Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: 14GYC
Program Code: 14GYC000011A
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00:10 All right, not only are we redeemed by Jesus
00:14 but His blood also has a powerful part in our life, 00:18 does it not? 00:19 So often we talk about the blood of Christ 00:21 and how it covers our sins, how it makes us a new creature, 00:24 how it washes us clean. 00:26 And there is a powerful verse that talks about that as well 00:28 in Revelation 12:11. 00:30 And as a Seventh-day Adventist 00:32 this verse should be very common to us. 00:34 It says, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb 00:38 and by the word of their testimony, 00:40 and they did not love their lives to the death." 00:44 How many of you want to be able to say that you are not afraid 00:46 to give up your life for Christ, 00:48 because of what He gave for you. 00:50 I know that I do. 00:51 So let's stand together, as we sing this song, 00:54 "Power in the Blood." 01:14 Would you be free from the burden of sin? 01:18 There's pow'r in the blood, pow'r in the blood 01:22 Would you o'er evil a victory win? 01:26 There's wonderful pow'r in the blood 01:29 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r 01:34 In the blood of the Lamb 01:39 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r 01:43 In the precious blood of the Lamb 01:49 Would you be free from your passion and pride? 01:52 There's power in the blood, pow'r in the blood 01:57 Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide 02:01 There's wonderful pow'r in the blood 02:05 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working power 02:10 In the blood of the Lamb 02:14 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r 02:19 In the precious blood of the Lamb 02:24 Would you do service for Jesus your King? 02:29 There's pow'r in the blood, power in the blood 02:33 Would you live daily His praises to sing? 02:37 There's wonderful pow'r in the blood 02:41 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r 02:46 In the blood of the Lamb 02:50 There is pow'r, pow'r, wonder-working pow'r 02:55 In the precious blood 02:59 Of the Lamb 03:05 Of the Lamb. 03:16 Amen, you maybe seated. 03:18 Not only is there power in the blood of Christ, 03:20 but there is also power in His cross, amen, 03:22 that you are inseparable. 03:24 And in other verse that is very powerful to me 03:27 and I know it's also to you. 03:29 It's found in 1 Corinthians 1:18 03:31 and it says, "For the message of the cross is foolishness 03:35 to those who are perishing, 03:37 but to those of us who are being saved 03:39 it is the power of God." 03:42 I believe the power of the cross 03:44 shouldn't just be taken by us, 03:47 it needs to be claimed by everyone, 03:49 but that's where the job rests on you and on me, 03:53 to share the power of the cross and what God has done for us 03:56 to each of those around us. 03:58 And as our sister Naomi sings this song, 04:00 I pray that it will be a prayer of your heart 04:03 to have a deeper love for Christ 04:05 and a deeper desire to share His love 04:07 with those around us. 04:41 Oh to see the dawn 04:46 Of the darkest day 04:51 Christ on the road 04:54 To Calvary 05:00 Tried by sinful men 05:05 Torn and beaten 05:07 Then nailed to a cross 05:12 Of wood 05:16 This, the power of the cross 05:24 Christ became sin for us 05:32 Took the blame, bore the wrath 05:39 We stand forgiven at the cross 05:55 Oh, to see the pain 05:59 Written on Your face 06:04 Bearing 06:06 The awesome weight of sin 06:13 Every bitter thought 06:17 Every evil deed 06:21 Crowning Your bloodstained brow 06:29 This, the power of the cross 06:37 Christ became sin for us 06:45 Took the blame, bore the wrath 06:51 We stand forgiven at the cross 07:15 Now the daylight flees 07:19 Now the ground beneath quakes 07:25 As its Maker bows His head 07:32 Curtain torn in two 07:36 Dead are raised to life 07:40 Finished the victory cry 07:48 This, the power 07:52 Of the cross 07:56 Christ became 08:00 Sin for us 08:04 Took the blame, bore the wrath 08:10 We stand forgiven at the cross 08:34 Oh, to see my name 08:38 Written in the wounds 08:42 For through Your suffering 08:46 I am made free 08:50 Death is crushed to death 08:54 Life is mine to live 08:59 Won through Your selfless love 09:06 This the power 09:10 Of the cross 09:14 Son of God 09:18 Slain for us 09:22 What a love what a cost 09:28 We stand forgiven 09:31 At the cross. 09:54 Amen! 09:58 Have you been blessed all ready today, GYC? 10:02 I know I have been richly blessed, 10:04 and isn't Sabbath such a blessing to us 10:07 to just be spiritually fed and do fellowship 10:10 with those who have same principles with us. 10:13 I hope you guys appreciate 10:15 that all the messages we've heard today. 10:18 I just want to welcome you this evening. 10:20 We are in for another special treat, 10:24 and I just want us to bow our heads together 10:26 and invite the spirit to be here. 10:30 Father in heaven, 10:32 thank You so much for the privilege we have 10:35 to come before the throne of grace. 10:37 And Father, I just, I'm so grateful 10:41 that each one of us can be here tonight. 