Welcome to 3ABN Spring Camp Meeting 2017, 00:00:14.24\00:00:18.91 Exposing the Counterfeit. 00:00:18.95\00:00:20.88 Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:24.29\00:00:25.65 And once again it is so wonderful 00:00:25.69\00:00:28.79 to welcome you to Spring Camp Meeting, 00:00:28.82\00:00:30.63 this exposing the counterfeit. 00:00:30.69\00:00:32.36 Tell me how have you enjoyed this? 00:00:32.39\00:00:33.96 Have you been blessed? Yes! 00:00:34.00\00:00:36.10 Oh, I'm telling you, I cannot believe 00:00:36.13\00:00:38.63 we are down to our last message. 00:00:38.67\00:00:41.37 But we have saved one of the most incredible topics 00:00:41.40\00:00:45.41 for our last presentation. 00:00:45.44\00:00:47.74 And the topic of the hour is if I am a Christian, 00:00:47.78\00:00:52.71 should I fear the judgment? 00:00:52.75\00:00:55.05 There's so much misunderstanding. 00:00:55.08\00:00:57.42 And even within our own church about this. 00:00:57.45\00:00:59.75 So we want to welcome our pastor 00:00:59.79\00:01:03.63 that is going to give us the message this hour 00:01:03.66\00:01:06.06 is Pastor James Rafferty, 00:01:06.09\00:01:07.66 he is the co-director for Light Bearers Ministry, 00:01:07.73\00:01:10.83 that's his full time job. 00:01:10.87\00:01:13.07 Then he is a part time pastor for the Fall Creek 00:01:13.10\00:01:16.47 Seventh-day Adventist Church in Oregon. 00:01:16.50\00:01:19.61 And he said he... 00:01:19.64\00:01:21.71 I know he travels all the time but he said 00:01:21.74\00:01:23.91 full time at Light Bearers, part time as a preacher 00:01:23.95\00:01:27.78 and a time and a half as a husband. 00:01:27.82\00:01:30.39 You husbands know what he's saying, don't you? 00:01:30.45\00:01:32.99 Well, then our song tonight 00:01:33.02\00:01:35.29 is going to be at the end of his presentation, 00:01:35.32\00:01:39.19 Yvonne Lewis will be singing for us. 00:01:39.23\00:01:41.36 But right now help me welcome Pastor James Rafferty. 00:01:41.40\00:01:47.50 Amen. 00:01:47.57\00:01:48.90 Thank you, Shelley. 00:01:48.94\00:01:52.64 Good evening. Good evening. 00:01:52.67\00:01:54.14 Saints, as I've listened to the messages here 00:01:54.21\00:01:56.51 at 3ABN camp meeting. 00:01:56.54\00:01:58.31 I have been blessed. 00:01:58.35\00:01:59.68 And I've realized that God 00:01:59.71\00:02:01.95 is doing something very special. 00:02:01.98\00:02:03.92 But we're not here by accident 00:02:03.99\00:02:06.25 that we are here by God's providential leading. 00:02:06.29\00:02:10.13 And that He has blessed us with a special appointment 00:02:10.16\00:02:14.10 of the Holy Spirit 00:02:14.10\00:02:16.30 with messages that are bringing to us, 00:02:16.33\00:02:18.47 I think clarity and understanding 00:02:18.50\00:02:21.17 and conviction. 00:02:21.20\00:02:22.54 I'm thinking about John the Baptist and Jesus. 00:02:22.57\00:02:27.34 That's what has come to my mind because in this camp meeting 00:02:27.38\00:02:32.25 we have heard messages that are straight 00:02:32.28\00:02:36.02 and cutting to the heart like John the Baptist. 00:02:36.05\00:02:38.52 But they haven't neglected the focus on Calvary 00:02:38.55\00:02:43.39 and the cross and Jesus. 00:02:43.43\00:02:46.76 And I think that when you look at the ministries 00:02:46.80\00:02:49.13 of John the Baptist and Jesus, 00:02:49.16\00:02:51.13 they were very opposite, weren't they? 00:02:51.17\00:02:55.47 It seemed as though John the Baptist 00:02:55.50\00:02:57.07 was just this hardcore straight testimony preacher 00:02:57.14\00:03:00.88 out in the wilderness eating locusts and honey, 00:03:00.91\00:03:05.95 roped in camels there. 00:03:05.98\00:03:07.32 And then Jesus was more soft-spoken, 00:03:07.35\00:03:10.02 sitting with the publicans in the centers, 00:03:10.09\00:03:11.89 they called Him a glutton. 00:03:11.92\00:03:14.16 And it seemed as though the Pharisees try to divide 00:03:14.19\00:03:18.99 the ministries and the work and even the disciples of Jesus 00:03:19.03\00:03:24.27 and John the Baptist. 00:03:24.30\00:03:26.63 And I thought about that, I thought about that, 00:03:26.70\00:03:28.24 I thought about that and I thought you know what, 00:03:28.27\00:03:33.34 Satan has been trying to divide the work that God is doing 00:03:33.38\00:03:38.11 in this earth ever since the beginning. 00:03:38.15\00:03:41.08 He's trying to divide law and grace. 00:03:41.12\00:03:45.82 He's trying to divide mercy and justice. 00:03:45.85\00:03:49.16 He's trying to divide faith and works. 00:03:49.19\00:03:51.13 He's trying to divide the Old Testament 00:03:51.16\00:03:52.53 from the New Testament. 00:03:52.56\00:03:54.46 But he's not gonna do it. He's not gonna succeed. 00:03:54.50\00:03:57.97 And that's why I've been really blessed here 00:03:58.00\00:03:59.67 at 3ABN camp meeting because I really believe 00:03:59.70\00:04:02.87 that God is bringing it all together again as one. 00:04:02.90\00:04:09.01 That the messages are combining, 00:04:09.04\00:04:11.35 the straight truth and saturating it 00:04:11.38\00:04:14.02 with the love of God. 00:04:14.05\00:04:15.38 And that's what we need to do, you know, 00:04:15.42\00:04:16.79 we need to preach the truth as it is in Jesus. 00:04:16.82\00:04:20.56 We need to preach the mark of the beast. 00:04:20.59\00:04:23.29 I love that presentation by Steve. 00:04:23.32\00:04:25.76 We need to preach about the second coming 00:04:25.79\00:04:28.20 that was a powerful presentation 00:04:28.23\00:04:30.23 by Ed, Elder Ed Reed. 00:04:30.27\00:04:33.70 And that reformation history, you know, 00:04:33.74\00:04:36.40 where he revisited Luther in Wittenberg, 00:04:36.44\00:04:39.27 that was priceless, wasn't it? 00:04:39.31\00:04:41.58 That was worth the whole trip here. 00:04:41.61\00:04:44.21 Priceless gem. We've got to know that history. 00:04:44.25\00:04:47.28 We need to preach the Sabbath 00:04:47.32\00:04:49.98 and we need to preach the judgment 00:04:50.05\00:04:51.59 in the context of the love of God. 00:04:51.62\00:04:55.49 All that needs to come together and be one and harmonize, 00:04:55.52\00:04:59.49 we can't divide Jesus from John, 00:04:59.53\00:05:01.36 law from grace, faith from works, 00:05:01.40\00:05:03.37 justice from mercy, it all needs to come together 00:05:03.40\00:05:06.43 and it is coming together, 00:05:06.47\00:05:07.80 God is bringing it together again. 00:05:07.84\00:05:11.84 So I have this message and it's the closing message 00:05:11.87\00:05:14.98 for our camp meeting. 00:05:15.01\00:05:16.34 It is one that I chose. 00:05:16.38\00:05:18.61 I was given an option, I said I'd love to share that message 00:05:18.65\00:05:21.08 because the message is dear to my heart, 00:05:21.12\00:05:22.98 it is a message that is based on Revelation 14 00:05:23.02\00:05:25.45 and it's a message that we need to understand. 00:05:25.49\00:05:27.89 But the only way we can understand it 00:05:27.92\00:05:29.26 really and truly is to base it in the Word of God 00:05:29.29\00:05:32.06 and to pray for the instruction of the Holy Spirit. 00:05:32.09\00:05:37.73 Can we pray together right now? 00:05:37.77\00:05:39.40 Father in heaven, I just want to thank You again 00:05:39.43\00:05:41.37 this evening for the opportunity that we have 00:05:41.40\00:05:43.67 just to come to Your throne and find grace and help 00:05:43.71\00:05:47.24 in this time of need. 00:05:47.28\00:05:48.61 We are at the end of this camp meeting, 00:05:48.64\00:05:52.38 this meeting after meeting, truth after truth 00:05:52.41\00:05:57.35 saturated with love 00:05:57.39\00:06:01.32 and righteous revelation of truth. 00:06:01.36\00:06:05.26 And, Father, we're just thankful 00:06:05.29\00:06:07.66 that we've had the opportunity to be here, to be alive 00:06:07.66\00:06:09.86 at this time in history and to take in more 00:06:09.90\00:06:12.73 and more of the message 00:06:12.77\00:06:15.37 that is going to lighten Your earth with Your glory, 00:06:15.40\00:06:17.31 the message of this heaven sent. 00:06:17.34\00:06:18.67 And as we close it up now 00:06:18.71\00:06:20.08 and we look at the investigative judgment 00:06:20.11\00:06:22.38 and how it applies to believers. 00:06:22.41\00:06:23.75 I just pray that Your Holy Spirit 00:06:23.78\00:06:25.28 will speak to our hearts again. 00:06:25.31\00:06:28.02 Give us just a little bit more energy, 00:06:28.05\00:06:30.92 a little bit more ability to take in 00:06:30.99\00:06:35.96 more of the truth of heaven. 00:06:35.99\00:06:37.83 Father, we pray, we ask, we plead and we thank You 00:06:37.86\00:06:40.33 for hearing us in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:40.40\00:06:43.23 Amen. Amen. 00:06:43.26\00:06:45.90 Revelation 14:6, 7. 00:06:45.93\00:06:49.64 John says that he saw another angel 00:06:49.67\00:06:52.01 flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel, 00:06:52.04\00:06:56.44 the everlasting gospel. 00:06:56.48\00:06:59.08 Do you know why it's called the everlasting gospel 00:06:59.11\00:07:00.65 in Revelation 14:6? 00:07:00.68\00:07:02.32 Do you know why it's called the everlasting gospel? 