Participants: Pr. John Lomacang
Series Code: ASHF
Program Code: ASHF000038
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00:19 Hello, friends, and welcome to another Wednesday night
00:21 Sharper Focus Bible study here in Thompsonville, Illinois 00:25 at the 3ABN Worship Center. 00:26 Thank you for tuning in, and by the way 00:28 Happy New Year to those of you 00:29 who are joining us for the first time in 2013. 00:33 Actually, this is our first broadcast 00:35 for 2013, 00:37 can you imagine we are in 2013, can you all say amen to that. 00:40 The Lord has seen fit to sustain us for a new year 00:44 and also for a new walk in Him. 00:47 So join us for the study tonight. 00:49 We're continuing and hopefully 00:51 finalizing our lesson on "Carry my Cross." 00:54 If you'd like a copy of that, go to our website, 00:56 don't put www, put asf.3abn.org 01:01 and download lesson number 12. 01:04 And follow along with us, get your Bibles, 01:06 get your pens 01:08 and we are going to tackle the Word of God together. 01:10 But before we do anything else, 01:12 we always invite the presence of God to be with us, 01:13 so bow your heads as we go to the Lord in prayer. 01:17 Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity tonight 01:19 to study Your Word. 01:21 We know that we need to study the Word of God. 01:23 It is our only source of strength. 01:26 We know that in the Word of God we find not only information 01:30 but we find the living, nurturing, strengthening, 01:33 bread of life that every one of us 01:35 is in need of. 01:36 And if Christ needed the word 01:38 to be victorious against the enemy, 01:41 how much more do we need the word in our lives. 01:44 So come near to us Lord 01:46 and speak to us of the importance of carrying 01:49 the cross of Christ day by day, we pray in Christ's name, amen. 01:56 Now once again, lesson number 12 01:57 is the lesson we're starting on tonight. 02:00 Actually, the one that we are finishing 02:01 and we're going to begin with question number 12, 02:04 how many... 02:05 what question did I say? 02:07 I actually meant question number ten. 02:10 You know, I had the number 12 02:11 in my head from the lesson number, 02:13 but we're going to begin with question number ten. 02:15 Let me lay just a little bit of foundation 02:17 why this lesson is so vitally important. 02:19 A lot of times we talk about the cross and people say, 02:23 "Well, this is the cross 02:25 that God has called me to bear," 02:27 and sometimes they're talking about their trials, 02:30 their difficulties, 02:31 there could be financial, spiritual, 02:34 relational, all those... 02:35 those incidences that are part of our daily life. 02:38 However, the cross that Christ calls us to bear 02:41 is not so much our trials alone, 02:44 those are the things that are going to happen 02:45 because of the results 02:47 and the presence of sin in the world. 02:49 So I want to be able to answer the question, 02:51 what does it really mean to carry the cross. 02:54 "Well, when you think about it, 02:55 what did it mean to Christ 02:57 when He carried and bore the cross 02:59 that really did not belonged to Him 03:01 but belonged to us. 03:03 I'm going to ask a big question, 03:04 I want you to all think about this before you answer, 03:06 but where was Christ going if the cross was ahead of Him, 03:11 where was He going? 03:16 Well, that's been a really easy one. 03:18 He was going to be... 03:20 Let's try that again with someone. 03:22 He was going to be crucified. 03:24 He was going to the crucifixion. 03:26 If the cross is ahead of Him 03:28 and Christ was going to the cross, 03:30 the question is where was He going 03:31 if the cross was ahead of Him? 03:33 He was going to His crucifixion. 03:35 What many of us don't know is day by day 03:38 there is a cross waiting for us 03:40 when we wake up in the morning. 03:42 What did Christ do 03:44 when He was nailed to the cross? 03:46 What happened to Him? 03:48 Say it again. He died. 03:51 And on that cross is where Christ met death. 03:56 The death that He died really was our death. 03:59 The life that He lives now is by His blessing 04:03 and gift to us His life. 04:06 He died our death, now He extends to us His life. 04:10 And so in order for us to have this victorious life, 04:13 we have to find out how to do that, 04:14 but before we do anything else we should sing a song, 04:16 what do you think? 04:18 Want to sing a song? 04:19 Let's sing our song tonight, the song is Victory in Jesus. 04:21 I almost forgot because we hadn't done this 04:23 since last year, but a long time ago, right? 04:28 But let's sing our song tonight, 04:29 the victory that we have in Christ. 04:31 If you want to join us, 04:32 listen as we sing the song together, 04:34 Victory in Jesus. 