10:44 I pray that You'll touch the lips of Pastor Bohr 10:49 and all others who'll be sharing with us tonight. 10:52 May our hearts be attentive and our ears open 10:56 to hear what Your spirit is saying to us. 10:59 May we not become distracted 11:01 by the things that may be happing around us, 11:04 but may we keep our eyes focused on You 11:09 and what You have to say to us tonight Father. 11:12 I pray that You'll touch the hearts and lives 11:15 of each person in this room 11:17 and each person watching that we may know, 11:20 that we are Your children 11:24 and it is at the cross that You meet us. 11:27 I pray all these things in Your beautiful holy name 11:30 of Your Son, in Jesus' name, amen. 11:33 Amen. Amen. 11:53 Who here among us 11:57 Has not been broken 12:01 Who here among us 12:05 Is without guilt or pain 12:09 So oft' abandoned 12:13 By our transgressions 12:16 If such a thing as grace exists 12:20 Then grace was made for lives like this 12:26 There are no strangers 12:30 There are no outcasts 12:33 There are no orphans of God 12:40 So many fallen 12:44 But hallelujah 12:47 There are no orphans of God 12:59 Come ye unwanted and find affection 13:07 Come all ye weary 13:10 Come and lay down your head 13:14 Come ye unworthy 13:17 You are my brother 13:21 If such a thing as grace exists 13:25 Then grace was made for lives like this 13:30 There are no strangers 13:34 There are no outcasts 13:37 There are no orphans of God 13:44 So many fallen 13:48 But hallelujah 13:51 There are no orphans 13:55 Of God 13:59 O blessed Father 14:03 Look down upon us 14:06 We are Your children 14:10 We need Your love 14:13 We run before 14:16 Your throne of mercy 14:20 And seek Your face 14:23 To rise above 14:27 There are no strangers 14:31 There are no outcasts 14:34 There are no orphans 14:38 Of God 14:41 So many fallen 14:44 But hallelujah 14:51 There are no orphans 14:55 Of God. 15:19 Good evening. Good evening! 15:22 Well, at least those up here in front can hear me. 15:27 Let's try it again, good evening. 15:29 Good evening! Well, that's much better. 15:33 It's good to see you all. 15:35 Have you had a good day today? 15:37 Yes. 15:39 I was tremendously blessed by the message this morning. 15:41 We too. 15:42 What a blessing, 15:44 let's never forget the reason for our existence. 15:48 If we do, we have no reason to exist. 15:52 I'd like to have a word of prayer, 15:54 and then I want to make a clarification. 15:57 There's been a little rumor running around on cyberspace, 16:02 and I want to clear that up before we open God's word, 16:05 but let's have a word of prayer first. 16:07 Father in heaven, 16:09 we thank You for the privilege of being here at this evening. 16:12 We thank You, this has been a high day, 16:15 a high Sabbath filled with spiritual blessings. 16:19 Thank You Father, thank You for being a wonderful God. 16:24 Thank You for Your Son Jesus. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. 16:29 Father we ask that as we open Your Word 16:31 that You will be with us 16:33 through the ministration of the spirit of the angels. 16:36 Open minds and hearts 16:39 and help us Lord to make a decision 16:41 to be faithful to You till the heavens fall. 16:44 Thank You for hearing our prayer, 16:47 for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, 16:50 amen. 16:51 Amen. 16:54 It seems like because last evening 16:57 I spoke about the relationship between the father and the son, 17:04 that there have been some rumors running around 17:06 that pastor Bohr is anti-Trinitarian. 17:12 The reason I spoke about 17:14 the father and the son last night 17:15 is because that was the theme that I prepared, 17:19 but I want to make it absolutely clear 17:23 that the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy both teach 17:26 that there are three distinct persons in the Godhead. 17:30 Amen. 17:31 The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 17:34 And I want to go on the record, 17:36 so that probably some of the naysayers will say, 17:41 "Well, he said so but he doesn't." 17:46 I'd like to read just one statement 17:47 from Ellen White on this particular topic, 17:51 it's from document called Bible Training School, 17:55 March 1, 1906. 17:59 It's so clear, we can't misunderstand it. 18:03 She says, "There are three living persons 18:08 of the heavenly trio." 18:10 So if you didn't get three, you get trio. 18:15 And then incase you didn't get that, 18:17 she says, "In the name of these three powers, 18:21 the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 18:27 Those who receive Christ in living faith are baptized, 18:31 and these powers will cooperate 18:33 with the obedient subjects of heaven 18:35 in their efforts to live the new life in Christ." 18:40 So three are three distinct persons. 18:43 One in the sense of unity, consubstantial and eternal. 18:52 If you want to know 18:54 a little bit more about the Godhead, 18:57 I did a series a few years ago called Revisiting the Godhead. 19:02 There's four presentations 19:05 and I deal with this issue of the Godhead 19:08 that has become a conflictive subject 19:11 in the Adventist church these days. 19:13 All kinds of ideas going around about the Godhead. 