00:07:02.35\00:07:04.12 Because this is God's last message for the world. 00:07:04.15\00:07:06.82 And the world in the end of time thinks 00:07:06.89\00:07:09.59 that there was some time in history past 00:07:09.62\00:07:12.93 primarily in the Old Testament 00:07:12.96\00:07:14.56 that people were saved by obedience to the law. 00:07:14.60\00:07:19.40 You might knock on people's doors, 00:07:19.43\00:07:20.77 give a Bible study and talk about the truths 00:07:20.84\00:07:23.71 that we've been talking about here, about the Sabbath, 00:07:23.74\00:07:26.07 the truth of God's law and they would say, 00:07:26.11\00:07:27.88 oh, that's Old Testament, that's Old Covenant. 00:07:27.91\00:07:30.95 We're saved by grace. 00:07:30.98\00:07:32.48 And so God has put this phrase in the very last message 00:07:32.51\00:07:35.22 to the world, the everlasting gospel 00:07:35.25\00:07:37.09 to remind us that no one has ever been saved 00:07:37.12\00:07:39.92 through obedience to the law, ever. 00:07:39.95\00:07:43.53 And that's the question we need to ask people who say 00:07:43.56\00:07:45.09 we're under the new covenant, we're under grace, 00:07:45.13\00:07:46.56 now you see, you need to ask them 00:07:46.59\00:07:47.93 what does that mean that you're saying 00:07:47.96\00:07:49.26 that there are people in the Old Testament 00:07:49.30\00:07:50.63 that were saved by obedience to the law? 00:07:50.67\00:07:53.34 Because Revelation 14 says 00:07:53.40\00:07:55.04 that this is the everlasting gospel. 00:07:55.07\00:07:57.71 Jesus Christ is the only way anyone ever has been saved 00:07:57.74\00:08:01.64 or ever will be saved. 00:08:01.68\00:08:03.01 Amen. 00:08:03.04\00:08:04.41 Having the everlasting gospel preached to those 00:08:04.45\00:08:07.35 that dwell on the earth, every nation and kindred 00:08:07.38\00:08:09.68 and tongue and people saying with what kind of voice? 00:08:09.72\00:08:12.89 A loud voice, doesn't mean they're yelling, 00:08:12.92\00:08:15.12 doesn't mean they're angry, it means they're clear 00:08:15.16\00:08:18.99 and they can be heard and understood. 00:08:19.03\00:08:23.40 That's what happens when you speak 00:08:23.47\00:08:24.80 with a lower voice. 00:08:24.83\00:08:26.17 If you don't have enough voice, people can't hear you. 00:08:26.20\00:08:28.37 Do you understand? 00:08:28.40\00:08:29.87 You have to be able to speak loudly 00:08:29.90\00:08:32.71 so that people can hear what you're saying, right? 00:08:32.74\00:08:36.75 Our tech guys thought it was a problem with the mic 00:08:36.78\00:08:38.35 there for a second. 00:08:38.38\00:08:40.35 They were sweating. 00:08:40.42\00:08:43.05 So the first communication of this everlasting gospel 00:08:43.08\00:08:49.19 is fear God and give glory to Him, 00:08:49.22\00:08:54.10 for the hour of His judgment is come. 00:08:54.10\00:08:57.17 And worship him that made the heaven and the earth 00:08:57.23\00:08:58.57 and sea and fountains of waters. 00:08:58.60\00:09:00.67 That's the everlasting gospel. 00:09:00.70\00:09:02.24 That's good news because the word gospel means 00:09:02.27\00:09:04.71 good news, that's good news. 00:09:04.74\00:09:06.81 And somehow some way through some kind 00:09:06.84\00:09:10.38 of misunderstanding of communication 00:09:10.41\00:09:13.65 the world Christians, believers think 00:09:13.68\00:09:18.29 that the hour of God's judgment is scary bad news. 00:09:18.32\00:09:23.59 How did that happen? 00:09:23.66\00:09:24.99 That's not what it says here. 00:09:25.03\00:09:27.60 Revelation 14:6, 7 tell us 00:09:27.66\00:09:30.30 that the hour of God's judgment is good news, 00:09:30.37\00:09:32.13 not bad news. 00:09:32.17\00:09:35.60 Some time ago a young man came into my office 00:09:35.64\00:09:41.68 with his girlfriend. 00:09:41.71\00:09:43.45 He was a medical student 00:09:43.48\00:09:47.35 going to one of our educational institutions, 00:09:47.42\00:09:51.85 studying to be a doctor. 00:09:51.89\00:09:53.59 And she also was going to the same institution, 00:09:53.66\00:09:56.32 he was an Adventist and she was a Christian. 00:09:56.36\00:10:00.70 He was coming home to visit his parents 00:10:00.73\00:10:02.83 and he invited his girlfriend up 00:10:02.86\00:10:04.40 because he wanted to introduce her 00:10:04.43\00:10:06.90 to his parents and to me. 00:10:06.94\00:10:09.60 You see he intended to marry this girl. 00:10:09.64\00:10:12.21 But before he married her, 00:10:12.24\00:10:13.98 he wanted to make her a Seventh-day Adventist. 00:10:14.04\00:10:19.01 So he came into my office with his girlfriend in tow. 00:10:19.05\00:10:24.99 She walked into my office and before we got 00:10:25.02\00:10:27.52 hardly anywhere she said, "I am a Christian. 00:10:27.56\00:10:30.69 I am not an Adventist, 00:10:30.73\00:10:32.06 I'm not gonna become an Adventist. 00:10:32.09\00:10:33.43 I do not believe in the investigative judgments." 00:10:33.46\00:10:37.00 And she sat down and folded her arms. 00:10:37.03\00:10:41.30 And I looked at him and he looked at me. 00:10:41.34\00:10:46.21 And he said, "That's why I brought her to you." 00:10:46.24\00:10:49.11 And I said, "I would love to study with you 00:10:57.12\00:11:01.79 the investigative judgment." 00:11:01.82\00:11:03.56 See this young man had been in our camp meeting 00:11:03.63\00:11:05.26 the summer before and he had heard 00:11:05.29\00:11:06.90 a series of meetings that we had been doing 00:11:06.93\00:11:08.43 on the three angels' messages. 00:11:08.46\00:11:10.03 And as he heard those meetings, 00:11:10.07\00:11:11.43 he called me aside and he said to me, 00:11:11.47\00:11:14.40 "What is it that you're preaching right here?" 00:11:14.44\00:11:15.77 And I said, "Well, I'm preaching 00:11:15.80\00:11:17.17 the three angels' messages." 00:11:17.21\00:11:18.54 He says, "Well, I've been raised an Adventist, 00:11:18.57\00:11:19.91 I've never heard anything like this before." 00:11:19.94\00:11:22.14 And so he wanted his girlfriend to hear this. 00:11:22.18\00:11:25.88 So I watched and we began this study. 00:11:25.91\00:11:29.95 I'm not going to tell you yet how it ended. 00:11:29.98\00:11:33.92 See at first glance 00:11:33.96\00:11:36.99 the investigative judgment for believers 00:11:37.03\00:11:41.20 seems to be out of place in a gospel setting 00:11:41.23\00:11:45.23 but that's not the case. 00:11:45.27\00:11:47.07 When you look at a Bible verse with me, 00:11:47.10\00:11:48.44 it's found in 1 Timothy, or 1 Peter 4:17. 00:11:48.47\00:11:52.21 1 Peter 4:17. 00:11:52.24\00:11:54.28 See I believe that the investigative judgment 00:11:54.31\00:11:57.48 is good news of the highest order. 00:11:57.51\00:11:59.95 And it can, and any doubt we have about that 00:12:00.05\00:12:02.25 can be categorically wiped away by the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:12:02.28\00:12:07.76 1 Peter 4:17 says this, "For the time has come 00:12:07.79\00:12:11.93 for judgment to begin," where? 00:12:11.96\00:12:14.83 "In the house of God." 00:12:14.86\00:12:16.30 That's at the house where Christians worship God. 00:12:16.33\00:12:21.24 It's not where unbelievers are. This is God's house. 00:12:21.27\00:12:24.17 This is the house of believers. 00:12:24.21\00:12:25.61 The judgment must begin at the house of God. 00:12:25.64\00:12:27.28 And it first begins with us, now follow this, 00:12:27.34\00:12:30.01 if it first begins with us what will be the end of those 00:12:30.05\00:12:33.58 who do not obey what? 00:12:33.62\00:12:35.95 The gospel of God. 00:12:35.98\00:12:39.45 I think this is very important. 00:12:39.49\00:12:41.06 It doesn't say the law of God, it says what? 00:12:41.09\00:12:44.09 The gospel. 00:12:44.13\00:12:45.46 The judgment for believers is all about the gospel. 00:12:45.49\00:12:49.73 Are you going to obey the gospel? 00:12:49.76\00:12:51.23 Judgment's coming to our house, are we obeying the gospel? 00:12:51.27\00:12:56.24 Good so far? 00:12:56.27\00:12:58.04 All right, let's keep going here. 00:12:58.07\00:13:00.48 Now I want to emphasize or clarify 00:13:00.51\00:13:03.85 that the judgment is a solemn event, 00:13:03.88\00:13:05.68 there's no doubt about it. 00:13:05.71\00:13:07.52 And yet we can see from this verse 00:13:07.55\00:13:11.22 and the verses we read in Revelation 14:6, 7 00:13:11.25\00:13:15.02 that the judgment is connected directly 00:13:15.06\00:13:18.06 with the everlasting gospel. 00:13:18.09\00:13:20.96 It's connected directly with what Jesus Christ has done 00:13:20.96\00:13:25.67 for all the human race. 00:13:25.70\00:13:28.64 1 Timothy 4:10 says, "He is the Savior of all." 00:13:28.67\00:13:32.97 1 Timothy 2:1-6 says, 00:13:33.01\00:13:34.88 "He wants everyone to come to salvation," everyone. 00:13:34.91\00:13:41.32 So really the gospel is calling every individual 00:13:41.35\00:13:45.05 to respond to what God has done for them 00:13:45.09\00:13:48.32 in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:13:48.36\00:13:49.69 That's what the gospel is calling us to. 00:13:49.72\00:13:52.56 Jesus Christ has purchased the human race with His blood 00:13:52.59\00:13:55.20 and the gospel is calling us to respond to the work 00:13:55.23\00:13:59.33 that Christ has done for us, for every individual. 