04:42 I heard an old, old story 04:46 How the Savior came from glory 04:50 How He gave His life on Calvary 04:54 To save a wretch like me 04:57 I heard about His groaning 05:01 Of His precious blood's atoning 05:05 Then I repented of my sins 05:09 And won the victory 05:11 Together. 05:13 Oh victory in Jesus 05:16 My Savior forever 05:20 He sought me and bought me 05:24 With His redeeming blood 05:28 He loved me 'ere 05:29 I knew Him 05:31 And all my love is due Him 05:35 He plunged me to victory 05:39 Beneath the cleansing flood 05:43 I heard about a mansion 05:47 He has built for me in glory 05:50 And I heard about the streets of gold 05:54 Beyond the crystal sea 05:58 About the angels singing 06:02 And the old redemption story 06:05 And some sweet day 06:07 I'll sing up there the song of victory 06:11 Key change. 06:13 Oh victory in Jesus 06:17 My Savior forever 06:21 He sought me and bought me 06:24 With His redeeming blood 06:28 He loved me 'ere 06:30 I knew Him 06:32 And all my love is due Him 06:36 He plunged me to victory 06:40 Beneath the cleansing flood 06:43 He plunged me to victory 06:47 Beneath the cleansing flood 06:54 Amen. 06:55 Now it feels more complete, don't you think? 06:57 We missed our song that really infuses us 07:00 and reminds us of our theme 07:02 and if you forgot our overall theme 07:03 that's how to live a spiritual life in a what? 07:07 In a natural body. 07:09 Who, you guys? 07:10 It's cold here in Thompsonville by the way, 07:12 if it's warm where you are, send us some heat, 07:14 we really need it. 07:15 But tonight I'd like you to turn with me 07:17 to question number ten, 07:18 that's where we're beginning tonight 07:20 and the title is, How to carry my cross? 07:23 How to carry my cross? 07:25 Question number ten is as follows: 07:28 At what point in the plan of salvation are we reconciled? 07:33 And we're going to go to Romans 5:10. 07:37 Romans 5:10, and as you know the answer 07:41 will be on the screen. 07:44 By the way if you want to send us any questions 07:46 you can also send questions from our website there, 07:49 asf.3abn.org 07:51 or if you have 3ABN's regular website, 07:54 just click on the link that shows you 07:56 where A Sharper Focus is located. 07:59 But at what point in the plan of salvation are we reconciled? 08:03 This is really important because when you think 08:04 about a will, 08:06 when you think about a will, a last will in testament, 08:11 the last will in testament often goes in effect when? 08:16 When the person who wrote the will dies, right? 08:20 So I want you to keep that in your mind 08:22 because the plan was in place for a long time. 08:28 But the question is... 08:30 And we'll answer this after this question is answered. 08:33 At what point was the plan effective? 08:37 The plan was in place for a long time 08:39 but at what point was the plan effective? 08:42 Well, let's first answer the question. 08:44 At what point in the plan of salvation 08:46 were we reconciled? 08:47 Romans 5:10 reads as follows. 08:50 And it says, let's read this first one together, 08:53 are you ready, here we go. 08:55 "For if when we were," what? 08:58 "Enemies we were reconciled to God 09:00 through the death of His Son," 09:03 I like the next two words, "much more, 09:06 having been reconciled, we shall be," what? 09:09 "Saved by His life." 09:11 In other words if the Lord brought you in 09:13 when you were an enemy, 09:16 if the Lord extended His grace to you 09:17 when we were not even in harmony with Him, 09:20 if the Lord extended His salvation to us 09:22 in the gift when we were at odds 09:24 with each other, 09:26 how much better will He treat us now 09:27 that we are reconciled together. 09:30 So let's give a great example. 09:33 You know there's this big argument now 09:35 in Congress and in society in general, 09:39 it's all about rights. 09:40 People are saying, 09:42 well, everybody in America should have the right to, 09:44 and then they state what they feel 09:47 they should have the right to do right now. 09:49 I don't really want to talk about it, 09:50 but there's these issues over marriage, 09:52 who has the right to marry whom and what the genders are, 09:54 and it's just a very sad atmosphere. 09:58 And the whole issue that they base it on 09:59 is everybody should have the right. 10:04 But what this is in essence saying to us 10:06 is before we even had the right, 10:10 the Lord had extended to us 10:11 the opportunity to be reconciled. 10:14 He says, in other words, your name is there 10:17 but in order for the plan of salvation 10:20 to be a benefit to you, 10:23 you have to accept the plan of reconciliation. 10:27 In other words, the Bill of Rights is there 10:30 for every American citizen, 10:32 but in order for it to benefit you, 10:33 you have to be an American citizen, right? 