truth... know growth.
00:34:03.13\00:34:06.14
Now I want to turn our attention
to Revelation chapter 14
00:34:06.55\00:34:10.55
and verse 14.
00:34:10.65\00:34:12.14
In this analogy
of the Christian life
00:34:12.34\00:34:14.74
being the process
of Christian growth
00:34:14.94\00:34:17.27
in the metaphor from agriculture
00:34:17.47\00:34:20.39
John chapter... or Revelation
chapter 14 and verse 14.
00:34:20.59\00:34:26.41
Jesus is coming in
the clouds of heaven,
00:34:26.71\00:34:28.94
and the Bible uses this
interesting symbol to describe
00:34:30.95\00:34:35.22
the way that He's
coming in the clouds of heaven.
00:34:35.32\00:34:37.66
Revelation
chapter 14 and verse 14.
00:34:37.77\00:34:40.40
"Then I looked and
behold a white cloud
00:34:40.64\00:34:43.33
and on the cloud sat
one like the Son of Man
00:34:43.53\00:34:47.69
having on His head a gold crown
00:34:47.92\00:34:51.65
and in His hand a... "
what? "a sharp sickle. "
00:34:51.85\00:34:56.01
Jesus is coming in
the clouds of heaven.
00:34:56.21\00:34:58.71
He's coming to take a
people home. And in His hand
00:34:58.91\00:35:02.03
He's carrying a sickle.
This is a direct analogy
00:35:02.23\00:35:05.45
to agriculture. Remember
that Jesus said that the
00:35:05.65\00:35:08.12
Christian life is
like the growth of a plant
00:35:08.22\00:35:10.22
until full maturity. Now this
is not equated with perfection
00:35:10.42\00:35:14.25
because we can be
perfect at every stage.
00:35:14.45\00:35:16.97
But I want you to notice
that Jesus, when He's coming
00:35:17.17\00:35:19.28
in the clouds of glory
for His last-day people,
00:35:19.38\00:35:21.85
He's coming with a sickle.
00:35:22.05\00:35:23.60
Now, you do not
pull out your sickle
00:35:25.05\00:35:28.63
when you've just
planted the seed.
00:35:28.93\00:35:31.83
You don't say:
"I'm going to harvest. "
00:35:32.03\00:35:33.80
You pull out your sickle
when the plant has reached
00:35:34.92\00:35:40.57
maturity.
00:35:40.77\00:35:42.69
What this is saying
is that Jesus is coming
00:35:44.06\00:35:47.75
for a people that has
reached Christian maturity.
00:35:48.80\00:35:54.79
Now this is not equated
with Christian perfection
00:35:57.03\00:36:01.16
because remember we said that we
can be perfect at every stage.
00:36:01.36\00:36:03.93
But Jesus is coming with a
people that have more light
00:36:04.13\00:36:07.20
than any other
generation before,
00:36:07.40\00:36:08.77
and they are living
up to all of the light
00:36:08.97\00:36:10.78
that they've been given.
00:36:10.98\00:36:12.12
And as a result of that light,
00:36:12.32\00:36:14.26
they reflect the
character of Christ.
00:36:14.46\00:36:17.07
He's coming with a
sickle in His hand.
00:36:18.31\00:36:22.34
Now, the direct
relationship with truth
00:36:22.64\00:36:26.50
is that you can
knock on that door and say
00:36:26.80\00:36:29.76
"If you want to be ready... "
00:36:29.97\00:36:31.39
"Do you want to be ready for
the second coming of Jesus? "
00:36:31.60\00:36:34.14
Christian growth
becomes of paramount importance
00:36:35.19\00:36:39.73
because Jesus wants us
to not only be born into Him
00:36:39.76\00:36:44.27
but to grown in Him as well.
00:36:44.47\00:36:46.68
Reason #1: Truth is important
because Jesus is The Truth.
00:36:47.91\00:36:50.94
Reason #2 is because
Christian growth is directly
00:36:51.14\00:36:56.65
proportional to
how we relate to truth.
00:36:56.85\00:36:59.69
And reason #3 very quickly.