00:13:59.37\00:14:03.10 So the judgment is basically a revelation 00:14:03.14\00:14:09.04 of what we've decided to do with our Savior, with Jesus. 00:14:09.08\00:14:13.42 And the way that revelation works 00:14:13.45\00:14:15.25 is by our words and actions. 00:14:15.28\00:14:19.45 Our words and actions determine what we've done with Jesus. 00:14:19.49\00:14:23.09 So a lot of people say, "Well, we're judged by," 00:14:23.12\00:14:25.43 how can we be judged by our works 00:14:25.46\00:14:26.90 and saved by grace? 00:14:26.93\00:14:28.50 Well, let's take a look at it. 00:14:28.53\00:14:30.23 Jesus says in Matthew 12:36, 37, 00:14:30.27\00:14:34.70 "That every idle word that men shall speak 00:14:34.74\00:14:37.27 they should give account there of in the day of judgment. 00:14:37.31\00:14:40.44 For by thy words thou shalt be justified 00:14:40.48\00:14:43.91 and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." 00:14:43.95\00:14:47.92 Matthew 12:36, 37 00:14:47.95\00:14:49.72 and Jesus is talking about believers here. 00:14:49.75\00:14:51.72 And that basically settles it for me. 00:14:51.75\00:14:53.52 Everyone has to give an account according to these verses 00:14:53.56\00:14:56.89 Matthew 12:36, 37. 00:14:56.93\00:14:58.29 Everyone has to give an account there of 00:14:58.33\00:15:00.43 in the day of judgments, in the day of judgment. 00:15:00.46\00:15:03.13 So the words of Jesus right here 00:15:03.16\00:15:05.60 and all the arguments on whether or not 00:15:05.63\00:15:08.24 there is a day of judgment for believers. 00:15:08.27\00:15:10.91 It's over, I don't even think we need to spend 00:15:10.94\00:15:13.04 another moment on it, really I don't. 00:15:13.07\00:15:16.14 There are other Bible verses but we don't need 00:15:16.18\00:15:17.55 to spend on that, really what we need to do 00:15:17.58\00:15:19.61 our time this evening, 00:15:19.65\00:15:20.98 the rest of our time this evening 00:15:21.02\00:15:22.75 is actually going to be spent considering that 00:15:22.78\00:15:27.26 if we as believers are going to be judged 00:15:27.29\00:15:31.83 then why, why is there a judgment? 00:15:31.86\00:15:38.00 Not whether or not there is a judgment 00:15:38.03\00:15:39.37 but why is there a judgment? 00:15:39.40\00:15:41.17 Why does God have this day of accounts? 00:15:41.20\00:15:44.87 What's the purpose? 00:15:44.91\00:15:46.84 And how does that relate to the everlasting gospel? 00:15:46.88\00:15:49.34 And I think there are probably more reasons than this 00:15:49.38\00:15:51.51 but there are at least three reasons 00:15:51.55\00:15:53.78 why we're told that God is gonna have a day of accounts. 00:15:53.82\00:15:56.95 Why we're told, Ecclesiastes 12:14 00:15:56.99\00:15:59.09 that God will bring every work into judgment 00:15:59.12\00:16:01.16 and every secret thing whether it's good 00:16:01.19\00:16:03.36 or whether it's evil. 00:16:03.39\00:16:05.49 Our works and our words are gonna testify 00:16:05.53\00:16:09.93 to what we've done with Jesus. 00:16:09.96\00:16:12.00 So reason number one, and Elder Reed was sharing 00:16:12.03\00:16:15.87 how that when truth is, it's clear, 00:16:15.90\00:16:19.04 it's broken down into short parts. 00:16:19.07\00:16:22.78 And I think he started with seven 00:16:22.81\00:16:24.15 and then he went to five. 00:16:24.18\00:16:25.55 And tonight we're doing three. 00:16:25.58\00:16:28.38 Three, reason number one, Romans 14:10-14. 00:16:28.42\00:16:32.35 Now these verses are so powerful, 00:16:32.39\00:16:33.99 these are powerful verses. 00:16:34.06\00:16:35.99 And sometimes we don't give them the credit, 00:16:36.02\00:16:38.73 we don't, we don't use them as we should. 00:16:38.76\00:16:41.46 A lot of times these verses are used 00:16:41.50\00:16:43.87 to oppose the teachings that Adventists propagate. 00:16:43.93\00:16:48.00 So we'll share about the Sabbath 00:16:48.04\00:16:49.54 and people turn to Romans 14 and they'll say, yeah. 00:16:49.57\00:16:51.47 But it says don't judge any man because one day seems, 00:16:51.51\00:16:54.31 one man it seems one day above another, 00:16:54.34\00:16:55.94 another man it seems always the same. 00:16:55.98\00:16:57.51 Let every man be fully persuaded 00:16:57.55\00:16:58.88 in his own mind. 00:16:58.91\00:17:00.35 So it doesn't matter, don't judge me 00:17:00.38\00:17:02.65 and one day I go to church. 00:17:02.68\00:17:04.75 And you guys are legalists anyway. 00:17:04.79\00:17:08.22 You say, wait a minute, didn't you read the text? 00:17:08.26\00:17:11.19 It says, don't judge. 00:17:11.23\00:17:14.20 Right? 00:17:14.23\00:17:15.60 It works both ways, doesn't it? 00:17:15.63\00:17:18.23 Don't let anyone call you a legalist. 00:17:18.27\00:17:20.34 And if they do because you're keeping the Sabbath, 00:17:20.37\00:17:22.04 take them to Romans 14. 00:17:22.07\00:17:24.74 It's our text as much as anyone else's. 00:17:24.77\00:17:28.11 God has given us these verses for a reason. 00:17:28.14\00:17:31.85 Let's read a few of them. 00:17:31.88\00:17:33.21 I want to read verses 10 through 14. 00:17:33.25\00:17:35.55 Romans 14:10-14, "Why do you judge your brother 00:17:35.58\00:17:38.45 or why do you show contempt for your brother 00:17:38.49\00:17:40.66 for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 00:17:40.69\00:17:42.79 for it is written as I live says the Lord, 00:17:42.82\00:17:44.73 every knee will bow to me 00:17:44.76\00:17:46.80 and every tongue shall confess to God. 00:17:46.83\00:17:48.83 So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God. 00:17:48.86\00:17:52.57 Therefore let us resolve this not to put a stumbling block 00:17:52.60\00:17:58.71 or a cause to fall in our brothers' way." 00:17:58.74\00:18:03.38 Stop judging one another. 00:18:03.41\00:18:07.58 Isn't that good news? 00:18:07.65\00:18:09.28 You're off the hook, you're free. 00:18:09.32\00:18:11.75 Yeah, there may be some problems 00:18:11.79\00:18:13.12 that are taking place in your church, 00:18:13.15\00:18:14.56 in your community and your, you don't need to judge though. 00:18:14.59\00:18:18.03 God's got a day of accounts, 00:18:18.06\00:18:19.43 he's gonna settle everything up. 00:18:19.46\00:18:21.70 You do not need to take the burden of judging others. 00:18:21.73\00:18:25.30 You know, being on 3ABN is sometimes 00:18:25.33\00:18:26.67 a little bit difficult. 00:18:26.74\00:18:30.97 Not long ago we received a communication in our office 00:18:31.01\00:18:35.44 and it went like this, 00:18:35.48\00:18:37.45 tell James to stop dying his hair 00:18:37.48\00:18:41.95 so dark. 00:18:41.98\00:18:45.12 Now that's just the tip of the iceberg, 00:18:45.15\00:18:47.36 you've got to have thick skin if you're gonna be a preacher, 00:18:47.39\00:18:50.73 especially on 3ABN, it's just the facts. 00:18:50.76\00:18:54.76 So really you know we shouldn't be judging 00:18:54.83\00:18:57.77 one another and I could have gotten in my attitude of, 00:18:57.80\00:19:02.00 "Hey, what right does that person have 00:19:02.04\00:19:03.74 to judge me and demand 00:19:03.77\00:19:05.41 that I stop dying my hair so dark." 00:19:05.44\00:19:07.74 But I didn't. 00:19:07.78\00:19:09.28 Instead my response was, "Please, tell this person 00:19:09.31\00:19:14.48 that James doesn't die his hair. 00:19:14.52\00:19:19.79 That James has never dyed his hair." 00:19:19.82\00:19:23.76 My wife was six years younger than me 00:19:23.79\00:19:26.03 might not appreciate that fact but it's a fact. 00:19:26.06\00:19:31.63 And if James was gonna dye his hair, 00:19:31.67\00:19:34.17 he would probably die it blonde. 00:19:34.24\00:19:38.97 Why not? 00:19:39.01\00:19:40.98 If I'm gonna dye my hair anyway 00:19:41.01\00:19:42.98 and that would definitely relieve this person's query 00:19:43.01\00:19:45.88 because my hair would be lighter. 00:19:45.91\00:19:50.02 So other people might actually complain 00:19:50.09\00:19:53.39 that my hair was too light, you get the point. 00:19:53.46\00:19:56.93 We are off the hook, we don't have to judge others. 00:19:56.96\00:20:00.00 I love the fact that God has a judgment 00:20:00.03\00:20:02.33 because every time I'm tempted to judge another person, 00:20:02.36\00:20:05.17 I'm reminded God has a judgment, 00:20:05.20\00:20:07.34 God has a day of accounts, back up, James, back up. 00:20:07.40\00:20:10.77 Now do what you can not to be a stumbling block 00:20:10.81\00:20:12.81 to this person, get rid of that attitude that you have, 00:20:12.84\00:20:15.28 those thoughts that you have, the way that you feel. 00:20:15.31\00:20:18.75 God is just and merciful. 00:20:18.78\00:20:23.08 And you're going to wish that you could have done more 00:20:23.12\00:20:25.75 when that day of justice comes. 00:20:25.79\00:20:28.59 Not only for others but for yourself. 00:20:28.62\00:20:30.09 Reason number two is found in Matthew 7:21-23. 