10:37 People that come from foreign countries, 10:39 when they are on American soil 10:41 they have to abide by all of America's laws, 10:44 but they don't get all the benefits 10:45 of an American citizen. 10:48 When we become citizens of the kingdom, 10:50 all the benefits that Christ 10:51 has available are made available to us, 10:53 can you say amen to that. 10:55 All of the benefits are made available to us 10:58 while we're citizens, 10:59 but if we look at this text, it's saying, 11:01 we're on the right soil, we've been reconciled, 11:05 we're on the right soil but the benefit is greater 11:09 after we have been reconciled. 11:11 But here's the answer, 11:12 at what point of the plan of salvation 11:14 were we reconciled? 11:15 The answer is highlighted in yellow. 11:17 Write that yellow answer down. When we were, what? 11:22 Enemies, when we were enemies. 11:25 Wow, you think about that. 11:29 It reminds me of a story 11:30 and I cannot remember the year it was, 11:31 but it was in the early 1900s during Christmas time 11:35 when the war was still going on overseas 11:38 and this was on the continent of Europe. 11:41 For a brief moment 11:43 they on December 24th that evening, 11:47 they declared a truce between all the two fractions 11:51 that were warring against each other. 11:53 They declared a truce. 11:54 And so the enemies came out of their foxholes. 11:58 And for one brief moment, a few hours during that night 12:04 they got together traded stories, 12:07 there's a pictures I have of that particular, 12:10 they got together, 12:11 traded stories and for a brief moment 12:14 they were just men on a different continent, 12:17 men on two sides of a conflicting issue, 12:22 but they had pictures of them hugging together, 12:24 they were smoking together, they were drinking together, 12:26 they were singing songs together 12:28 and they were celebrating Christmas together 12:32 and when the command came the next day to go back to war, 12:37 many of them couldn't do it. 12:39 They couldn't do it. 12:40 So in order to get the war started back up, 12:43 the generals on both sides of this conflict sent new men 12:47 to the front lines that had no camaraderie, 12:50 you know what that says? 12:51 When we find a place of camaraderie. 12:53 it's hard to be enemies with each other. 12:57 And when you look at this the Lord is saying, 12:59 if we were reconciled when you were an enemy, 13:03 how much greater now and how much more blessing 13:05 is the reconciliation now that we are not enemies, 13:08 we are one with Christ. 13:09 But I want you to see something, 13:10 go to verse 8 in Romans Chapter 5. 13:12 Romans 5:8, this gives you an even more beautiful picture, 13:18 but notice this. 13:20 Oh, let's start with verse 6. 13:24 "For when we were still without," what? 13:28 Strength. 13:29 Romans 5:6, for when we were still 13:31 without strength in due time, what did Christ do? 13:35 He died for the ungodly. 13:38 And this puts it together wonderfully. 13:40 For scarcely for a righteous man 13:43 will one die, yet perhaps, 13:46 just got to work that word, yet perhaps, 13:48 maybe, maybe for a good man someone would even dare to die. 13:54 In other words they're saying, 13:56 give me a reason why I should die for you, 13:57 what good have you done 13:58 that I should give my life for you. 14:00 Christ didn't even ask that question. 14:02 He says, look at the verse that follows, but... 14:06 Verse 8, "But God demonstrated His own love towards us 14:12 in that while we were yet," what? 14:16 "Sinners, Christ died for us." 14:21 Isn't that an amazing thing? 14:23 While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 14:25 He didn't wait for everything to be reconciled, 14:27 He didn't wait for us to get good, Pastor Jim. 14:29 He said, "You need help now." 14:33 And when you realize the help that has been extended to you, 14:36 then the relationship will begin. 14:39 Matter of fact the text that we all repeat so often, 14:42 I like you to go with me to Revelation 13:8, 14:44 this is not the text, 14:46 but the text that we often repeat, 14:48 the text that goes around in our mind over and over 14:51 and over is one that tells us the true story, 14:54 for God so loved the... 14:56 How much of the world did God love? 14:59 How much of the world did He love? 15:01 All the world. 15:02 How much of His salvation is made available, 15:04 to how many people 15:05 is His salvation made available, 15:06 to how much? 15:08 To the whole world. 15:09 The grace of God that brings salvation, 15:12 Paul says, has appeared to all men. 15:16 So there is no... 15:17 There is no narrow plan, but I want to show you 15:20 that the plan was in place a long time, 15:23 but the reason why some people have not received 15:25 the benefits of the plan 15:26 is because they have not received 15:28 the invitation to be reconciled with God. 15:32 As a matter of fact, as ambassadors, 15:34 Paul says, that's our message to be reconciled with God. 15:37 We go forth our message 15:39 should be to those who don't know, 15:40 do not know Christ be reconciled to God. 15:43 See, but look at Revelation 13:8, 15:46 tells you how long this plan was in place. 