00:36:59.89\00:37:02.67
Let's go to Matthew chapter 24.
00:37:02.87\00:37:05.12
Matthew chapter 24.
00:37:06.87\00:37:08.82
This is truth in
the end-time context.
00:37:10.05\00:37:14.81
And Matthew
chapter 24 gives this
00:37:15.02\00:37:20.03
recommendation - more
than a recommendation,
00:37:20.24\00:37:22.95
an imperative
statement, a command by Jesus -
00:37:23.16\00:37:25.74
a warning by Jesus
in Matthew chapter 24.
00:37:25.94\00:37:28.20
It's known as the great
end-time chapter in the gospels.
00:37:28.41\00:37:31.52
Matthew chapter 24 and verse 3:
00:37:31.72\00:37:34.35
"And as He sat on
the Mount of Olives
00:37:34.45\00:37:36.40
the disciples came
to Him privately saying:
00:37:36.61\00:37:38.85
'Tell us, when
will these things be?
00:37:39.05\00:37:40.95
And' when... or 'what
will be the sign of Your coming
00:37:41.16\00:37:45.19
and of the end of the age? ' "
00:37:45.39\00:37:47.33
Jesus is looking
down to the end of time
00:37:47.53\00:37:50.17
and there's a lot of things
that could come out of His
00:37:50.37\00:37:52.62
mouth first. He can talk
about the great persecution.
00:37:52.72\00:37:56.18
He can talk about the
moon turning to blood.
00:37:56.28\00:37:58.43
He can talk about the
stars falling from heaven
00:37:58.53\00:38:00.40
which indeed He does
in Matthew chapter 24.
00:38:00.51\00:38:02.91
But I want you to notice that
He's talking to the disciples.
00:38:03.11\00:38:06.16
He's talking to you
and I as God's people
00:38:06.36\00:38:08.58
and I want you to notice
the first words that come
00:38:08.79\00:38:11.49
out of the mouth of
Jesus in Matthew chapter 24
00:38:11.69\00:38:14.73
and verse 4. This
is His primary concern
00:38:14.83\00:38:17.82
for God's people.
"And Jesus answered
00:38:18.02\00:38:21.38
and said to them: 'Take heed
that no one deceives you. ' "
00:38:21.58\00:38:25.63
Jesus, out of all the
concerns that He could have
00:38:25.93\00:38:28.96
for His people, out of all the
things that are going to happen:
00:38:29.16\00:38:32.13
persecution, peril,
earthquakes, pestilences,
00:38:32.33\00:38:35.64
Jesus is looking
down to the end of time
00:38:35.84\00:38:37.87
and He's concerned
most about this concept
00:38:38.07\00:38:41.95
of deception.
00:38:42.15\00:38:43.62
Why is Jesus so
concerned about deception?
00:38:44.60\00:38:46.97
By the way, no one goes
through Thompsonville and says:
00:38:47.08\00:38:49.10
"I am deceived; I am deceived. "
00:38:49.20\00:38:52.16
You and I can be deceived
right now and not even know it.
00:38:52.40\00:38:55.38
That's the nature of deception
00:38:55.48\00:38:56.68
because once you
know you're deceived
00:38:56.78\00:38:57.99
you're no longer deceived!
00:38:58.09\00:38:59.59
That's the nature of deception.
00:38:59.79\00:39:01.14
Another element of deception
is that it's a mixture of
00:39:01.34\00:39:04.38
truth and error.
00:39:04.48\00:39:05.81
Jesus is looking and
says: "Let no man deceive you. "
00:39:06.11\00:39:11.85
I would say that
there must be something
00:39:14.32\00:39:16.87
about end-time
deception that is a higher price
00:39:16.98\00:39:20.16
than any previous generation.
00:39:20.36\00:39:22.42
If someone out there is
deceived today and loves Jesus,
00:39:22.62\00:39:25.78
they don't know they're
deceived but they're walking
00:39:25.98\00:39:28.16
in all of the
light that they have
00:39:28.26\00:39:29.63
and they die in Jesus
today, they are saved.