00:20:30.13\00:20:33.36 Matthew 7:21-23, here's what it says, 00:20:33.40\00:20:36.60 we know these verses probably too well. 00:20:36.63\00:20:39.77 "Not everyone that says unto me, 00:20:39.80\00:20:43.04 'Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven 00:20:43.07\00:20:47.11 but he that doeth the will of My Father 00:20:47.14\00:20:49.74 which is in heaven.' 00:20:49.78\00:20:51.11 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, 00:20:51.15\00:20:54.05 have we not prophesied in thy name 00:20:54.08\00:20:55.98 and in thy name have cast out devils 00:20:56.02\00:20:57.45 and in thy name done many wonderful works. 00:20:57.52\00:20:59.32 And then I will I profess unto them, I never knew you, 00:20:59.35\00:21:04.86 depart from me, he that work iniquity." 00:21:04.89\00:21:10.63 In other words there are many people 00:21:10.67\00:21:13.70 who profess faith in Christ who are only professors. 00:21:13.74\00:21:18.54 Now remember, we can't judge, right? 00:21:18.57\00:21:22.08 We can't judge. 00:21:22.11\00:21:24.01 There are many people who are only professing 00:21:24.05\00:21:27.42 to take the name of Christian. 00:21:27.48\00:21:30.45 And these people are doing many wonderful works 00:21:30.49\00:21:33.82 but they are workers of iniquity. 00:21:33.86\00:21:35.29 You know what that means, workers of iniquity. 00:21:35.32\00:21:37.49 It means they're transgressing God's law. 00:21:37.53\00:21:40.26 They do many wonderful works 00:21:40.30\00:21:41.60 but they're transgressors of God's law, 00:21:41.63\00:21:43.30 and the reason they're transgressors of God's law 00:21:43.33\00:21:44.90 is because they don't really know Jesus 00:21:44.93\00:21:47.74 because the laws are transcript of His character. 00:21:47.77\00:21:50.44 They don't really know Jesus, they don't really understand 00:21:50.47\00:21:52.81 the words of Christ in John 14 when He said, 00:21:52.84\00:21:55.08 "If you love Me, keep My commandments." 00:21:55.11\00:21:59.15 They don't really get that. 00:21:59.18\00:22:00.72 What do they get? 00:22:05.22\00:22:07.16 Well, they get the idea that they should be in heaven 00:22:07.19\00:22:08.89 because of their works, that's what they get. 00:22:08.92\00:22:12.39 Let me in look at all the stuff I've done. 00:22:12.43\00:22:16.06 And so reason number two for the judgment 00:22:16.10\00:22:17.77 and this is really important. 00:22:17.80\00:22:19.47 We are not saved by our works, we're not saved by our works, 00:22:19.50\00:22:24.64 it doesn't matter how many wonderful things 00:22:24.67\00:22:26.01 you do for Jesus, you are lost, lost, lost 00:22:26.04\00:22:31.15 without the gift of salvation that comes solely from Him. 00:22:31.18\00:22:33.72 Amen. 00:22:33.78\00:22:35.72 Now reason number three is probably the most significant 00:22:35.75\00:22:39.09 so we'll spend the rest of the time on this one. 00:22:39.12\00:22:41.59 This third reason is found in the Book of Revelation 12:10. 00:22:41.62\00:22:46.09 Revelation 12:10, beautiful picture, 00:22:46.13\00:22:48.76 Revelation 12 of the whole great controversy 00:22:48.80\00:22:52.17 from beginning to end. 00:22:52.20\00:22:53.90 And the salvation that was wrought out 00:22:53.97\00:22:55.67 through Jesus Christ at the cross. 00:22:55.70\00:22:57.97 And then it produces this remnant people 00:22:58.01\00:23:00.28 who keep the commandments of God 00:23:00.31\00:23:01.81 and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:23:01.84\00:23:04.25 Revelation 12:10 says, 00:23:04.28\00:23:05.88 "And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, 00:23:05.91\00:23:08.05 'Now it's come salvation.' 00:23:08.08\00:23:09.68 Speaking of Calvary pointing to the cross and strength 00:23:09.72\00:23:12.59 and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ 00:23:12.62\00:23:15.19 for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them 00:23:15.22\00:23:20.50 before our God day and night." 00:23:20.53\00:23:24.57 Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 00:23:24.60\00:23:28.04 365 days a year, we have an accuser. 00:23:28.07\00:23:31.81 And he never takes a vacation, he never takes a holiday, 00:23:31.84\00:23:35.64 he doesn't observe the Fourth of July 00:23:35.68\00:23:38.28 or your birthday. 00:23:38.31\00:23:40.88 He's on the job all the time, accusing and condemning, 00:23:40.92\00:23:45.15 and accusing and condemning. 00:23:45.19\00:23:49.16 He leads us into sin and then he turns around 00:23:49.19\00:23:55.43 and accuses us for the very thing 00:23:55.46\00:23:57.20 he led us to do. 00:23:57.23\00:24:01.37 This work of Satan is also found 00:24:01.40\00:24:04.71 in the Old Testament, in the Book of Zechariah 3:1. 00:24:04.74\00:24:09.98 Zechariah 3:1, he showed me Joshua the high priest 00:24:10.05\00:24:12.58 standing before the angel of Lord 00:24:12.61\00:24:13.95 and Satan was standing at his right hand to resist him, 00:24:14.02\00:24:16.99 resisting, resisting, resisting. 00:24:17.02\00:24:19.59 Satan is resisting the salvation 00:24:19.62\00:24:21.02 that God has accomplished for us 00:24:21.06\00:24:22.39 in Jesus Christ, he's resisting. 00:24:22.42\00:24:25.96 He points to our failures and he's pointing to our sins 00:24:25.99\00:24:28.26 and he's pointing to our defects, 00:24:28.30\00:24:29.63 he's pointing to all of the things 00:24:29.66\00:24:32.63 that he knows about us, our entire history, 00:24:32.67\00:24:34.67 he is just bombarding us at times, 00:24:34.70\00:24:38.14 bombarding us with the idea that you might as well give up, 00:24:38.17\00:24:41.74 you're not going to make it. 00:24:41.78\00:24:43.65 You've been to this 3ABN camp meeting 00:24:43.71\00:24:45.15 but you're still thinking these negative evil thoughts. 00:24:45.18\00:24:48.25 You're still selfish, you're still un-Christ like, 00:24:48.28\00:24:51.22 you're still impatient. 00:24:51.25\00:24:53.52 Do you see the picture? 00:24:53.56\00:24:55.12 Because the investigative judgment is real 00:24:55.16\00:24:58.59 and it's happening now. 00:24:58.63\00:25:01.76 And soon, I don't know how soon it's gonna transfer 00:25:01.80\00:25:04.10 from the dead to the living. 00:25:04.17\00:25:06.84 And you're preparing for it right now. 00:25:06.87\00:25:08.57 The thoughts and the condemnation, 00:25:08.60\00:25:11.21 the guilt that Satan is trying to press upon you 00:25:11.24\00:25:14.08 is going to intensify as we enter into these end days. 00:25:14.11\00:25:18.68 We need an advocate and that advocate can't be, 00:25:18.71\00:25:21.68 "Oh, I go to church on the right day 00:25:21.72\00:25:23.22 and I believe the right doctrines, 00:25:23.25\00:25:24.59 and I pay tithes and I'm..." 00:25:24.62\00:25:25.95 That can't be our advocate. 00:25:25.99\00:25:28.39 Because the Bible says very clearly in Romans 3:10, 00:25:28.42\00:25:31.46 "As it is written there is none righteous, 00:25:31.49\00:25:33.93 know not one." 00:25:34.00\00:25:36.33 So Satan has a point. 00:25:36.36\00:25:38.37 And there's no way we can defend ourselves 00:25:38.40\00:25:40.10 from his accusations by heaping up good works. 00:25:40.14\00:25:43.41 We already saw that in Matthew 7:20-23, 00:25:43.47\00:25:45.87 it doesn't work. 00:25:45.91\00:25:49.61 Yet unworthy and unrighteous as we are, 00:25:49.64\00:25:53.88 we have one who speaks in our defense. 00:25:53.92\00:25:57.85 Amen. 00:25:57.89\00:25:59.25 1 John 2:1, "My dear children, 00:25:59.29\00:26:04.39 I write this to you so that you will not sin." 00:26:04.43\00:26:06.93 We'll get back to that point in just a second. 00:26:06.96\00:26:08.73 "But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks 00:26:08.76\00:26:11.87 to the Father in our defense Jesus Christ, 00:26:11.90\00:26:13.84 the righteous one." 00:26:13.87\00:26:15.24 That's the NIV. 00:26:15.27\00:26:17.41 I use that version every once in a while just for clarity, 00:26:17.44\00:26:21.24 but I still have my KJV, you understand. 00:26:21.28\00:26:25.41 Jesus speaking in our defense. 00:26:25.45\00:26:27.35 Now notice this, He doesn't want us to sin. 00:26:27.42\00:26:30.39 Why doesn't He want us to sin? 00:26:30.42\00:26:31.75 Because He knows the guilt and the shame 00:26:31.79\00:26:33.76 and the condemnation that sin brings. 00:26:33.79\00:26:35.12 He knows that we're just loading the weapon 00:26:35.16\00:26:37.23 of Satan against us, He knows that. 00:26:37.26\00:26:39.73 He doesn't want us to go through all that torment. 00:26:39.76\00:26:41.93 He wants us to be free from all that guilt. 00:26:41.96\00:26:45.47 You know how it is, you know how you feel. 00:26:45.50\00:26:49.27 But notice 00:26:49.30\00:26:51.44 and I think you should note this point with care 00:26:51.47\00:26:54.24 that Jesus speaks to the Father in our defense 00:26:54.28\00:26:57.75 from the context of what we read so far, 00:26:57.78\00:26:59.65 not because the Father is against us and Jesus is for us, 00:26:59.68\00:27:03.15 not because Jesus has to persuade 00:27:03.18\00:27:04.72 the Father to love us. 00:27:04.75\00:27:06.09 God so love the world, Jesus says, 00:27:06.12\00:27:08.29 "The Father himself," in John 16:27, 00:27:08.32\00:27:11.19 "The Father himself loves you." 00:27:11.23\00:27:12.93 What we've read here tells us that the reason 00:27:12.96\00:27:15.03 why Jesus speaks to the Father in our defense is because 00:27:15.06\00:27:17.47 we have an accuser 00:27:17.50\00:27:19.43 and Jesus is defending us before a righteous judge, 00:27:19.47\00:27:22.90 a just judge, a fair judge from that accuser. 