19:17 We need to be sure about what we believe. 19:20 We need to be sure 19:22 that there are three living persons 19:25 in the heavenly trio 19:27 that are all cooperating for our salvation. 19:31 I will be at the Secrets Unsealed Booth this evening. 19:35 I'd like to meet many of you. 19:37 So if you want to come to the exhibit area, 19:40 I'll be looking forward to be able to talk with you 19:44 and share with you during the time 19:46 that the booths are open. 19:50 Now we will translation into our study for this evening. 19:56 The Apostle Paul is known as the great apostle 20:02 of grace and faith, 20:07 but what is frequently overlooked 20:10 is that Paul is also the great apostle 20:13 of good works. 20:17 In the epistles of Romans and Galatians 20:21 where the Apostle Paul deals more specifically 20:26 with the issue of righteousness by faith. 20:30 The apostle in the first half of those books 20:33 presents the theology of justification by faith. 20:38 And in the last half of those books, 20:41 he presents how this concept of righteousness 20:46 by faith should impact our personal individual lives. 20:52 And so for example, 20:54 if you go to the Book of Romans, 20:55 you will find that Romans 13:11 the Apostle Paul deals 20:58 with the theology of righteousness by faith 21:01 but in chapters 12-16, 21:04 he deals with how this works out practically 21:06 on everyday lives. 21:09 In the Book of Galatians, 21:10 he deals with the theology of justification by faith 21:14 in chapters 1-4. 21:16 And then in chapters 5 and 6, 21:18 he deals with how this should impact our personal walk, 21:24 in our daily walk with Jesus. 21:26 So Paul was not only a strong advocate 21:29 of righteousness by faith, 21:31 he was also a strong advocate of the importance of good works 21:35 that flow from a faith relationship with Christ. 21:41 But I don't want to study this afternoon 21:44 from Romans or Galatians. 21:46 I would like us to go to a passage 21:48 that we find in the Book of Titus 2, 21:54 and I'm going to begin by reading verses 1-10. 21:58 Titus 2:1-10 and we're gonna find here 22:03 that the Apostle Paul address five groups. 22:09 First of all he is going to speak about aged men, 22:13 that's in verse 2. 22:16 In verse 3, he has got to speak about aged women. 22:20 In verses 4 and 5, 22:22 he is going to address young women. 22:26 In verse 6, he is going to address young men, 22:30 and in verse 9, 22:33 he is going to deal with servants. 22:39 So let's read that passage 22:41 and there are certain words that I'm going to emphasize. 22:43 You're going to notice that 22:45 most of what the Apostle Paul says here is behavioral. 22:49 It has to do with conduct. 22:53 I begin reading at verse 1, 22:56 "But as for you, speak the things 22:58 which are proper for sound doctrine 23:02 that the older men..." 23:04 Here's the first group. 23:05 "That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, 23:12 sound in the faith, in love, in patience." 23:18 Then verse 3, he goes onto the older women. 23:21 "The older women likewise, 23:23 that they be reverent in behavior, 23:27 not slanderers, not given to much wine, 23:32 teachers of good things." 23:35 And now comes the next group. 23:37 "That they, that is that the older women 23:39 may admonish the young women to love their husbands, 23:45 to love their children, to be discreet, 23:49 chaste, homemakers, good, 23:54 obedient to their own husbands, 23:57 that the word of God may not be blasphemed." 24:01 And now he speaks to the young men, verse 6, 24:04 "Likewise, exhort the young men 24:07 to be sober minded in all things 24:10 showing yourself to be a pattern of good works. 24:13 In doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 24:20 sound speech that cannot be condemned, 24:23 that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, 24:27 having nothing evil to say of you." 24:31 And then he exhort bondservants, 24:33 " Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, 24:37 to be well pleasing in all things, 24:40 not answering back, not pilfering, 24:44 but showing all good fidelity, 24:47 that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior 24:50 in all things." 24:51 Did you notice the list of moral qualities 24:54 in this passage? 24:56 Certainly the Apostle Paul was concerned about behavior, 25:00 he was concerned about conduct 25:03 and not only a theoretical idea of justification by faith, 25:09 which is generally held these days 25:11 in the Christian world. 25:14 Now the passage 25:15 that I especially want us to focus on are the verses 25:19 that come immediately after these 10 verses 25:22 that we have read. 25:25 We're going to have a textual sermon this evening. 25:29 Most of the sermons that had been presented 25:31 are expository sermons, 25:34 but we're gonna study a passage, 25:36 phrase by phrase this evening 25:39 and that passage is Titus 2:11-14. 25:45 And I want to read the passage first 25:47 and then we're going to study it in more detail. 25:53 Immediately after speaking to these groups, 25:57 the Apostle Paul says or writes, 26:00 "For the grace of God 26:03 that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 26:09 teaching us that denying ungodliness 26:14 and worldly lusts. 