00:39:29.83\00:39:32.79
In other words, the cost
for deception does not cost you
00:39:34.16\00:39:37.38
your eternal life.
00:39:37.41\00:39:39.01
But there's something
about the end-time deception
00:39:39.21\00:39:41.91
that is different.
00:39:42.11\00:39:44.76
Perhaps the price of
deception in the end of time is
00:39:44.96\00:39:47.66
higher than any
previous generation.
00:39:47.86\00:39:49.59
And Jesus is so
concerned about deception
00:39:49.69\00:39:52.08
that later on in
Matthew chapter 24 He says
00:39:52.28\00:39:54.42
the deception will be
so great that if possible
00:39:54.62\00:39:57.01
it will deceive the very elect.
00:39:57.12\00:40:00.00
What is the price of deception?
00:40:00.20\00:40:01.60
I want to go very
quickly to Revelation chapter 14
00:40:01.70\00:40:04.03
verses 9 and 10.
00:40:04.23\00:40:05.80
Revelation chapter
14 verses 9 and 10.
00:40:09.35\00:40:11.82
This is truth in
the end-time context.
00:40:12.22\00:40:15.53
This is the cost of
deception in the end of time.
00:40:15.73\00:40:18.80
Revelation chapter
14 verses 9 and 10:
00:40:19.00\00:40:22.78
"Then a third angel followed
them, saying with a loud voice:
00:40:24.18\00:40:27.98
'If anyone worships the beast
00:40:28.18\00:40:30.83
and his image
and receives his mark
00:40:31.03\00:40:33.96
on his forehead or on his hand,
00:40:34.16\00:40:36.52
he himself shall drink of
the wine of the wrath of God
00:40:36.72\00:40:40.08
which is poured
out full strength
00:40:40.28\00:40:43.00
into the cup of His indignation.
00:40:43.20\00:40:45.59
And he shall be tormented
with fire and brimstone
00:40:45.79\00:40:48.73
in the presence of
the holy angels and in the
00:40:48.93\00:40:51.52
presence of the Lamb. ' "
00:40:51.62\00:40:53.64
The Bible is
giving this final warning
00:40:53.84\00:40:55.93
saying that if anyone worships
the beast or receives his mark
00:40:56.13\00:40:58.69
in his forehead or in his hand
00:40:58.89\00:41:00.58
they will be lost.
00:41:00.78\00:41:03.92
The price for deception
is so high that your name
00:41:04.32\00:41:08.65
may be written in
the Lamb's Book of Life
00:41:08.75\00:41:10.78
but if you receive
the mark of the beast
00:41:10.98\00:41:13.17
your name will be removed.
00:41:13.37\00:41:16.28
Now that's a high
price for deception.
00:41:17.33\00:41:19.01
The Bible is telling us that
in the end of time the grey area
00:41:19.21\00:41:21.65
between these two camps...
there will be a polarization
00:41:21.85\00:41:25.38
in the end of time. The
devil will be playing hardball.
00:41:25.58\00:41:28.70
You will have to
choose between the seal of God
00:41:28.90\00:41:31.05
and the mark of the
beast. And the Bible tells us
00:41:31.25\00:41:32.87
unequivocally if you
receive the mark of the beast,
00:41:33.08\00:41:35.89
if you are deceived into
receiving the mark of the beast,
00:41:36.09\00:41:38.33
you will forfeit salvation.
00:41:38.53\00:41:41.44
The price for
deception is so high
00:41:41.64\00:41:44.56
that costs you
your eternal life.
00:41:44.76\00:41:48.76
Now I don't know about you
00:41:49.06\00:41:51.04
but for me, that
places a fire in my bones.
00:41:51.24\00:41:57.23
That when I go
out into the community
00:41:58.56\00:42:00.83
of where I have the
privilege of pastoring
00:42:00.93\00:42:03.12
and I can spend every
resource within reason
00:42:03.32\00:42:06.61
within capability
as a steward of God
00:42:06.71\00:42:08.93
and invest in the
kingdom of proclaiming THE TRUTH
00:42:09.13\00:42:12.21
as it is in Jesus because
I know that there will come
00:42:12.41\00:42:14.98
a day in the future
where the price of deception
00:42:15.08\00:42:18.41
will cost
people their salvation.