00:27:22.94\00:27:28.31 He's standing in our defense 00:27:28.34\00:27:31.75 to withstand the accusations of Satan. 00:27:31.78\00:27:36.48 So what the accusations 00:27:36.52\00:27:37.85 does Satan have to do with judgment? 00:27:37.89\00:27:39.22 Well, everything really because see 00:27:39.25\00:27:40.59 rebellion began in heaven and Satan was cast out. 00:27:40.66\00:27:43.09 Now we don't know what God did, 00:27:43.12\00:27:44.46 we don't know the process God went through, 00:27:44.49\00:27:45.83 we don't know how hard He worked 00:27:45.86\00:27:48.23 and moved to draw Satan away from posse, 00:27:48.26\00:27:50.83 but eventually there was nothing else He could do 00:27:50.87\00:27:53.90 and Satan was kicked out 00:27:53.94\00:27:55.80 as a rebel against the law of God, 00:27:55.84\00:27:57.71 the foundation of his throne and character, 00:27:57.74\00:28:00.04 he was kicked out. 00:28:00.11\00:28:01.44 And he brought his deceptions, his misconceptions about God, 00:28:01.48\00:28:05.01 his misrepresentations of the character of God. 00:28:05.05\00:28:06.98 He brought them down to the earth 00:28:07.05\00:28:08.38 and he was able to deceive the woman. 00:28:08.42\00:28:11.55 God doesn't really love you, if He did, 00:28:11.59\00:28:15.49 He wouldn't restrict you from this tree. 00:28:15.52\00:28:17.36 He knows that if you eat this tree you'll be like Him, 00:28:17.39\00:28:19.29 He's withholding from you. 00:28:19.33\00:28:22.83 See it wasn't just about eating a piece of fruit, 00:28:22.86\00:28:25.73 that piece of fruit 00:28:25.77\00:28:27.67 and the taking of that piece of fruit 00:28:27.70\00:28:29.04 and eating that piece of fruit was assimilating 00:28:29.07\00:28:33.17 and accepting a distortion of the character of God. 00:28:33.21\00:28:38.58 That's the issue that God is seeking to correct. 00:28:38.61\00:28:42.72 The meeting we just had, Doug said 00:28:42.75\00:28:45.19 it was one of his favorites, I agree. 00:28:45.22\00:28:48.12 He is disarming the distortions of the character of God. 00:28:48.16\00:28:53.26 That's what the world needs, that's what we need, 00:28:53.29\00:28:54.66 we need to see what God is really like. 00:28:54.73\00:28:58.43 His character needs to be seen as it really is. 00:28:58.47\00:29:02.40 And that's why the hour of His judgment, 00:29:02.44\00:29:03.77 it's not just about us, it's about Him. 00:29:03.84\00:29:07.51 The hour of His judgment includes Him. 00:29:07.54\00:29:09.48 When Mary Magdalene poured that alabaster box of oil 00:29:09.51\00:29:14.92 upon Jesus' feet and began to wipe them 00:29:14.95\00:29:17.79 with the hair of her head, she was accused. 00:29:17.82\00:29:22.82 And do you remember what the accusation was? 00:29:22.86\00:29:27.40 This man if He were a prophet 00:29:27.46\00:29:31.80 would know what kind of woman she is, for she's a sinner. 00:29:31.83\00:29:35.57 Jesus was involved in the accusation 00:29:35.60\00:29:37.41 against the woman and Jesus is involved 00:29:37.44\00:29:39.44 in the accusation against us because He's saving us. 00:29:39.47\00:29:43.65 How can you save them? 00:29:43.68\00:29:45.08 You kicked me out of heaven for violating the law. 00:29:45.11\00:29:46.75 How can you save them? 00:29:46.82\00:29:48.52 That's not fair. 00:29:48.55\00:29:49.88 You're not being just, you're not being righteous God. 00:29:49.92\00:29:53.96 I love the story of Mary Magdalene because 00:29:53.99\00:29:56.52 when the accusations came, you know what Mary did? 00:29:56.56\00:29:58.99 She stood behind Jesus. 00:29:59.03\00:30:02.13 That's what the gospel said, she stood behind Jesus. 00:30:02.16\00:30:04.40 And then Jesus vindicated her, 00:30:04.43\00:30:06.70 Jesus defended her, leave her alone. 00:30:06.74\00:30:11.71 And Jesus said, whatever the gospel is preached 00:30:11.74\00:30:15.48 this also that this woman has done will be preached. 00:30:15.51\00:30:20.68 That's what we're doing tonight. 00:30:20.72\00:30:22.35 We're understanding the story of judgment 00:30:22.38\00:30:25.79 in the context of the gospel in the heart of God. 00:30:25.82\00:30:29.62 And His desire to vindicate us 00:30:29.66\00:30:32.13 because we can't vindicate ourselves, 00:30:32.16\00:30:34.36 no matter how good we become. 00:30:34.40\00:30:37.00 No matter how many veggie links we eat 00:30:37.03\00:30:39.07 and how much soy milk we drink. 00:30:39.10\00:30:42.17 It's true. 00:30:42.20\00:30:43.74 I prefer rice milk personally. 00:30:43.77\00:30:46.74 I guess I need to tell 3ABN that. 00:30:46.81\00:30:50.88 The next time they invite me to camp meeting. 00:30:50.91\00:30:52.78 So when man sinned, God had one or two choices, 00:30:57.25\00:31:00.76 either allow justice to be visited on men 00:31:00.79\00:31:04.93 for breaking His commandments and end it 00:31:04.96\00:31:07.50 or God could do away with His law and His justice 00:31:07.50\00:31:11.80 and sinners live as they please. 00:31:11.83\00:31:15.90 The second option wasn't a real option, 00:31:15.94\00:31:18.27 you understand. 00:31:18.31\00:31:20.08 He chose the first one but He immediately implemented 00:31:20.14\00:31:24.95 the plan of salvation and the second Adam, 00:31:24.98\00:31:28.02 the new head of the race was promised 00:31:28.05\00:31:30.85 and he would be the man that would receive the justice. 00:31:30.89\00:31:35.26 He would be the one upon which our sins 00:31:35.29\00:31:39.09 and our guilt was served. 00:31:39.13\00:31:41.96 Romans 3, again the NIV, verses 25 and 26 say this, 00:31:42.00\00:31:48.74 "God presented him, Jesus, as a sacrifice of atonement 00:31:48.77\00:31:51.97 through faith in His blood, 00:31:52.01\00:31:53.34 He did this to demonstrate His justice." 00:31:53.41\00:31:57.28 What? 00:31:57.31\00:31:59.08 He did this to demonstrate His justice, why? 00:31:59.11\00:32:01.25 Why did God need to demonstrate His justice? 00:32:01.28\00:32:03.15 Because in the controversy, Satan was accusing God, 00:32:03.18\00:32:06.19 that's not fair, that's not just, 00:32:06.22\00:32:07.92 that's not fair, that's not just. 00:32:07.96\00:32:09.79 And so God did this to demonstrate His justice 00:32:09.82\00:32:11.83 because notice this, in His forbearance 00:32:11.86\00:32:15.26 He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. 00:32:15.30\00:32:19.43 You realize that from Adam and Eve 00:32:19.47\00:32:21.00 all the way down through time 00:32:21.04\00:32:24.07 that God has left sin unpunished. 00:32:24.11\00:32:28.04 Now I'm saying that in the light of the sermon 00:32:28.08\00:32:30.21 that was just preached where illustrations were used 00:32:30.25\00:32:32.45 like Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:32:32.48\00:32:34.68 But I want to remind you here this evening 00:32:34.72\00:32:37.59 that the destruction that took place 00:32:37.62\00:32:41.59 upon Sodom and Gomorra 00:32:41.62\00:32:43.22 though it was the type of the final destruction, 00:32:43.26\00:32:47.13 was not punishment for their sin 00:32:47.20\00:32:49.70 in the fullest sense. 00:32:49.73\00:32:54.44 Those people will be resurrected. 00:32:54.47\00:32:58.07 You following me? They will be resurrected. 00:32:58.11\00:33:01.51 God has never fully punished sin 00:33:01.54\00:33:05.28 except in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:33:05.31\00:33:10.19 And that is the gospel. 00:33:10.22\00:33:13.25 It's an amazing revelation. 00:33:13.29\00:33:16.76 As Steve said today in that powerful message, 00:33:16.83\00:33:20.00 the finger that wrote the Ten Commandments 00:33:20.03\00:33:25.30 was also on the hand that was nailed to the cross. 00:33:25.33\00:33:29.44 That was such a powerful message. 00:33:29.47\00:33:31.74 Praise God. 00:33:31.77\00:33:33.17 He did this to demonstrate His justice 00:33:33.21\00:33:34.78 because in His forbearance He left the sins 00:33:34.81\00:33:37.21 committed beforehand unpunished. 00:33:37.25\00:33:38.58 He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time 00:33:38.61\00:33:41.42 so as to be just and the one who justifies those 00:33:41.45\00:33:45.35 who had faith in Jesus. 00:33:45.39\00:33:47.26 God is fair, God is just, God is merciful 00:33:47.32\00:33:49.76 and in the cross mercy and justice meet together. 00:33:49.79\00:33:55.96 Righteousness and peace kiss each other. 00:33:56.00\00:33:59.60 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound 00:33:59.63\00:34:01.80 that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost 00:34:01.84\00:34:04.31 but now I'm found, was blind but now I see, now I see. 00:34:04.34\00:34:09.71 The cross has answered the accusations of Satan 00:34:09.74\00:34:13.52 once and for all. 00:34:13.55\00:34:15.35 God is just and God is merciful. 