26:17 We should live soberly, righteously, 26:23 and godly in this present age, 26:26 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing 26:31 of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 26:35 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us 26:39 from every lawless deed 26:42 and purify for Himself His own special people, 26:47 zealous for good works." 26:51 Now let's analyze this passage. 26:56 Verse 11, 26:59 "For the grace of God that brings salvation 27:02 has appeared to all men." 27:06 The tense of the verb appeared is in the past. 27:11 This is something that occurred in the past. 27:15 The grace of God appeared in the past 27:19 and what do we mean by grace? 27:22 Grace is unmerited favor. 27:25 Grace means that Jesus came to this earth 27:30 and through His work, 27:32 He provided the means for our salvation. 27:37 The Apostle Paul said, "For by grace are you saved, 27:40 through faith, that not of yourselves: 27:44 it is the gift of God. 27:45 Not by works, lest any man should boast." 27:49 And so the Apostle Paul begins by appealing to the past, 27:52 he says the grace of God has appeared for salvation. 27:57 That occurred as a result of the work of Jesus Christ 28:01 while He was on this earth. 28:04 But the Apostle Paul doesn't stop there. 28:08 Notice what he continue saying in verse 12. 28:13 Grace teaches us something. 28:19 It says in verse 12, teaching us. 28:25 Now let me say something about that verb teaching. 28:30 It is translated in various ways. 28:34 It is translated training, educating 28:39 or disciplining. 28:42 In other words, grace teaches 28:46 and it is in a present progressive tense, 28:50 which means that grace is continually teaching. 28:56 Grace teach us something, 28:59 continually grace teach us something. 29:02 The fact that Jesus came, He lived for us, 29:05 He died for us, 29:06 He accomplished the necessary means for salvation 29:10 that teaches us, is teaching us something. 29:14 And the question is, what is it teaching us? 29:18 What does grace teach us? 29:22 Well, verse 12 continues saying, 29:26 "Teaching us 29:28 that denying ungodliness 29:34 and worldly lusts..." 29:36 What does grace teach us? 29:39 It teaches us to deny ungodliness 29:42 and worldly lusts. 29:44 Once again, the word denying is in a progressive tense, 29:50 which means continually denying ungodliness 29:56 and worldly lusts. 29:58 It is a present participle. 29:59 It means that continually we are to deny ungodliness 30:06 and worldly lusts. 30:09 Now what is meant by ungodliness? 30:13 I think the best passage that we can quote 30:18 to understand what ungodliness is, 30:21 is found in Jude 14 and 15. 30:25 Jude 14 and 15. 30:28 Here it is speaking about Enoch, 30:32 who lived in one of the worst periods 30:35 of history. 30:38 He lived before the flood, 30:39 when the world was really going downhill in a hurry. 30:43 And I want you to notice 30:45 that this word ungodly is used four times. 30:50 It says there in Jude 14, 30:53 "Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, 30:57 prophesied about these men also, saying, 31:01 'Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 31:06 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are...'" 31:11 What? 31:13 "Ungodly among them 31:16 of all their ungodly deeds 31:21 which they have committed in an ungodly way, 31:26 and of all the harsh things 31:27 which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." 31:32 Notice that the word ungodly has to do with deeds, 31:36 it has to do with our way, which has, 31:39 which deals with behavior 31:41 and it has to do with what we do 31:45 with our conduct. 31:48 So the Apostle Paul is telling us here. 31:50 He is saying, denying continually... 31:58 ungodliness. 32:01 But he not only says we're supposed to deny ungodliness 32:04 on a continuing basis. 32:07 He also says that we are to not deny worldly lusts. 32:13 Now what does the Apostle Paul mean by worldly lust. 32:16 You know, this is the great apostle of grace, 32:18 the great apostle of righteousness by faith. 32:22 And yet he is not casting behavior aside. 32:27 He is emphasizing the necessity of a change in the life. 32:33 What is meant by worldly lust? 32:37 Well, that word lust is used in Galatians 5:21-24. 32:42 Let's read that passage Galatians 5:21-24, 32:48 here the Apostle Paul in the practical section 32:52 of his book of Galatians says, "I say then walk in the Spirit, 32:58 and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh..." 33:02 There's the identical word. 33:04 "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, 33:07 and the Spirit against the flesh, 33:10 and these are contrary to one another, 33:12 so that you do not do the things that you wish." 33:17 Now the works of the flesh are evident 33:20 and now comes the list 33:21 of what these sinful lusts are." 33:28 Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 33:34 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, 33:39 outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, 33:43 heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries." 33:48 And it's not a complete list because he says, 33:51 "And the like, of which I tell you beforehand, 33:55 just as I also told you in time past, 33:58 that those who practice such things 34:01 will not inherit the kingdom of God. 34:05 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh 34:11 with its passions and its desires..." 