00:42:18.61\00:42:21.83
Does truth matter?
You'd better believe it.
00:42:22.03\00:42:26.78
Not only does truth have a
gospel center in Jesus Christ
00:42:26.98\00:42:31.19
not only does truth help
us to grow as a Christian
00:42:31.40\00:42:34.09
but the price of
deception in the end of time
00:42:34.29\00:42:36.37
will be so high that truth
will matter as never before.
00:42:36.47\00:42:40.70
The end-time
deception will be so great
00:42:43.66\00:42:46.24
that if possible it
will deceive the very elect.
00:42:46.44\00:42:51.30
Jesus said: "And
you will know the truth
00:42:53.05\00:42:56.24
and the truth
will set you free. "
00:42:56.45\00:42:59.42
There is freedom
in knowing the truth.
00:42:59.62\00:43:02.37
There is freedom
in living the truth.
00:43:02.57\00:43:04.58
Truth is important
because Jesus is important.
00:43:06.24\00:43:08.72
Truth is vital because as a
Christian it enables us to grow.
00:43:09.02\00:43:13.21
And truth in the
end-time context matters
00:43:13.41\00:43:17.08
as never before.
00:43:17.28\00:43:19.19
As we come to the second part:
00:43:20.48\00:43:22.35
how can I tell
what is the truth?
00:43:22.75\00:43:26.19
Everyone out there believes
that they have the truth.
00:43:26.39\00:43:29.21
I've never met a person that
doesn't believe they know truth
00:43:29.41\00:43:31.78
or has the truth.
00:43:31.98\00:43:33.25
We believe we have
the truth by the way.
00:43:33.45\00:43:35.34
And so every person
says that they have the truth
00:43:35.55\00:43:37.84
but the fact of the
matter is we cannot all be right
00:43:37.87\00:43:40.59
in the world today!
00:43:40.79\00:43:42.55
There are three
things that affect truth.
00:43:43.83\00:43:46.33
Number one is morality.
00:43:46.53\00:43:50.86
In scholarly
circles we stress exegesis.
00:43:51.16\00:43:55.28
And I believe that we
need to have right methodology
00:43:55.49\00:43:58.04
as we approach scripture.
But I believe that there's
00:43:58.24\00:44:00.21
something more that
affects our perception of truth,
00:44:00.41\00:44:03.38
and that is our morality.
00:44:03.58\00:44:06.28
I want to talk a little
bit about the Pharisees.
00:44:06.48\00:44:09.58
The Pharisees we use
today in a pejorative sense.
00:44:09.88\00:44:14.61
No one wants to
be called a Pharisee.
00:44:14.91\00:44:17.21
Back in Jesus' time,
Pharisee was a compliment,
00:44:17.51\00:44:22.70
believe it or not.
00:44:22.90\00:44:23.92
They were the highly esteemed;
the scholars of their day;
00:44:24.12\00:44:26.82
the most educated. They
had memorized whole portions
00:44:27.02\00:44:29.94
of the Old Testament.
00:44:30.14\00:44:31.95
They knew multiple languages.
00:44:32.16\00:44:34.50
And if anyone would have
been a scholar that would have
00:44:34.80\00:44:38.51
recognized Jesus, it
would have been the Pharisee.
00:44:38.71\00:44:41.24
They went through
three stages of training.
00:44:41.44\00:44:45.27
I'd like to mention two of them.
00:44:45.48\00:44:47.05
The first stage of training for
the Pharisee was beit ha-sefer.
00:44:47.25\00:44:51.88
From the ages of six to ten
00:44:52.08\00:44:55.08
they would memorize the Torah.
00:44:55.28\00:44:57.95
The Torah is the first
five books of the Old Testament.
00:44:58.15\00:45:03.48
Six to ten years of age.
00:45:04.16\00:45:06.23
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
00:45:06.43\00:45:10.28
Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
00:45:10.48\00:45:12.93
By the age of ten they
had memorized the whole Torah.