00:34:15.38\00:34:18.32 And you look at the cross and that's what you see, 00:34:18.35\00:34:20.79 you see them blended together as one 00:34:20.86\00:34:23.66 and they cannot be separated, don't separate them, 00:34:23.73\00:34:26.56 that's what Satan's been trying to do, 00:34:26.59\00:34:27.93 you can't separate them. 00:34:27.96\00:34:29.33 You can't separate the Old and New Testament. 00:34:29.36\00:34:30.97 Some people say the Old Testament 00:34:31.00\00:34:32.33 is full of God of justice. 00:34:32.37\00:34:35.04 And the New Testament is full of God of mercy. 00:34:35.07\00:34:39.14 And they're one. 00:34:39.17\00:34:40.98 And the God of the Old Testament 00:34:41.01\00:34:42.34 is Jesus Christ. 00:34:42.38\00:34:44.61 And the God of the New Testament 00:34:44.65\00:34:45.98 is Jesus Christ. 00:34:46.01\00:34:49.58 And, of course, the Father and the Holy Spirit. 00:34:49.62\00:34:52.72 So in giving His son to pay the price for our sins, 00:34:52.75\00:34:56.29 God has demonstrated that He's just and merciful. 00:34:56.32\00:35:01.06 Psalms 85:10 says that mercy and truth 00:35:01.10\00:35:03.10 have met together and righteousness and peace 00:35:03.13\00:35:04.97 have kissed each other, they've reconciled once again. 00:35:05.00\00:35:09.90 God has been faithful to the principles of justice 00:35:09.94\00:35:12.11 and at the same time He has poured upon the world 00:35:12.14\00:35:15.41 abundant mercy, 00:35:15.44\00:35:17.15 yet Satan still accuses God of being unfair. 00:35:17.18\00:35:20.32 How could you let them be saved? 00:35:20.35\00:35:22.08 They're sinners, they've broken Your law, 00:35:22.12\00:35:24.45 they deserve to die. 00:35:24.49\00:35:25.82 Now these accusations come to all of us. 00:35:25.85\00:35:28.06 The Bible tells us in Revelation 12:10 00:35:28.09\00:35:32.93 and in John 12:31, 32 that these accusations 00:35:32.96\00:35:37.37 no longer have weight in heaven. 00:35:37.43\00:35:39.63 He's been cast out, 00:35:39.67\00:35:41.44 there were questions in the minds 00:35:41.47\00:35:42.80 of the unfallen universe but no more, they see it. 00:35:42.84\00:35:45.21 When the cross was manifested, 00:35:45.24\00:35:49.38 they saw Satan who he really was 00:35:49.41\00:35:50.95 and the disguise was taken away. 00:35:50.98\00:35:54.52 But the world hasn't seen it yet. 00:35:54.55\00:35:57.29 We have a message to proclaim to the world 00:35:57.35\00:35:59.52 that is to reveal the true heart 00:35:59.55\00:36:01.96 and character of God, His justice and His mercy. 00:36:01.99\00:36:05.76 And until then Satan still has a foothold 00:36:05.79\00:36:08.03 in the minds of mankind and this is why 00:36:08.06\00:36:10.90 he's come down to the earth with great power. 00:36:10.97\00:36:13.34 He knows his time is short and he's to block us, 00:36:13.37\00:36:17.21 he's to send his distractions like the frogs of Egypt, 00:36:17.24\00:36:19.77 they need to be in our bedrooms, 00:36:19.81\00:36:21.14 in our kitchens and in our bathrooms, 00:36:21.18\00:36:22.71 they need to be everywhere, 00:36:22.74\00:36:24.08 we need to be distracted from these truths, 00:36:24.15\00:36:25.61 these beautiful truths that set us free. 00:36:25.65\00:36:28.05 And then as we're set free, God uses us as channels 00:36:28.08\00:36:31.62 to set others free. 00:36:31.65\00:36:33.66 So Satan is doing everything he can to distract us. 00:36:33.69\00:36:36.56 So we will not understand this beautiful message 00:36:36.59\00:36:39.69 of salvation. 00:36:39.73\00:36:41.80 Satan comes to accuse. 00:36:41.83\00:36:43.53 And you know how it is, you know how you feel. 00:36:43.57\00:36:47.50 You know the condemnation the guilt 00:36:47.54\00:36:49.07 presses upon your shoulders. 00:36:49.10\00:36:51.87 The Book of Isaiah communicates 00:36:51.91\00:36:54.14 the awesome truth of this gospel message 00:36:54.18\00:36:57.31 in these beautiful words. 00:36:57.35\00:36:58.68 Here they are, Isaiah 54:17, 00:36:58.71\00:37:01.48 "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper. 00:37:01.52\00:37:05.92 And every tongue that rises against the in judgment 00:37:05.95\00:37:10.86 thou shalt condemn." 00:37:10.89\00:37:12.36 This is the heritage, 00:37:12.39\00:37:15.83 do you know what that word means, heritage? 00:37:15.86\00:37:18.90 Give me another word. The inheritance. 00:37:18.93\00:37:22.00 This is your inheritance, this is the heritage, 00:37:22.04\00:37:24.31 this is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord 00:37:24.34\00:37:26.54 and their righteousness is of me saith the Lord. 00:37:26.57\00:37:30.98 Our righteousness is Jesus Christ. 00:37:31.01\00:37:34.55 And we get that righteousness as an inheritance. 00:37:34.58\00:37:37.39 And because we have His righteousness, 00:37:37.42\00:37:39.79 no tongue is formed us against us 00:37:39.82\00:37:41.16 in the judgment is gonna prosper, 00:37:41.19\00:37:43.06 all the weapons are gonna be destroyed. 00:37:43.09\00:37:44.79 That's why judgment takes place before probation closes. 00:37:44.83\00:37:50.43 'Cause after probation closes, there's no more mediation. 00:37:50.47\00:37:52.77 And in order for us to get through the judgment, 00:37:52.80\00:37:54.40 guess what we need? 00:37:54.44\00:37:56.71 A mediator. 00:37:56.77\00:37:58.61 An advocate. 00:37:58.64\00:38:01.01 Jesus is our defender and He defends us 00:38:01.04\00:38:03.71 with His righteousness. 00:38:03.78\00:38:05.11 He opposes the tongue, the railing tongue of Satan 00:38:05.15\00:38:07.28 and his cohorts, be they men or demons. 00:38:07.35\00:38:11.39 By the fact that he died for us, 00:38:11.42\00:38:14.29 God is merciful, God is just. 00:38:14.32\00:38:16.12 He's going to allow everything to be hurt. 00:38:16.16\00:38:19.03 But he's not really going to trust Satan's record. 00:38:19.06\00:38:23.60 So God keeps a record. 00:38:23.67\00:38:27.44 He keeps an account 00:38:27.47\00:38:30.01 because he wants to be faithful to us 00:38:30.04\00:38:34.41 in advocating and vindicating us 00:38:34.44\00:38:36.58 from Satan's accusations. 00:38:36.61\00:38:38.51 So He keeps an account. 00:38:38.55\00:38:41.65 And in His advocacy He includes not only us 00:38:41.68\00:38:47.99 but the entire world. 00:38:48.02\00:38:51.56 The Bible says in 1 Peter 5:8, "The Satan goes about 00:38:51.59\00:38:53.83 like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour." 00:38:53.90\00:38:57.13 He's seeking to destroy and devour. 00:38:57.17\00:38:58.57 And so we need 'cause that's what John 10:10 says, 00:38:58.60\00:39:01.57 he came to do nothing but to kill and destroy. 00:39:01.60\00:39:04.67 So we need an advocate. 00:39:04.71\00:39:07.51 We need an advocate, but guess who else needs an advocate? 00:39:07.54\00:39:11.25 The entire world. 00:39:11.28\00:39:13.95 Look at these verses with me again 00:39:13.98\00:39:15.32 because they're really powerful. 00:39:15.35\00:39:16.69 1 John 2, we didn't actually read 00:39:16.72\00:39:18.05 verse 2, we just read verse 1, 00:39:18.09\00:39:19.42 but we're gonna read in both now. 00:39:19.45\00:39:20.79 "My little children these things 00:39:20.82\00:39:22.16 that I write unto you that you sin not. 00:39:22.19\00:39:24.79 And if any man sin we have an advocate 00:39:24.83\00:39:26.76 with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 00:39:26.83\00:39:30.57 Here's the next verse, verse 2. 00:39:30.60\00:39:32.20 "And He is the propitiation, the atonement. 00:39:32.23\00:39:36.57 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 00:39:36.60\00:39:40.68 But not for ours only. 00:39:40.71\00:39:43.85 Are you still with me? But not for ours only. 00:39:43.88\00:39:48.82 But also for the sins of the whole world. 00:39:48.85\00:39:52.85 You see it's only sacrifice, He's the propitiation, 00:39:52.89\00:39:54.76 He's the advocate, He's the defender 00:39:54.79\00:39:56.96 for the sins of the whole world. 00:39:57.03\00:39:59.16 This is global mediation. 00:39:59.19\00:40:01.73 That's why God ask Christians to mediate for all men, 00:40:01.76\00:40:05.87 for kings, politicians. 00:40:05.90\00:40:10.77 Can I divert here for just a second? 00:40:10.81\00:40:13.68 Without talking about 00:40:13.74\00:40:15.61 whether you're a democrat or republican? 00:40:15.64\00:40:18.11 And tell you right now 00:40:18.15\00:40:21.42 that if you're not praying for the president 00:40:21.45\00:40:23.99 it's because you've been poisoned by the media 00:40:24.05\00:40:26.55 and not instructed by God. 00:40:26.59\00:40:31.19 Even if that president 00:40:31.23\00:40:33.16 would have been Hillary Clinton. 00:40:33.19\00:40:35.66 Our orders come from heaven 00:40:35.70\00:40:37.77 and heaven says in 1 Timothy 2:1, 00:40:37.80\00:40:40.87 "Pray for all men, for kings and those are in authority." 00:40:40.90\00:40:44.44 That's our work, that's our job. 00:40:44.47\00:40:46.17 Those are orders. We're ambassadors for Christ. 00:40:46.21\00:40:49.31 Oh, there are some wicked men out there. 