34:13 The word desire is there the same word, lusts. 34:18 So the Apostle Paul is telling us here 34:20 that we must deny ungodliness 34:23 and fleshly lust or worldly lusts. 34:28 You see grace teaches us something very important. 34:32 It teaches us 34:34 that we are to reject these negative qualities, 34:37 ungodliness and worldly lusts 34:41 but grace not only teaches us what we're not supposed to do. 34:45 Grace also teaches us what we're supposed to do 34:49 and so he continue saying, 34:52 "That denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should..." 34:58 What? 35:00 Live. How? 35:04 "Soberly, righteously and godly 35:11 in this present age." 35:17 So Paul says, "Deny one thing and live another. 35:22 Deny ungodliness and worldly lust 35:24 and live righteously, soberly and godly 35:31 in this present age." 35:34 Does the theology of the Apostle Paul 35:38 have anything to say 35:39 about our conduct and our behavior? 35:45 It most certainly does. 35:48 But now we come to a future focus. 35:52 The Apostle Paul has said, 35:53 "The grace of God which bring salvation has appeared, 35:56 that's the work that Jesus performed, 35:59 but this is teaching us continually 36:02 that we should be denying..." 36:04 Once again a continual tense, 36:06 "That we should be denying ungodliness 36:09 and worldly lusts and we should live soberly, 36:15 righteously and godly in this present age." 36:19 But there's a reason for that. 36:22 And that reason is found in verse 13. 36:27 Now the Apostle Paul is gonna go to the future, 36:29 he's already talked about salvation in the past, 36:31 he's saying what we should be doing in the present 36:33 but with a view to what's something that's gonna happen, 36:37 very significant. 36:39 Verse 13, "Looking for..." 36:43 Once again a continuous tense, "Looking for..." 36:47 What? 36:49 "The blessed hope, 36:51 and glorious appearing of our great God 36:54 and Savior Jesus Christ." 36:57 Amen! 36:59 That expression looking for... 37:02 it's an interesting expression, it's used for example for Anna, 37:07 who was looking 37:09 for the redemption of Jerusalem. 37:12 She was longing for it in other words. 37:15 It's used of Simeon, who was longing 37:19 for the consolation of Israel to come. 37:23 It's used of Joseph of Arimathea, 37:26 who waited or longed for the kingdom of God. 37:29 In other words, this is an only just simply sitting down 37:32 like, "Oh, I'll wait." 37:34 No, it is a longing for something 37:38 and what is it that we have to long for, 37:42 longing for? 37:44 "The blessed hope, and glorious appearing 37:47 of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." 37:52 The word blessed by the way is the same word 37:54 that is used in the beatitudes. 37:57 Sometimes in the New Testament, it's translated happy. 38:01 So this would be the happy hope, 38:05 the hope of the second coming of Christ. 38:08 So Paul has taken us from the past what Jesus did, 38:12 grace saved us without any work on our part 38:16 and then he says we should renounce ungodliness 38:22 and worldly lust, we should live soberly 38:24 and righteously in this present age, 38:27 with a view of something very significant 38:30 that's gonna happen 38:31 and then he is longing for the coming 38:34 of that blessed hope of Jesus Christ. 38:40 Now you say, how can we be sure 38:43 that hope will be materialized? 38:48 For two reasons. 38:50 Reason Number one is because Jesus promised it, 38:54 is that a good reason? 38:55 The word of God states it. 38:58 Jesus said, "Let not your hearts be troubled. 39:01 You believe in God, believe also in Me. 39:05 In my Father's house are many mansions..." 39:09 Notice Jesus didn't say, 39:11 I'm going to heaven to build mansions." 39:13 He says, when he said it, he said, 39:14 "There are many mansions." 39:18 Jesus does not need 2,000 years to build mansions. 39:24 "In my Father's house are many mansions: 39:28 if it were not so, I would have told you..." 39:30 Then he says, "I go to prepare a place for you." 39:34 And, you know, usually we think of that 39:36 as Jesus going to heaven 39:37 to make it real nice pretty place for us to go to. 39:40 I'm not gonna say that we're not gonna have a pretty place 39:43 but there is more involved here. 39:46 You see when Jesus says, 39:48 "I go to prepare a place for you." 39:51 The way in which he prepares that place for us 39:54 is through the work that he performs 39:56 in the heavenly sanctuary. 39:59 It's through His work in the holy 40:00 and the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary 40:03 as we heard about this morning. 40:06 So that's how He prepares the place. 40:10 He went to heaven to prepare the place 40:12 through His work in the sanctuary 40:14 and then He says, 40:16 after He has prepared the place, 40:17 He says, "I will come again." 