00:45:13.91\00:45:17.04
If they were qualified,
they would go to the next stage:
00:45:18.45\00:45:21.65
beit talmud.
00:45:21.85\00:45:24.39
Roughly from the age of
10-14 the scholar writes
00:45:24.60\00:45:29.07
in beit talmud you
would memorize the rest of the
00:45:29.27\00:45:32.15
Old Testament. By the age
of 14 they would have memorized
00:45:32.35\00:45:36.12
from Genesis to Malachi.
00:45:36.33\00:45:39.77
Do you know any
14-year-old out there today
00:45:39.97\00:45:42.32
that has memorized
the entire Old Testament?
00:45:42.42\00:45:45.04
I was reading about this testing
that they would go through.
00:45:46.05\00:45:49.48
And they would go to a
rabbi and they would have to
00:45:49.68\00:45:51.78
go through different
parts putting the Old Testament
00:45:51.88\00:45:54.56
theology together.
These men - the Pharisees -
00:45:54.76\00:45:57.57
knew their Bible.
00:45:57.77\00:46:00.07
They had all the scholarship,
all the understanding.
00:46:01.21\00:46:03.66
They knew multiple languages.
00:46:03.86\00:46:05.85
And if anyone had the
knowledge and the capability
00:46:06.05\00:46:09.84
and the
scholarship to recognize God
00:46:09.94\00:46:12.92
it would have been them.
00:46:13.12\00:46:15.26
Yet I want you
to think about this.
00:46:16.55\00:46:18.62
They stood face to face
00:46:18.82\00:46:22.72
with God Himself.
00:46:22.92\00:46:25.92
They could have reached out -
00:46:26.02\00:46:28.02
I wish I was
living in Jesus' day -
00:46:28.22\00:46:29.89
and shook the hand of God.
00:46:30.09\00:46:32.19
Given God a hug.
00:46:33.31\00:46:35.21
Talked face to
face with God Himself.
00:46:35.41\00:46:38.96
And yet with all the
scholarship, with all the
00:46:39.16\00:46:41.55
knowledge, with all
the Biblical understanding
00:46:41.65\00:46:43.67
they did not recognize Him.
00:46:43.87\00:46:45.83
They killed Him.
00:46:47.47\00:46:48.77
So this tells us that there is
something more than knowledge,
00:46:51.36\00:46:55.21
than intellectual acumen,
that we bring to the table
00:46:55.41\00:46:58.19
when we talk about
the proposition of truth.
00:46:58.39\00:47:00.55
How can it be that these
men - so educated, so brilliant,
00:47:00.75\00:47:04.48
and so knowledgeable
of the holy scriptures -
00:47:04.68\00:47:06.92
could come face to face with God
00:47:07.13\00:47:08.94
and not recognize Him.
00:47:09.14\00:47:12.57
This is evidenced in
the story of Lazarus.
00:47:13.07\00:47:18.98
Jesus raises
Lazarus from the dead
00:47:20.29\00:47:24.05
right before their eyes.
00:47:24.25\00:47:27.42
Now you would think from
an intellectual or intelligent
00:47:27.62\00:47:33.11
point of view that if you
would see a person that has
00:47:33.31\00:47:35.56
been dead for four days...
00:47:35.76\00:47:37.48
You know this
person is clinically dead,
00:47:37.79\00:47:41.41
there is no question
about it. And a man comes by
00:47:41.61\00:47:43.95
and speaks the word and
says: "Lazarus, come forth"
00:47:44.15\00:47:46.56
and suddenly there's movement
and the man comes out alive
00:47:46.76\00:47:49.36
you would think that it
would cross the minds of these
00:47:49.86\00:47:52.52
Pharisees that at the
very least Jesus is unique.
00:47:52.72\00:47:56.28
There's something that is
peculiar about this Jesus.
00:47:58.80\00:48:02.02
This Jesus is not ordinary.
00:48:02.22\00:48:03.82
You would think that it
would put into their minds
00:48:04.12\00:48:06.87
that perhaps Jesus is
the Messiah, the Son of God.