15:48 Revelation 13:8 reads as follows. 15:52 We're not going to get into the whole lamb 15:54 or the beast and all that but notice this, 15:56 "And all who dwell on the earth will worship him 15:58 whose names have not been written 16:00 in the book of life of the Lamb," 16:03 read the next part with me, "slain from the" when? 16:07 "Foundation of the world." Got to ask the question. 16:11 Did Jesus die at the foundation of the world? 16:13 Yes or no. Absolutely not, He didn't. 16:16 So what is this text saying? 16:19 It's saying the plan, 16:21 the plan was in place from the time 16:23 the world was established. 16:25 God did not wait for the emergency to arise 16:28 for the plan to be put in place, 16:30 God put the plan in place 16:32 from the foundation of the world. 16:34 So in other words when do you put the... 16:36 When is the best time to put the plumbing system in 16:38 as you build a house? 16:40 Come on, somebody tell me. 16:43 First, from the foundation? 16:45 Can you imagine building a house and say, 16:46 "Oh, you know what? 16:47 Forgot, we don't have any water." 16:49 And then say, 16:51 "Well, how are you going to do that?" 16:52 You got to break up the foundation. 16:53 At best drill holes in all the walls 16:55 around the side of the house 16:57 to get the pipes to come in, the Lord did not wait, 16:59 but for the emergency to arise He put everything 17:02 that would be needed, 17:04 if man chose the course that was chosen by Lucifer, 17:07 He gave them everything they would need in the event 17:10 that man would sin 17:12 from the foundation of the world. 17:14 Okay, let's go to number 11, number 11, all right. 17:18 And the answer by the way is while we were yet sinners. 17:21 The number 11, here is the question. 17:23 What difference should reconciliation make 17:26 in our characters? 17:27 This is a very good question to start the new year with. 17:30 What difference should reconciliation make 17:33 in our characters? 17:34 I always like to challenge the congregation 17:39 whether there are local congregation 17:41 or those tuning and viewing on Sabbath. 17:44 I always like to challenge them, 17:46 but there should be a difference, 17:48 you know, we wait often times for the new year 17:51 to begin to establish our New Year's resolution. 17:55 We'll say, okay, for the new year, 17:57 here's what I'm going to do. 17:58 And at best we try all we can 18:02 and all the commercials start coming on television. 18:05 What's the number one thing 18:07 that people want us to do when the new year begins? 18:09 Say it again, everybody wants to lose weight, 18:12 everybody wants to get in shape and right now, two for one 18:15 and, you know, the prices are cut low 18:17 for everybody to act now and then even the stores say, 18:21 the sale is between 8 and 11 and then between 2 and 3 18:24 it is going to go up high, in between 3 and 5 18:25 it's going to be back to normal prices. 18:28 They all aim at things that... 18:29 because they know that people like to make new resolutions 18:33 when the new year begins. 18:35 What's wonderful about this text, 18:38 it's saying that, 18:39 as the marketers know that there is a difference 18:43 in our mindset when the new year begins 18:45 as compared to when the old year is leaving, 18:48 they try to capitalize on the new mindset. 18:51 So in the very same way there should be a difference 18:54 that those who are reconciled to God 18:57 should display in their lives. 18:58 What difference does it make? 19:00 Let me ask you in a very simple way. 19:02 What difference would it make to you Glenn 19:04 if somebody treated you nicely? 19:06 Would you want to treat them nicely? 19:08 Okay, so what difference should it make 19:10 when we think about the gift of eternal life? 19:13 Let's look at the text, Colossians 1:21-22, 19:18 Colossians 1:21-22. 19:22 All right, and on the screen here it is, 19:25 21-22, and it says, "And you..." 19:28 I could see that Paul pointing his finger out. 19:30 "And you, who once were," what? 19:34 "Alienated and enemies in your mind," and why? 19:39 "By wicked works, yet now he has done," what? 19:44 "Reconciled in the body of his flesh 19:48 through death to," what? 19:51 "Present you..." 19:52 Let's say this together, "holy and blameless, 19:55 and above reproach in His sight." 19:59 So when you think of this plan of reconciliation, 20:01 he is saying that because of our wicked works, 20:03 we were enemies. 