40:23 You can take it to the bank 40:25 because Jesus said He will come again. 40:28 So we can long for that hope 40:31 because we know they'll rest upon his word. 40:35 You know, the hope of the second coming 40:37 is not like saying, "Well, I hope so." 40:40 No, it's solidly based on what Jesus said, 40:46 but there is another reason why we can be certain 40:49 and that is that Jesus has given us a down payment. 40:53 Amen. 40:55 And he is not about to lose his security deposit. 41:00 Notice Ephesians 1:13-14. 41:04 Ephesians 1:13-14, 41:07 you see Jesus has not only promised to come again, 41:10 He has given us a down payment to prove that He is, 41:15 it says in Ephesians 1:13-14, 41:18 "In him..." 41:20 That is in Jesus, "you also trusted, 41:23 after you heard the word of truth, 41:25 the gospel of your salvation. 41:27 In whom also having believed, you were sealed..." 41:31 with what? 41:33 "With the holy Spirit of promise." 41:35 Who is the what? 41:37 The guarantee, 41:40 that mean surety, security deposit, 41:45 down payment if you please. 41:47 Who is the guarantee of our inheritance 41:50 until the redemption of the purchased possession 41:53 to the praise of His glory." 41:55 He has given us His spirit 41:58 so that we can know that the hope is certain. 42:02 In 2 Corinthians 1:22, 42:04 the Apostle Paul once again uses the same word 42:06 that word Arras in Greek, 42:09 which means down payment or security deposit. 42:12 He says there in 2 Corinthians 1:22, 42:16 "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ 42:20 and has anointed us in God, 42:23 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit 42:27 in our hearts as a..." 42:28 What? "As a guarantee." 42:34 So we not only have Christ promise, 42:36 His word that He is coming again 42:38 but He's proven it by giving us the down payment, 42:42 the down payment of His Holy Spirit. 42:45 Praise the Lord. 42:47 Now let's go for a moment before going on to verse 14. 42:52 Go to another passage in Titus, Titus 3:4-7. 42:57 Titus 3:4-7, notice once again we have this theme of the past, 43:03 the present and the future. 43:05 Time and again in the writings of the Apostle Paul, 43:08 you know, you ask Christian, you'll say, well, you know, 43:13 how the salvation work? 43:15 Is salvation once for all thing? 43:17 They'll say, "Oh, yeah. 43:18 It's a once for all thing, you accept the Christ 43:20 and you're safe forever." 43:23 The Apostle Paul clearly tells us 43:26 that salvation is a process. 43:30 It includes justification, it includes sanctification 43:34 and it includes glorification. 43:38 Notice this passage in Titus 3:4-7. 43:42 "For we ourselves were also..." 43:46 That's past, right? 43:48 "Foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various..." 43:54 What? 43:56 "Lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, 44:02 hateful and hating one another." 44:05 What we used to be before salvation. 44:09 But says the Apostle Paul, "When the kindness 44:13 and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared..." 44:17 Past tense, that's speaking about the grace 44:20 that comes through Jesus Christ. 44:24 Once again, but when the kindness 44:26 and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 44:29 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, 44:32 but according to his mercy he..." 44:35 What? 44:36 "He saved us, 44:41 through the washing of regeneration, 44:43 and the renewing of the Holy Spirit. 44:45 Whom he poured out..." 44:46 Once again past, "On us abundantly 44:49 through Jesus Christ our Savior. 44:52 That having being justified by his..." 44:56 What? 44:58 "By his grace, we should become heirs of the..." 45:01 What? 45:03 "Of the hope of eternal life." So you see past and future. 45:09 The future is guaranteed by what occurred in the past. 45:16 Now let's go to Titus 2:14. 45:20 Here the Apostle Paul, 45:22 once again notice the tense of the verbs. 45:25 "Who gave himself for us." 45:28 That's when grace manifested itself 45:30 that he mentioned in verse 11. 45:32 "Who gave himself for us." 45:35 Why did he give himself for us? 45:37 Does grace teaches any thing? 45:39 This passage tells us that grace teaches us. 45:43 That there is a change in the life, 45:46 so the Apostle Paul says, 45:47 "Who gave himself for us, that..." 45:51 In Greek it's Hina, which means so that. 45:56 He did this so that this would happen. 46:00 "Who gave Himself for us, so that He might redeem us..." 46:06 That word redeem means to buy back by paying a price, 46:10 is referring to His death on the cross. 46:12 "That He might redeem us from every lawless deed." 46:16 That word lawless is the same word that is used 46:19 and translated, transgression of the law. 46:21 Jesus redeemed us 46:23 from our transgressions of the law, 46:25 but not only did Jesus redeem us 46:28 from our transgressions of the law, 46:30 He goes beyond this. 46:32 Notice how the Apostle Paul finishes this verse. 46:36 "Who gave Himself for us, 46:38 that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, 46:42 that is from our transgressions of the law..." 46:44 But now notice this and what? 46:47 "And purify for Himself, His own special people..." 46:53 What? "Zealous for good works." 