00:48:07.07\00:48:10.05
But I want you to
notice what the disciples...
00:48:11.29\00:48:13.97
or I should say
the Pharisees did
00:48:14.07\00:48:15.91
in John chapter 12 and verse 10.
I'll just read it very quickly.
00:48:16.12\00:48:18.90
When Lazarus was
walking around as evidence
00:48:19.88\00:48:22.54
of the divinity of Jesus Christ,
John chapter 12 and verse 10
00:48:22.74\00:48:25.63
says: "So the priests made
plans to kill Lazarus as well. "
00:48:25.73\00:48:31.55
In other words,
the evidence was there.
00:48:32.79\00:48:35.14
And because the evidence did
not agree with what they wanted
00:48:35.24\00:48:39.19
to believe, they said:
"Let's kill the evidence. "
00:48:39.39\00:48:42.88
The reality is it's
not the availability
00:48:44.40\00:48:49.46
or the lack of
availability of truth
00:48:49.66\00:48:52.67
it's the
hypocrisy of our search.
00:48:52.87\00:48:56.14
In other words, we
don't want to know the truth
00:48:57.47\00:49:00.44
because it disagrees
with our carnal desires.
00:49:00.64\00:49:05.08
That's why Jesus said:
"Blessed are the pure in heart
00:49:08.77\00:49:10.94
for they shall see God. "
00:49:11.14\00:49:12.23
He said that it's
an individual case.
00:49:13.62\00:49:17.02
It's an issue of the heart.
00:49:17.22\00:49:18.69
In Psalm chapter 14 and verse 1
00:49:18.79\00:49:20.87
the Bible says: "The
fool hath said in his heart
00:49:20.90\00:49:24.80
'there is no God. ' "
00:49:25.00\00:49:26.62
I want you to notice
the Bible did not say
00:49:26.82\00:49:28.80
that the fool hath said
intellectually, in his mind.
00:49:29.00\00:49:32.07
But the Bible points out
that atheism is not so much
00:49:32.27\00:49:35.40
an issue of the mind...
it's an issue of the heart.
00:49:35.60\00:49:39.33
Aldous Huxley said this:
00:49:39.53\00:49:41.88
"I want this world not
to have meaning because a
00:49:42.08\00:49:44.59
meaningless world frees me
to my own erotic and political
00:49:44.79\00:49:49.11
pursuits. " They
say: "it's liberating
00:49:49.32\00:49:52.25
because it agrees
with my own desires. "
00:49:52.45\00:49:57.48
One person says: "The atheist
can't find God for the same
00:49:58.51\00:50:01.09
reason that a thief
cannot find a policeman. "
00:50:01.29\00:50:03.51
We see what we want to see.
00:50:12.54\00:50:14.68
We believe what
we want to believe.
00:50:14.88\00:50:19.04
And the Bible
presents first and foremost
00:50:19.25\00:50:22.51
that our own morality skews
our interpretation of truth.
00:50:22.71\00:50:28.39
That means that
when we sin willfully
00:50:28.69\00:50:32.82
you are setting yourself
up for spiritual deception.
00:50:33.02\00:50:36.87
When you sin it
changes the way you think
00:50:37.07\00:50:40.76
and the way that
you perceive truth.
00:50:40.96\00:50:42.55
It distorts things,
and that's why deception
00:50:42.75\00:50:45.51
first begins not intellectually
00:50:45.71\00:50:48.02
but morally... within the heart.
00:50:48.22\00:50:50.29
John chapter 7 verse 17
00:50:50.49\00:50:53.06
Jesus said: "If
anyone wills to do His will
00:50:53.26\00:50:57.76
he shall know
concerning the doctrine. "
00:50:57.97\00:51:00.42
Notice Jesus did not
say: "If a person has an I.Q.
00:51:00.62\00:51:03.97
above 140 he shall know
concerning the doctrine. "
00:51:04.08\00:51:06.60
Jesus did not say: "If
a person has a high degree
00:51:06.90\00:51:09.88
his understanding
in Greek and Hebrew
00:51:10.08\00:51:11.82
he shall know
concerning the doctrine. "
00:51:11.92\00:51:13.22
Not that I'm saying that
those things aren't important.