20:05 I want to go back on this very quickly, 20:07 just so that we could look at this here, 20:08 because of our wicked works we were alienated 20:12 and enemies in our mind by our wicked works. 20:15 In other words, the works that we had were showing 20:17 that we were enemies with God. 20:19 The question is what difference did it make? 20:22 So where should the difference show up, 20:24 in our minds or in our work? 20:27 Think about it. 20:28 Where should the difference show up, 20:30 in our mind or in our work? 20:36 Well, since you can't read my mind 20:37 where should it show up? 20:41 I know you guys, ah, pastor, now where should it show up. 20:46 Exactly. 20:49 I specifically phrased it that way, 20:51 where should it show up? 20:53 Because a lot of people say, 20:55 you don't know what's in my heart, 20:57 you know how I know, how do I know? 21:00 By your works. 21:01 Let's go to Matthew, let's go to Matthew. 21:04 Go with me to Matthew. 21:05 Lot of people say, 21:06 well, you don't know what's in my mind, 21:08 I don't need to know what's in your mind. 21:10 The Lord doesn't call us to read minds, 21:12 He calls us to examine fruit, right? 21:16 Matthew 7. 21:18 Matthew 7, so what difference should reconciliation 21:21 make in our character? 21:23 The difference should be in our works. 21:25 If you want to answer that, in our works, 21:28 that's where the difference should be. 21:29 In other words, don't say one thing 21:32 and do another, 21:33 all right here it is, Matthew chapter 7, 21:36 and let's start with verse 16. 21:42 "You will know them by their" what? 21:44 "By their fruits. 21:45 Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes 21:48 or figs from thistles?" 21:50 And the answer is what? "No. 21:52 Even so every good tree 21:57 bears good fruit, 22:00 but a bad tree bears," what? 22:02 "Bad fruit. 22:03 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, 22:06 nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 22:09 Every tree that does not bear good fruit 22:11 is cut down and thrown into the fire." 22:13 Let's read the verse 20 together. 22:16 "Therefore, by their fruits you are," what? 22:19 "Know them." 22:20 So people are not called to read our minds, 22:24 but brothers and sisters, first of all, 22:25 let's put this into categorization 22:27 because a lot of times, I've heard people say this 22:29 and this always kind of makes me, 22:32 maybe make me uncomfortable for this particular reason. 22:34 I've heard people say, and sometimes in churches 22:36 we as members have conflicts with each other. 22:39 And I've heard people that are kind of, 22:41 I call this the parachute of excuses, they would say, 22:44 "I could go to that club in town 22:46 or the bar in town and people treat me nicer there 22:49 than they do in church." 22:51 Well, you know why? 22:53 Because the devil is not having a fight down at the bar. 22:56 He's fighting where? 22:58 In the church, 22:59 because he doesn't want these works to show up 23:02 where they should show up, he wants the place 23:04 that we should not be looked like the place 23:07 that we are welcomed. 23:08 And he wants the place where we should be welcomed 23:11 looked like a place where we should not be 23:13 and where does he do it? 23:14 He makes those who say 23:16 they are good trees bear bad fruit. 23:20 What did Jesus say about the vine? 23:22 I am the vine, you are the, what? 23:24 Branches. 23:25 How much can you do if you abide in Him? 23:28 How much can we do if we abide in Him? 23:30 Okay, everything. You got to listen tonight. 23:33 We can do everything if we abide in Him, 23:35 but if we don't abide in Him how much can we do? 23:38 Nothing. 23:40 As I say, "Man, my car ran out of gas five feet 23:44 from the gas station." 23:46 Now is your car going to run 23:48 because it's close to the gas station? 23:50 Absolutely not. 23:51 You can run out two feet from the gas pump 23:54 and it's not going to move 23:56 until there's a connection between the power 23:59 that is available in that fuel 24:03 when it's put into that vehicle. 24:05 So we could say we are with Christ 24:07 but unless there's a connection between us 24:08 and Christ these things that should be removed 24:11 from our lives as the text says, 24:13 the wicked works that are there, 24:15 first happen that the transformation takes where? 24:18 First of all in the mind, we all know that, right? 24:20 If the mind is renewed, 24:22 then the body begins to act out 24:26 what is resident in the mind. 24:29 If the heart is transformed, 24:31 the mouth begins to communicate what's in the heart. 24:35 The Bible makes that clear. 24:36 Out of the abundance of the heart 24:38 the mouth speaks. 24:40 So when people say things, they, well, I don't mean that, 24:41 well, it came out, so that means 24:43 they had to be in there, right? 24:46 So what the Lord wants us to do, 24:47 the difference that should be made 24:49 in our lives. 