00:40:49.34\00:40:52.18 When Paul wrote that 00:40:52.21\00:40:54.15 he was about ready to be beheaded by Nero. 00:40:54.18\00:40:58.32 Think about it. 00:40:58.35\00:41:00.36 Because if we're not ready, if we're not ready 00:41:00.39\00:41:02.76 to occupy this position is because 00:41:02.79\00:41:05.16 we've been poisoned by the media. 00:41:05.19\00:41:07.66 We need to step out of the world, friends, 00:41:07.73\00:41:09.10 we've got to step out of the world. 00:41:09.13\00:41:10.53 You're gonna have to shut off the news. 00:41:10.57\00:41:12.00 A lot of people tell me, I don't watch TV, 00:41:12.03\00:41:13.40 I just watch the news. 00:41:13.44\00:41:16.47 I think there's some programming on TV 00:41:16.50\00:41:18.21 I'd rather have you watch than the news. 00:41:18.24\00:41:21.58 Because it's just mind control nowadays, 00:41:21.61\00:41:23.18 it's just telling you what to think 00:41:23.21\00:41:24.55 and what to believe and how to act to shut it off. 00:41:24.58\00:41:27.65 Your orders come from heaven. 00:41:27.68\00:41:31.49 That's why God calls us to pray for these, 00:41:31.52\00:41:33.56 for these kings and for those in authority, 00:41:33.62\00:41:35.56 pray for our enemies he says in Matthew 5. 00:41:35.59\00:41:37.79 Pray for your enemies. 00:41:37.83\00:41:40.36 In 1 John, he says we need to intercede, 1 John 5, 00:41:40.40\00:41:44.23 you see any man sin we need to pray for them too, 00:41:44.27\00:41:46.37 the God would give him life for those that sin 00:41:46.40\00:41:48.07 not unto death, there's a sin unto death, 00:41:48.10\00:41:49.54 don't pray for that. 00:41:49.57\00:41:53.41 This is powerful when you think about it. 00:41:53.44\00:41:56.24 Jesus Christ is our advocate in the judgment 00:41:56.28\00:41:59.38 and He wants us to come into the judgment 00:41:59.41\00:42:00.82 with boldness, with boldness. 00:42:00.85\00:42:03.28 That's what it says in 1 John. 00:42:03.32\00:42:06.86 You know the verse I'm talking about, 00:42:06.89\00:42:08.26 1 John 4:14, 16, 17. 00:42:08.29\00:42:10.93 We have and we have seen and we do testify 00:42:10.96\00:42:13.90 that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. 00:42:13.93\00:42:16.93 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us, 00:42:16.97\00:42:19.77 God is love and He that dwells in love dwells in God 00:42:19.80\00:42:25.01 and God in Him. 00:42:25.04\00:42:26.64 Here in is our love made perfect 00:42:26.68\00:42:28.58 that we may have what? 00:42:28.61\00:42:30.45 Boldness in the day of judgment. 00:42:30.51\00:42:33.38 Why? 00:42:33.42\00:42:34.75 Because as He is so are we in this world. 00:42:34.78\00:42:37.59 Well, how is He? How is Jesus? 00:42:37.62\00:42:38.95 Well, Jesus is perfect, Jesus is sinless, 00:42:38.99\00:42:42.26 Jesus is righteous. 00:42:42.29\00:42:43.89 As He is so are we in this world 00:42:43.93\00:42:46.29 because we have Jesus, we have boldness. 00:42:46.33\00:42:49.80 You don't have to be scared of the judgment, 00:42:49.83\00:42:51.63 you have to begin, but the Bible says he was for, 00:42:51.67\00:42:54.07 come boldly to the throne of God. 00:42:54.10\00:42:56.04 You're gonna receive help and grace in time of meet, 00:42:56.07\00:42:59.04 once you just got it. 00:42:59.07\00:43:00.48 This is good news of the highest ordain. 00:43:05.88\00:43:07.68 I remember I'm in a Bible study with these two, 00:43:07.72\00:43:09.32 these two young people, right? 00:43:09.35\00:43:10.79 I'm having a Bible study with them. 00:43:10.82\00:43:12.32 So at this point I say, I want to give you an illustration, 00:43:12.35\00:43:15.02 I want to give you an illustration 00:43:15.06\00:43:16.39 of how the investigative judgment works. 00:43:16.42\00:43:18.63 Young man raised in a godly home 00:43:18.66\00:43:22.76 through his teenage years, even gets baptized. 00:43:22.80\00:43:27.00 And then as he gets later into his teenage years 00:43:27.04\00:43:29.64 he gets around with the wrong crowd, 00:43:29.67\00:43:32.01 some of his friends are going the wrong way, 00:43:32.04\00:43:33.54 he gets caught up in that. 00:43:33.58\00:43:34.91 And one thing leads to another and pretty soon 00:43:34.94\00:43:37.01 the guy is not only out but he is committing crimes 00:43:37.05\00:43:43.75 that eventually lead him to death row. 00:43:43.79\00:43:47.16 By the way what I'm telling you right now 00:43:47.22\00:43:50.39 is a true story. 00:43:50.43\00:43:53.50 It's a true story. 00:43:53.56\00:43:55.43 Perhaps it's happened more than once 00:43:55.46\00:43:56.80 but I know of this one time. 00:43:56.83\00:44:01.10 The young man dies, 00:44:01.14\00:44:04.37 now because at one time in his life he believed in God, 00:44:04.41\00:44:10.75 his name comes up in the judgment. 00:44:10.78\00:44:14.95 Perhaps it's already come up, I don't know. 00:44:14.98\00:44:17.39 And because he's dead and the time has come 00:44:17.42\00:44:20.46 for judgment to begin in the house of God, 00:44:20.49\00:44:21.82 it begins with the dead. 00:44:21.86\00:44:23.19 And when his name comes up the record, 00:44:23.22\00:44:25.39 now think about this, Satan is that he's less like, 00:44:25.43\00:44:28.33 he's mine, he's mine, he's mine. 00:44:28.36\00:44:30.67 The angels are like, well, wait a minute, you know, 00:44:30.73\00:44:32.07 early because they've got the record. 00:44:32.10\00:44:33.44 That you can't trust Satan's record, 00:44:33.47\00:44:34.80 God doesn't trust Satan's record, 00:44:34.84\00:44:36.17 you know that, right? 00:44:36.20\00:44:37.54 God's got a record, we think, "Oh, God, 00:44:37.57\00:44:38.91 He could track of everything because He's really, 00:44:38.94\00:44:40.58 you know," no, no, want to wait a minute, 00:44:40.64\00:44:42.34 God loves us. 00:44:42.38\00:44:43.95 He's keeping track of everything 00:44:44.01\00:44:45.35 because He wants to vindicate us. 00:44:45.38\00:44:47.28 And He's not trusting Satan's record. 00:44:47.32\00:44:50.15 So his life comes up, page after page turns 00:44:50.19\00:44:54.22 and it gets darker and darker and darker 00:44:54.26\00:44:56.36 and Christ is the advocate, you can't have him, 00:44:56.39\00:44:58.23 you can't have him, you can't have him, 00:44:58.26\00:44:59.59 wait, wait, wait. 00:44:59.63\00:45:01.03 Wait, back up, Satan. 00:45:01.06\00:45:04.17 Gets the last day. 00:45:04.20\00:45:07.77 It's looking pretty bleak. 00:45:07.80\00:45:09.84 The last hour. 00:45:09.87\00:45:11.94 Still dark, the last moment of his life. 00:45:11.97\00:45:17.75 Jesus says, is there anything the angels are looking, 00:45:17.78\00:45:20.55 looking, looking, they come down to the very end 00:45:20.62\00:45:23.15 and one of the angel says, "Well, 00:45:23.18\00:45:25.25 at the very end of his life he did say, 00:45:25.29\00:45:30.36 'Father, no, Lord, remember me 00:45:30.43\00:45:36.10 when you come into your kingdom.'" 00:45:36.13\00:45:38.73 I told you it was a true story. 00:45:38.77\00:45:43.67 And Jesus said, "Good enough, he's in." 00:45:43.71\00:45:47.81 And we know that, don't we? We know that. 00:45:47.84\00:45:50.71 Because Jesus said to the thief on the cross, 00:45:50.75\00:45:54.78 "Today, I promise you, 00:45:54.82\00:45:57.99 you will be with Me in paradise." 00:45:58.02\00:45:59.35 Amen. 00:45:59.39\00:46:00.79 And that is the investigative judgment in a nutshell. 00:46:00.82\00:46:03.76 In a nutshell. That's it. 00:46:03.79\00:46:06.23 Christ will vindicate us when we put our trust in Him. 00:46:06.26\00:46:12.27 And I'm sharing the story with this couple, 00:46:12.30\00:46:14.27 I'm telling them, point by point by point 00:46:14.30\00:46:17.94 how the investigative judgment works 00:46:17.97\00:46:19.41 and why it's the best news on the planet. 00:46:19.44\00:46:21.91 I'm explaining to them that that when I was a young man 00:46:21.94\00:46:25.28 and I lived in England that I really wanted a bike, 00:46:25.31\00:46:27.42 my best friend had a bike and I wanted a bike 00:46:27.45\00:46:30.02 but my mom said, "We're moving to America 00:46:30.09\00:46:32.09 and I don't want to get you a bike 00:46:32.12\00:46:33.46 because we'll have to leave it here." 00:46:33.49\00:46:34.82 And so we moved to America, and we got to America 00:46:34.86\00:46:36.46 things weren't as easy as they had been in England. 00:46:36.49\00:46:39.06 So my mom couldn't buy me a bike right away, 00:46:39.09\00:46:41.10 I still wanted one, you know as a kid 00:46:41.13\00:46:42.50 I'm still kind of bugging her but we moved 00:46:42.53\00:46:44.63 from place to place, we finally settled down. 00:46:44.67\00:46:46.07 I got myself a paper out and I was able to get a bike. 00:46:46.10\00:46:48.14 And when I got that bike, 00:46:48.17\00:46:49.50 that bike went with me everywhere. 00:46:49.54\00:46:51.84 I slept with that bike, I ate with that bike. 00:46:51.87\00:46:54.14 It was in my bedroom at night. 