46:59 Does grace teach us anything? 47:02 Grace teaches us that we should renounce 47:04 on godliness and fleshly lust 47:06 and we should live soberly and we should live righteously. 47:10 Jesus appeared to save us, so that He might redeem us 47:13 from yes, our transgressions of the law by justifying us, 47:17 but also to purify for Himself, His own special people 47:22 and He wants His people to be zealous of good works. 47:25 By the way that word zealous is very interesting. 47:27 It's the Greek word zelotes. 47:31 There was a Jewish sect in the times of Christ 47:34 that was known as the zelotes. 47:37 You know they used all of their power 47:40 to try and overthrow the Roman government. 47:42 They were zealous in their cause. 47:46 Of course, their cause was wrong. 47:48 The Bible tells us that the Apostle Paul was zealous 47:51 in persecuting the Christians, his cause was wrong 47:53 but should we be any zealous for the things of God? 47:57 The Apostle Paul doesn't say just do good works, 48:00 he says that as a result of what Christ has done, 48:03 we should be zealous of good works. 48:08 So in this verse we have the past, 48:10 Jesus appeared, His grace saved us. 48:16 By His grace He's teaching us 48:19 that we should deny ungodliness 48:24 and worldly lusts. 48:26 And we should be living soberly 48:28 and righteously in this present age, 48:30 and the reason why is because we're looking forward 48:33 to the glorious coming of Jesus Christ 48:35 on the clouds of heaven. 48:39 Let's notice Romans 6:22, 48:41 where we have the same theme of the Apostle Paul, 48:44 past, present and future. 48:48 Romans 6:22, 48:52 the Apostle Paul tells us, 48:55 "But now having been set free from sin..." 48:59 Past tense, "And having become slaves of God, 49:06 you have as your fruit..." 49:08 What? 49:10 Holiness, are you seeing the connection? 49:15 The Apostle Paul says we've been set free from sin, 49:18 Jesus down on the cross for our sins. 49:21 We have become slaves of God. 49:23 In other words, we become servants of God 49:25 and what is the fruit? 49:27 The fruit is holiness but that's not all. 49:32 The verse continue saying, 49:34 "And the end, everlasting life." 49:39 Once again, the same theme. 49:43 Notice Ephesians 5:25-27. 49:47 Ephesians 5:25-27, 49:49 once again the Apostle Paul 49:51 speaks about what happened in the past 49:53 and it should color the presence at present 49:55 and it should also make us look forward to the future. 49:59 Ephesians 5:25-27. 50:02 "Husbands, love your wives, 50:04 just as Christ also loved the church 50:06 and gave Himself for her." 50:08 See that's what Jesus did in the past. 50:10 Jesus gave Himself by living and dying for His church. 50:15 But there is an intention or a purpose for that. 50:18 Once again, "Husbands, love your wives, 50:20 just as Christ also loved the church 50:22 and gave Himself for her that He might..." 50:27 He did that, so that he could this." 50:30 Do what? "That He might." 50:33 What? 50:35 "Sanctify..." 50:36 That means to make holy. 50:39 "And cleanse her with the washing of water 50:43 by the word that He might present..." 50:45 Here comes the future tense. 50:47 "That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, 50:52 not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, 50:55 but that she should be holy and without blemish." 51:00 That he might present the church to himself, 51:03 a pure, clean church to himself. 51:10 You say, "Well, Pastor Bohr, how is this possible? 51:18 The secret is not really that difficult to understand. 51:24 You know, the way in which we overcome sin 51:30 and our lives are cleansed 51:33 is not by looking at the law 51:39 but by looking at Christ. 51:41 You see what happens when we look at Christ 51:44 because we're always supposed to look at the grace of God, 51:47 that's the grace of God in Christ 51:49 is the incentive for the denying 51:51 and for the living 51:53 and for being zealous of good works 51:55 in view of the coming of Christ. 51:57 The past is the root 52:00 and so we must have our eyes on Jesus 52:03 and when I look at Jesus, you know what I see? 52:07 I see one who is absolutely perfect. 52:11 And when I look at the perfection of Jesus, 52:13 what do I see about myself? 52:17 The same thing that Isaiah said, 52:19 "I am undone" or what the Apostle Paul said, 52:25 "Miserable man that I am." 52:29 Or as Peter said," Depart from me, 52:31 for I am a sinful man." 52:33 You see the holiness of Jesus rebukes our sin. 52:39 Now that would be kind of desperate 52:41 if it's just rebuked our sin. 52:44 It'd be depressing. 52:48 But then I look at Jesus on the cross 52:52 and I see this being that was absolutely pure 52:55 and clean and perfect, 53:00 going to Gethsemane. 53:03 Having his life crushed by the lord of sin 53:08 and then on the cross cried out, 53:09 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? 53:14 And so I look at Jesus and say, "Lord you're so perfect, 53:17 you're so beautiful. 53:19 You never sin and yet look what happened to you. 53:21 Why did that happen to you? 53:25 And Jesus says, "Because of your sins." 53:29 And folks when I see what sin did to Jesus, 53:32 I will not want anything more to do with sin. 53:35 Amen. 53:38 Sin is not overcome by looking at the law, 53:40 it's overcome by looking at Jesus. 