24:50 And I want to just emphasize 24:52 just a little bit more to our viewing audience 24:53 and listening audience. 24:54 For this new year we've got to make some spiritual goals. 24:57 If our spiritual goals are not on paper 25:00 or if we're not praying about our spiritual goals, 25:03 I always say to people, if you have no goals, 25:06 don't get upset if you don't reach those goals. 25:09 You cannot reach goals that you don't have. 25:12 You cannot say, Lord, 25:14 I want to have a stronger study life 25:15 or a stronger prayer life or I want to have 25:17 a more victorious walk with You unless we know that 25:20 and begin to plot our course spiritually 25:25 to experience that. 25:26 Because what we say 25:27 and what we do are not always the same thing, 25:29 that's what verse 21 talks about. 25:31 But let's go to question number 12, 25:33 all right? 25:36 What difference should reconciliation make 25:38 in our character? 25:39 We saw that just a moment ago. 25:40 Now let's go to question number 12, 25:42 and here's the question. 25:44 What act on our part is involved 25:47 in declaring us righteous? 25:49 In other words, 25:50 what do we have to do, what must we do. 25:55 Okay, and we're going 25:57 to look together... 26:01 At Romans 5:17. 26:03 What do we do, 26:05 while we're preparing to answer the question, 26:07 where does righteousness come from? 26:09 Somebody tell me. 26:10 From whom does righteousness come? 26:12 From Christ, all right. So it's not ours first of all. 26:15 So if somebody comes to you, 26:17 well, Christmas just passes a perfect setting. 26:19 If somebody comes to you, Hannah, and says, 26:21 I have a gift for you. 26:24 What do you have to do for the gift to be yours? 26:27 Accept it. 26:28 Okay, okay, we're getting somewhere, 26:30 you have to do what? 26:31 Accept it. Accept it. 26:32 Now let's go to the text, Romans 5:17. 26:35 The gift is available, what you have to do? 26:37 You got accept a gift. 26:38 Here it is, Romans 5:17, what act on our part, 26:42 it says, "For if by one man's offense death reigned 26:46 through the one," 26:47 in other words if death reigned through Adam, 26:49 and let me ask the question, has death reigned through Adam? 26:53 On everyone, "much more those who," 26:58 say the next word, 27:01 "receive abundance of grace 27:05 and of the gift of righteousness 27:09 will reign in life through One, Jesus Christ." 27:13 Let me break that down and make it very, very clear. 27:16 Each one of us 27:17 has either one father or the other. 27:19 Somebody tell me what our father's name is? 27:22 What's your father's name? 27:26 What was your first father's name? 27:28 Oh, thank you, say it again. Adam. 27:32 If you go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, 27:34 you'll find that, 27:35 your first father's name is Adam 27:37 and your last father's name is Adam, 27:40 the first Adam and the last Adam. 27:44 Some people say second, but there's no more after him. 27:48 The first is the Adam, 27:49 the natural man, the sinful man. 27:52 Go with me to 1 Corinthians, I want you to see this, 27:54 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. 27:57 You want to write the answer down. 27:59 What act in our part is involved 28:00 in declaring us righteous? 28:02 Put the answer down, "Receive." 28:04 We must receive, we must receive. 28:08 The gift is available but you have to receive it. 28:11 That's why a lot of times 28:13 when you think about a package coming, 28:15 how many of you ever stay home 28:16 when you know this very important package 28:18 is coming. 28:19 You kind of put notes out on the door. 28:22 Leave the package on my front door, 28:23 I'm waiting for this you get that slip, you missed it, 28:28 and what do you do? 28:31 Can I come and pick it up. 28:32 We get excited about temporary things, 28:35 we get excited about things 28:37 that are going to lose its value 28:39 in the course of time, 28:41 but this is a gift that does not lose its value 28:43 in the course of time. 28:45 Let's look at our two fathers. 28:46 1 Corinthians, most of you are there, 28:49 I'm on my way there. 28:50 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, let's look at the two. 28:52 We can only have one of two categories. 28:55 We can only have one of two fathers, all right? 29:00 1 Corinthians, 15:45. 29:08 Verse 45 reads as follows, "And so it is written," 29:11 the Bible says, "the first man, 29:16 Adam became a living," what? 29:18 "A living being, the last Adam became a," what? 29:22 "Life giving spirit." 29:25 Go to verse 47, 29:26 see if the first Adam and the last Adam, 29:29 you get it? 29:30 Look at verse 47. 29:32 "The first man was of the earth made of dust, 29:36 the second man is the," who? 29:38 "Lord," from where? "Heaven and get this." 29:41 That's why this is... 29:43 What difference should it make? 29:44 Verse 48. 