00:51:13.42\00:51:16.11
I have a Master's degree. I
believe in higher education.
00:51:16.31\00:51:18.58
But Jesus said that
intent is prior to content
00:51:18.78\00:51:23.29
and that truthfulness
in the heart precedes truth
00:51:23.49\00:51:28.41
in the objective world.
00:51:28.61\00:51:30.58
I heard one person say
that "I will" is more important
00:51:30.78\00:51:34.20
than I.Q. "
00:51:34.40\00:51:36.14
And if we want to know the
truth, we need to ask ourselves
00:51:36.34\00:51:39.71
"Am I walking in the light
that Jesus has presented? "
00:51:39.92\00:51:43.99
This is from Steps to Christ.
00:51:46.51\00:51:49.40
"God never asks us to believe
00:51:49.60\00:51:52.54
without giving sufficient
evidence on which to base
00:51:52.74\00:51:55.85
our faith. His
existence, His character,
00:51:56.05\00:52:00.61
the truthfulness of His
Word are all established
00:52:00.81\00:52:04.72
by the testimony that
appeals to our reason.
00:52:04.92\00:52:08.91
And the testimony is abundant...
00:52:10.40\00:52:12.42
yet God has never removed
the possibility of doubt.
00:52:12.62\00:52:16.45
Our faith must
rest upon evidence
00:52:16.65\00:52:18.95
not demonstration.
Those who wish to doubt
00:52:19.15\00:52:21.50
will have opportunity
while those who really desire
00:52:21.64\00:52:24.74
to know the truth will
find plenty of evidence
00:52:24.94\00:52:28.34
on which to base their faith. "
00:52:28.54\00:52:31.20
II Corinthians chapter 4 verse 3
00:52:32.48\00:52:34.63
the Bible tells us
that "If the gospel be hid
00:52:34.83\00:52:37.51
it is hid to
those who are lost. "
00:52:37.71\00:52:42.59
"If the gospel be hid, it
is hid to those who are lost. "
00:52:42.80\00:52:47.80
Great Controversy page 599:
00:52:48.58\00:52:52.56
"Many a portion of scripture
which learned men pronounce
00:52:52.76\00:52:56.94
a mystery or pass
over as unimportant
00:52:57.15\00:53:00.55
is full of comfort
and instruction to him
00:53:00.75\00:53:03.82
who has been taught in
the school of Christ. "
00:53:03.93\00:53:06.10
Listen to this part:
00:53:06.30\00:53:07.35
"One reason why many theologians
00:53:07.55\00:53:10.71
have no clearer
understanding of God's Word.. "
00:53:10.91\00:53:13.46
Now I believe in
good theologians.
00:53:13.56\00:53:16.15
I believe in good scholarship.
00:53:16.35\00:53:18.10
But this is telling us that
one reason why many theologians
00:53:18.30\00:53:21.03
have no clearer
understanding of God's Word
00:53:21.13\00:53:23.63
"is that they close their eyes
to the truths they do not wish
00:53:23.83\00:53:28.16
to practice. " In other
words, the problem is not
00:53:28.36\00:53:32.15
their scholarship,
not their intelligence,
00:53:32.35\00:53:34.40
not their capability,
but rather this is telling us
00:53:34.60\00:53:37.02
that their
problem is their morality.
00:53:37.22\00:53:40.17
They close their eyes to
the truth they do not wish
00:53:40.37\00:53:43.42
to practice and their morality
affects their perception.
00:53:43.52\00:53:47.23
"As the understanding of the
Bible truth depends not so much
00:53:47.43\00:53:50.30
on the power of the
intellect brought to the search
00:53:50.40\00:53:52.69
as the singleness of
purpose, the earnest longing
00:53:52.89\00:53:55.87
after righteousness. "
00:53:56.07\00:53:58.09
"If the gospel be hid,
00:53:59.53\00:54:01.29
it is hid to
those who are lost. "
00:54:01.49\00:54:06.86
Very quickly as
we talk about truth
00:54:07.26\00:54:11.26
I'd like to talk
about the source of truth.