53:43 By beholding Jesus we're changed. 53:46 The problem is, that we are looking at the wrong things. 53:51 We're listening to the wrong things. 53:53 We're looking and listening at things 53:56 that make our sin stronger, rather than rebuking our sin. 54:01 Amen. 54:03 When Jesus comes, He will have a pure people. 54:06 I believe, folks, that once probation closes, 54:10 the characters of God's people will be settled for eternity. 54:14 Amen. 54:17 I believe that God's people 54:18 will have to live without an intercessor 54:20 because Jesus will have laid off His priestly robes. 54:23 Amen. 54:25 Victory over sin must be won, 54:28 but it's not won by looking at the law and looking, 54:32 "Oh, well, how am I doing today? 54:35 No, it's won by looking at Jesus in Gethsemane 54:39 and on the cross, 54:41 and looking at His perfect life. 54:44 That's why Ellen White said, 54:45 we need to spend a thoughtful hour each day, 54:49 contemplating the life of Christ. 54:52 She says that as we look at the loveliness 54:54 of the character of Jesus, we are changed, 54:57 we're transformed and the word that is used in Greek 55:00 is the word metamorphosis. 55:03 You know what a metamorphosis is? 55:06 Butterflies go through metamorphosis. 55:11 You know what butterfly used to be? 55:13 Worms. 55:17 And then they are buried in the cocoon, 55:19 like we are buried in the waters of baptism. 55:21 And lo and behold, when the creature comes out, 55:27 it's been totally and radically changed. 55:30 It's no longer a caterpillar that drags itself along, no, 55:37 it's a beautiful butterfly that flies through he air, 55:39 it's been radically changed. 55:42 The word that is used in 2 Corinthians 3 55:45 is that by beholding, by continually beholding 55:49 we are changed 55:50 into the image of Christ. 55:56 That's what we should be doing in the present, 55:58 in the light of what Jesus did in the past 56:00 and looking to the glorious future, 56:04 the glorious coming of Jesus Christ. 56:07 I want to throw out a challenge 56:08 as I bring this to a close this afternoon. 56:13 The conflict series, 56:15 the five books that Ellen White wrote 56:19 which are known as the conflict series 56:22 have 3,603 pages. 56:27 It's the greatest Bible commentary 56:29 that has ever been written. 56:32 Amen. Hands down. 56:34 Amen. 56:36 If you want to know your Bible, 56:40 read those five books 56:42 in conjunction with the sections 56:44 that they cover. 56:46 Now here's my challenge 56:48 and I'm wondering if you're going to accept the challenge. 56:52 If you read only 10 pages a day, 56:58 for 365 days, 57:00 you will have read all five books in one year. 57:05 Your life will not be the same. Amen. 57:09 You will see Jesus in a new light 57:12 because all of those five books are all about Jesus. 57:15 Amen. 57:17 And as you look at Jesus in early history, 57:19 as you look at Jesus during the period of the prophets, 57:22 as you look at Jesus in Desire of Ages, 57:24 as you look at Jesus 57:26 in the history of the Christian church, 57:27 as you look at Jesus in the end time conflict 57:30 in Great Controversy, 57:31 your heart will be transformed and changed. 57:36 So I ask this evening, 57:37 how many of you are willing to accept that challenge. 57:42 Do you understand, 57:43 if you're willing to accept that challenge, 57:45 I'm gonna ask you next year, 57:48 even if I am not invited to speak, 57:50 I'm gonna go around, 57:51 I will say did you fulfill your promise? 57:56 Praise the Lord, let's start, you know, 57:58 we're at the beginning of the year. 58:01 Let's start, 58:04 I assure you that your life will not be the same. 58:07 After one year you will be so much in love with Jesus, 58:10 that then you're gonna say 58:12 "I'm gonna read the book Education, 58:13 I'm gonna read Christ Object Lessons, 58:15 I'm gonna read Ministry of Healing, 58:16 you want to read all of the books 58:19 that Ellen White ever wrote 58:20 because it portrays Jesus in a beautiful way. 58:23 Praise the Lord for this response, 58:25 not everybody has stood and that's okay. 58:27 I'll be praying for those who didn't stand 58:30 that the Lord will help you see the light. 58:34 Let's pray, Father in heaven, 58:38 we thank You for Jesus. 58:42 What a perfect pattern, what a beautiful character, 58:48 but Father we know that his being was disfigured. 58:54 He was crushed by the lord of sin. 58:57 Oh, Father help us to concentrate 59:00 on what grace has done. 59:03 So that we might live the way you would have us live. 59:08 As we prepare for the glorious coming of Jesus Christ 59:12 in power and glory to take us home. 59:16 Oh, Father, I thank You for the decisions 59:19 that have been made. 59:21 I ask Lord that each day 59:22 that You will remind us to read those 10 pages 59:25 and that through prayer and the work of Your Spirit, 59:29 our lives might be transformed from glory to glory 59:34 into the image of Christ. 59:36 Thank You Father for hearing my prayer, 59:40 for I asked in Jesus' name. 59:42 Amen. |
Revised 2016-08-15