29:46 As was the man of dust, 29:50 so also are those who are made of dust 29:54 and as is the heavenly man, 29:57 so also are those who are heavenly 30:01 and here is the wonderful gift. 30:03 As we have borne the image of the man of dust, 30:07 we shall also bear the image of the, who? 30:09 Heavenly Man. 30:11 So should there be a difference 30:12 if we say that we're connected to Christ. 30:14 Should there be a difference in our lives, yes or no? 30:16 As we look like the first man, 30:18 because we were connected to the first man, 30:20 we should look like the second one 30:22 or the last one. 30:23 If we look like Adam, the earthly one, 30:26 our lives should now resemble Christ, 30:29 the heavenly one, you get the following. 30:33 So people should be able to look at life and say, 30:37 not that your works or your boast, 30:39 because it is Christ who works in us both to will 30:42 and to do of His good pleasure, 30:44 but our works should be evidence 30:46 that we are not connected anymore 30:48 to the earthly man, 30:49 but we are now connected to the who? 30:51 To the Heavenly Man. 30:52 By their fruits, finish it, you will know. 30:56 So when people say, 30:57 you don't know what's in my heart, 30:59 I don't have to know, right Bud? 31:01 Don't have to know, right Dan? Don't have to know. 31:04 If I see the works, it's impossible to say 31:07 that you are connected to the Heavenly Man, 31:12 yet your works are fruits of the earthly man. 31:16 Go with me to Romans Chapter 7. 31:20 Lord is pointing me to verses in the Bible 31:22 that are so significant. 31:24 See the last Adam and the first Adam, only two. 31:27 And I like that statement where Ellen White talks about, 31:31 "In the kingdom made new, 31:34 there's going to be a meeting of the first Adam 31:37 and the last Adam." 31:39 What a meeting that's going to be. 31:40 Adam, the one who failed us is going to meet Christ, 31:43 the One who redeemed us. 31:46 What a reconciliation that's going to be. 31:47 What did I say to go, Romans chapter, what? 31:50 Romans Chapter 7, all right? 31:53 Romans Chapter 7, and this is why you read this, 31:55 and I want you to get this very quickly, 31:56 Romans Chapter 7 verse... 32:00 I don't want to give you too much of it. 32:04 Okay, verse 2-4, right. 32:10 Okay, good, verse 2-4. 32:12 Remember by their fruits, you will, what? 32:15 Know Him, all right. 32:16 Okay, now what do you need to... 32:18 Okay, I want to just pull 32:19 this out little bit Dan, look up, 32:20 just look up, everybody look up. 32:22 When you eat a fruit, 32:23 what do you find on the inside of the fruit 32:25 that you don't eat. 32:26 Seed. Okay. 32:27 Now what does that seed have the capacity to do. 32:31 Create more fruit. 32:32 So if you held that seed, if you plant that seed, 32:35 is there a chance that more fruit 32:37 is going to grow. 32:38 Why? Because that seed does what? 32:40 Produce fruit, 32:42 that's what it's for, all right. 32:44 We have to keep this in mind, each of us, 32:47 there's a seed that has been planted in us 32:51 from the time we were born. 32:53 The seed was, the Bible refers to the corrupt seed. 32:58 But when we are partakers of a new nature, 33:00 when Christ now becomes the new man in our lives. 33:04 That's a different seed all together. 33:06 So follow this very carefully. 33:08 Would it make sense 33:10 that I say I'm married to Christ, 33:12 yet the seed produce fruit 33:15 that doesn't resemble Christ, yes or no? 33:18 Does it make sense? 33:19 So somebody say, 33:20 "Well, look at the fruit, they say, that's an apple, 33:22 I thought you said you got that from an orange tree." 33:24 I did. 33:26 There's no possible way, 33:27 as you cannot get an apple from an orange tree, 33:29 don't go too far with this 33:31 those of you are thinking of grafting, 33:32 I understand, I could hear you. 33:33 Some of these guys a technical. 33:35 Well, if you graft it together, 33:37 we're not talking about a, what do you call it... 33:41 We're not talking about apple orange, 33:43 we're talking about an orange tree 33:44 and an apple tree. 33:46 You can't get an apple 33:47 from an orange tree and vice versa, 33:49 but look what has to happen in order for these to show up, 33:52 and this is where the cross comes 33:53 into the picture. 33:55 Look at verse 2. 33:56 "For the woman who has a husband is bound 33:58 by the law to her husband as long as he does," what? 34:02 "As long as he lives." Romans 7:2. 34:04 "But if the husband dies, 34:06 she is released from the law of her husband." 34:08 So in other words, 34:10 as long as that husband is alive, 34:11 what is she connected to? 34:13 How is she connected to her husband? 34:15 How is she connected to her husband? 