00:54:11.46\00:54:16.20
Now when scholars do
theology they say that there's
00:54:17.48\00:54:21.11
four primary sources for doing
theology and coming to truth.
00:54:21.31\00:54:26.42
One of them is experience.
00:54:26.62\00:54:30.13
One of them is reason.
00:54:31.55\00:54:33.76
Some scholars say that
the other one is tradition.
00:54:35.29\00:54:37.69
And of course we have scripture.
00:54:37.89\00:54:39.85
But I'd like to
present this simple principle
00:54:40.16\00:54:43.99
that even though when
we come to truth we use our
00:54:44.19\00:54:47.12
experience, we use what
people have brought to the table
00:54:47.22\00:54:49.68
before. We use all these things.
00:54:49.88\00:54:51.65
We use our reason; we use
our intellectual capability.
00:54:51.76\00:54:54.35
But I'd like to say that we are
built upon the Protestant mantra
00:54:54.66\00:54:59.17
of sola scriptura: the
Bible and the Bible alone.
00:54:59.37\00:55:04.45
And it's interesting. When I
talk with different individuals
00:55:04.65\00:55:07.21
and we are in disagreement
00:55:07.41\00:55:09.65
I find that the reason
that we're in disagreement
00:55:09.85\00:55:12.68
is because our
source is different.
00:55:12.88\00:55:15.30
In other words, if your
primary source is science
00:55:15.50\00:55:19.43
and mine is scripture, we are
not going to be on the same page
00:55:19.63\00:55:24.01
at all. We're not going to
be talking the same language.
00:55:24.21\00:55:27.58
So the primary thing
that we need to realize
00:55:27.78\00:55:30.75
when we come to truth
is what is your source.
00:55:30.95\00:55:33.99
And I believe that it must
be the Bible and the Bible alone
00:55:34.30\00:55:38.66
when it comes to
theological truth
00:55:38.86\00:55:41.26
and heavenly
concepts and principles.
00:55:41.46\00:55:43.89
The other element
is prima scriptura.
00:55:45.24\00:55:48.18
That when it comes to elements
that are not in relation
00:55:48.38\00:55:53.53
to the theological truth we
need to come to the principle
00:55:53.63\00:55:57.01
that it must be scripture first.
00:55:57.21\00:56:00.59
Scripture
first: prima scriptura.
00:56:01.09\00:56:05.14
In other words, if
there is a contradiction
00:56:05.34\00:56:08.83
between science and
scripture... and there is today,
00:56:09.03\00:56:12.83
primarily in the realm
of origin and evolution...
00:56:13.03\00:56:16.85
that I choose to say: "I
don't know all the answers
00:56:17.05\00:56:21.51
but I believe that Jesus
is the author of science.
00:56:21.71\00:56:24.51
And one day, if not here
on earth, one day when I reach
00:56:24.71\00:56:27.09
ultimate reality, I believe
that science and scripture
00:56:27.29\00:56:30.41
will harmonize.
00:56:30.61\00:56:32.19
But until then, I
choose scripture first. "
00:56:32.44\00:56:37.07
When we talk about truth
we're not talking just about
00:56:38.26\00:56:41.32
a concept. We're talking
about truth as it is in Jesus.
00:56:41.52\00:56:45.14
And we as Bible
Christians must base everything
00:56:45.34\00:56:50.08
upon the Word as
it is in Jesus Christ.
00:56:50.28\00:56:55.04
The change that is wrought
by the Bible is one of the
00:56:56.44\00:57:00.21
deepest mysteries of the Word.
00:57:00.31\00:57:03.49
We cannot understand
it; we can only believe.
00:57:03.69\00:57:09.51
You want to trust in
the Bible here today? Amen!
00:57:10.92\00:57:13.76
You want to trust in
truth because Jesus Himself
00:57:13.96\00:57:17.48
said: "I am The Way,
The Truth, and The Life. "
00:57:17.68\00:57:23.38