00:46:54.18\00:46:56.38 And I rode that bike, 00:46:56.41\00:46:57.75 it was me and the bike and the bike and me. 00:46:57.78\00:46:59.11 And pretty soon some of the parts of that bike 00:46:59.15\00:47:01.45 need to be replaced, one of the pedals 00:47:01.48\00:47:02.85 kind of broken, there was a few bolts 00:47:02.88\00:47:04.22 that got loose and got lost. 00:47:04.25\00:47:05.59 So I went with my paper out money, 00:47:05.62\00:47:06.99 I went to Sears Roebuck to buy me the parts 00:47:07.02\00:47:10.69 that I needed but I realized in short order 00:47:10.76\00:47:13.16 when I got there that I didn't have enough money 00:47:13.19\00:47:15.00 to buy everything that I wanted 00:47:15.03\00:47:16.36 but being a young man I wanted to get everything 00:47:16.40\00:47:18.90 right then and there. 00:47:18.93\00:47:20.27 I want to get the job done now. 00:47:20.34\00:47:22.47 So I came up with an idea. 00:47:22.50\00:47:24.91 Never done it before my life but I decided 00:47:24.94\00:47:28.01 since I was buying some of the parts 00:47:28.04\00:47:31.15 that I could get away with stealing the rest. 00:47:31.18\00:47:34.42 Because I'd never done it before I was really nervous. 00:47:34.45\00:47:38.49 So I spent quite a bit of time casing out the joint, 00:47:38.52\00:47:42.12 you know, walking up and down the aisles 00:47:42.16\00:47:44.53 making sure people weren't looking at me, 00:47:44.56\00:47:46.16 I was nervous, I was... 00:47:46.19\00:47:48.06 And I imagine that those department guys 00:47:48.10\00:47:50.73 looked at me and thought if anyone's 00:47:50.77\00:47:52.10 gonna steal something this kid is. 00:47:52.13\00:47:55.87 Went to the counter after I stuffed the stuff 00:47:55.90\00:47:58.47 in my coat pocket, paid for my goods, 00:47:58.51\00:48:02.68 started walking out the door and I heard this voice, 00:48:02.71\00:48:04.61 "Young man." 00:48:04.65\00:48:07.65 I ignored it pretended they were talking 00:48:07.68\00:48:09.02 to somebody else, proceeded out the door 00:48:09.05\00:48:11.55 and then I felt a hand on my shoulder. 00:48:11.59\00:48:13.12 Went into the back room in tears. 00:48:18.69\00:48:22.16 Then they called my mom and I really started crying. 00:48:22.20\00:48:25.53 Single parent mother. 00:48:25.57\00:48:27.90 That wasn't gonna work. 00:48:27.94\00:48:29.90 But that was what? 00:48:29.94\00:48:33.78 Forty years ago? 00:48:33.81\00:48:35.44 Has it been that long? 00:48:35.48\00:48:36.85 I was baptized since then, 00:48:36.88\00:48:38.21 accept the Christ as my Savior, 00:48:38.25\00:48:39.58 my sins have been cast in the depths of the sea. 00:48:39.61\00:48:41.52 Surely, they're not gonna come up in the judgment. 00:48:41.55\00:48:45.55 What does the Bible say? 00:48:45.59\00:48:48.66 Every work, whether it's good or evil, why? 00:48:48.69\00:48:52.79 Why? 00:48:52.83\00:48:54.20 Because we have an accuser in the judgment 00:48:54.20\00:48:57.47 and he's going to bring up the entire history 00:48:57.53\00:49:00.10 everything he can against us, 00:49:00.17\00:49:02.80 because he's trying to convince you and me 00:49:02.84\00:49:06.14 that there's no hope for us. 00:49:06.17\00:49:08.44 I don't know if you've experienced this 00:49:08.48\00:49:09.81 but there are times when you're gonna be 00:49:09.84\00:49:12.48 confronted with sins that you thought were forgiven 00:49:12.51\00:49:16.45 and forgotten a long time ago. 00:49:16.48\00:49:18.19 And you're gonna feel guilt over them, 00:49:18.22\00:49:19.55 you're gonna struggle over them. 00:49:19.59\00:49:22.09 But praise God, we have an advocate. 00:49:22.12\00:49:24.56 Amen. 00:49:24.59\00:49:25.93 Do not, do not let go 00:49:25.96\00:49:30.80 of your trust in Him. 00:49:30.87\00:49:33.84 So we finished 00:49:33.87\00:49:35.67 and the young lady was crying, weeping, 00:49:35.70\00:49:38.74 I said, "What's wrong?" 00:49:38.77\00:49:40.91 "I don't want to become an Adventist." 00:49:40.98\00:49:45.31 I said, "What do you mean?" 00:49:45.35\00:49:50.39 She said, "I was raised a Christian, 00:49:50.42\00:49:51.89 I was raised in a Christian home, 00:49:51.92\00:49:53.25 I was raised loving God, 00:49:53.29\00:49:54.62 I went to school with people who love the Lord. 00:49:54.66\00:49:55.99 We praise God, we're just like on fire. 00:49:56.02\00:49:57.83 He an Adventist 00:49:57.86\00:50:02.10 and his friends they go to Nevada 00:50:02.13\00:50:04.27 and they gamble all the time, they drink, 00:50:04.30\00:50:08.57 they do all kinds of stuff and then they want me 00:50:08.60\00:50:10.37 to go to church with them on Sabbath." 00:50:10.41\00:50:12.17 She said, "I'm afraid if I become an Adventist." 00:50:12.21\00:50:14.88 The guy squirming in his seat right now you understand. 00:50:14.91\00:50:17.31 "I'm afraid if I become Adventist, 00:50:17.35\00:50:18.68 I'm gonna become like him." 00:50:18.71\00:50:22.88 Do you get it? 00:50:22.92\00:50:24.79 You see where we are and where we need to be? 00:50:24.82\00:50:28.39 I said to that young lady, I said, 00:50:28.42\00:50:31.16 "Do not reject biblical truth 00:50:31.19\00:50:34.10 because we are failing to live that truth." 00:50:34.13\00:50:39.43 God does not now want to bring a lot of people in the church 00:50:39.47\00:50:41.30 because they would stumble of our backslidings 00:50:41.34\00:50:43.54 but I want to praise God. 00:50:43.57\00:50:45.57 No one who places their trust in the Lamb 00:50:45.61\00:50:47.51 needs to fear the judgment because the judgment 00:50:47.54\00:50:50.01 will bring an end to Satan's accusations. 00:50:50.08\00:50:53.01 So how many of you this evening want to say with me, 00:50:53.05\00:50:56.85 God investigate me. 00:50:56.92\00:51:00.19 Open my record, vindicate me 00:51:00.26\00:51:02.69 before the accusations of the enemy, 00:51:02.72\00:51:04.53 deliver me to me my inheritance, 00:51:04.56\00:51:07.83 the righteousness of Jesus Christ 00:51:07.86\00:51:09.16 and silence the accuser on my behalf. 00:51:09.20\00:51:11.77 If you want to say yes to that, please, 00:51:11.80\00:51:13.64 please raise your hand. 00:51:13.70\00:51:15.10 Praise God. God sees every hand. 00:51:15.14\00:51:16.97 Father in heaven, we're thankful this evening 00:51:17.01\00:51:20.04 for the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 00:51:20.08\00:51:21.48 We're thankful for the message of the judgment. 00:51:21.51\00:51:23.18 We're thankful that You are going to vindicate us 00:51:23.21\00:51:25.61 from the accusations of Satan. 00:51:25.65\00:51:26.98 We're thankful that we depend on Jesus 00:51:27.02\00:51:28.88 and not on ourselves. 00:51:28.92\00:51:30.25 We're thankful that we can have boldness 00:51:30.29\00:51:31.62 in this day of judgment. 00:51:31.65\00:51:32.99 We're thankful that even though we're judged by our works 00:51:33.02\00:51:35.72 because our works testify as to what we've done to Jesus, 00:51:35.76\00:51:39.39 what we've done with Jesus, 00:51:39.43\00:51:40.76 what we've done in responding to Him 00:51:40.80\00:51:42.93 that we are saved by grace. 00:51:42.96\00:51:45.73 And Father calls us to be saved by grace. 00:51:45.77\00:51:49.60 So that when those works appear the first one that appears 00:51:49.64\00:51:54.01 is that we believe with all our heart, mind and soul 00:51:54.04\00:51:57.28 on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:51:57.31\00:51:58.81 Father we pray this in His name and that everyone say, amen. 00:51:58.85\00:52:02.45 Amen. 00:52:02.48\00:52:05.42 Thank you. Amen. 00:52:05.45\00:52:07.92 Praise God. 00:52:07.96\00:52:09.29 Praise the Lord 00:53:07.92\00:53:14.06 From whom all blessings flow 00:53:14.09\00:53:20.83 For He has washed 00:53:20.90\00:53:26.84 And made me white 00:53:26.90\00:53:31.97 As snow 00:53:32.01\00:53:35.68 I'm redeemed 00:53:35.71\00:53:41.68 From all my sin and shame 00:53:41.72\00:53:48.32 For now and forever 00:53:48.36\00:53:56.26 Praise His holy name 00:53:56.30\00:54:03.54 Praise His holy name 00:54:03.61\00:54:10.55 Praise His holy name 00:54:10.58\00:54:17.12 To God be the glory 00:54:17.19\00:54:21.02 Now and forever 00:54:21.06\00:54:24.73 Praise His holy name 00:54:24.76\00:54:31.97 God is great 00:54:53.86\00:54:59.76 And greatly to be praised 00:54:59.79\00:55:06.77 Above all others 00:55:06.84\00:55:14.31 Let His name be raised 00:55:14.34\00:55:21.42 Saints and angels 00:55:21.45\00:55:28.46 Ever more proclaim 00:55:28.49\00:55:34.10 That He alone is worthy 00:55:34.10\00:55:41.90 Praise His holy name 00:55:41.94\00:55:48.61 Praise His holy name 00:55:48.64\00:55:55.52 Praise His holy name 00:55:55.55\00:56:02.19 To God be the glory 00:56:02.22\00:56:06.26 Now and forever 00:56:06.29\00:56:09.33 Praise His holy name 00:56:09.36\00:56:16.50 Praise His holy name 00:56:16.54\00:56:23.85 Praise His holy name 00:56:23.88\00:56:30.39 To God be the glory To God be the glory 00:56:30.42\00:56:37.16 To God be the glory 00:56:37.23\00:56:41.10 To God be the glory 00:56:44.33\00:56:48.47 Now and forever 00:56:48.50\00:56:54.14 Praise His holy name 00:56:58.85\00:57:06.49 Praise His name 00:57:16.23\00:57:22.97 Praise His name 00:57:23.00\00:57:27.81 To God be the glory 00:57:31.55\00:57:35.85 Now and forever 00:57:35.88\00:57:39.65 Praise His 00:57:39.69\00:57:43.32 Holy name 00:57:43.36\00:57:50.33