34:16 Three letter word, you read it. 34:19 Say it again, 34:20 by law she is connected to her husband. 34:22 What has to happen in order for her 34:24 to be disconnected from her husband? 34:26 He has to die, and then what happens, 34:28 what no longer binds them together, the law. 34:32 Lot of people read that text and say, see, 34:34 that's why God's law has been done away with. 34:36 That's not what it's talking about, 34:37 a different law all together. 34:39 Look at verse 3. 34:40 "So then, if while her husband lives, 34:43 she marries another man, 34:46 she will be called an adulteress, 34:48 but if her husband dies," she is what? 34:51 "Free from that law so that she is no adulteress 34:58 though she has married another man." 35:02 So what has to happen in order for her 35:03 to be free now? 35:05 Let's go ahead and put the picture together, 35:07 in order for us to be free, to be connected to Christ, 35:12 what has to happen? 35:14 We all know, we just said it. The man dies. 35:17 The man dies, which man dies? 35:19 I just gave you his name a moment ago, say it again. 35:22 The first Adam has to die in order for us to be married 35:26 to the second Adam, 35:29 the last Adam, thank you, honey. 35:31 So now let's go to the very next verse, 35:33 the very next verse. 35:35 Verse 4, "Therefore, my brethren, 35:39 you also have become dead to the law 35:44 through the body of Christ 35:46 that you may be married to another, 35:49 even to him who was raised from the dead," 35:53 that we should do what? 35:55 "Bear fruit to God." 35:58 Now the reason why this is brought up 35:59 in this chapter about Christ in being dead, the man... 36:04 How many people, this is an old term 36:05 that we used to use back in the '90s, '80s. 36:07 I don't want to go too far back, 36:09 because I'm a child of the '70s and '80s, 36:13 that's when I was in my heyday teenage years. 36:16 There's a phrase that we used to use in... 36:18 Girls mostly used to use that and she would say, 36:21 I'm going home to my... 36:25 Come on, say it honey, to my old man. 36:27 How is your old man? 36:28 People said, how's your old man doing? 36:30 Ever heard that phrase before, 36:31 it's an old kind of phrase of affection, 36:32 how's your old man doing? 36:34 He's fine. Well, let's go to Romans 6. 36:37 Where did you get this now, 36:38 because I want you to understand 36:40 this whole thing about death and life, 36:41 in order to enjoy life you've got to understand 36:43 why death is so necessary, 36:45 that's what the message of the cross is all about. 36:47 Death is necessary in order for there to be life. 36:50 Let's go to this death now. 36:51 How do we know about this death? 36:53 Romans 6:3, well, Romans 6:3. 37:04 "Or do you not know that as many of us 37:06 as were baptized into Christ, 37:08 Jesus were baptized into His," what? 37:10 "Death. 37:11 Therefore, we were buried with Him 37:13 through baptism into death 37:15 that just as Christ was raised from the dead 37:18 by the glory of the Father 37:20 even so we also should walk in the," what? 37:23 "Newness of life." 37:24 In other words, when that life is, 37:25 when a person dies 37:27 they can't live the way they used to, 37:28 it's not possible. 37:29 You can't say that you're dead and you're living the way 37:31 that you used to live when you were alive. 37:32 What that simply means in the spiritual sense is, 37:34 if we say that we are living then we are the one 37:37 that is doing the work, 37:39 if we say that it's no longer I who live 37:41 but Christ lives in me, Galatians 2:20, 37:44 then we said that Christ is doing the work, 37:47 you get it, but let's keep going. 37:51 "For if we have been united, verse 5, 37:53 in the likeness of his death, 37:55 certainly we also shall be in the likeness of his, what? 37:58 Resurrection, knowing this that our, 38:02 together, old man was crucified with him 38:07 that a body of sin might be done away with 38:10 that we should no longer be," what? 38:12 "Slaves to sin." 38:13 In verse 7 together, 38:14 "For he who has died has been" what? 38:17 "Freed from sin." 38:18 That's what Jesus meant when He said to the Jews 38:20 in John Chapter 8. 38:24 "If the son therefore shall make you free, 38:26 you shall be" what? 38:28 "Free indeed." Freedom comes only in Christ. 38:30 When that death is something that we experience, 38:32 that new life in Christ. 38:34 So when we asked the question, go to question 13 very quickly. 38:38 Question 13, so the answer to the question number 12 is, 38:41 what act on our part, the word is receive. 38:44 Question number 13, here it is. 38:47 What happens to us 38:49 when we decide to join Christ at the cross? 38:52 All right, Romans 6:6, I just gave you the answer. 38:56 Okay, Romans 6:6, I just gave you the answer. 39:01 What happens when we decide to join Christ at the cross? 39:04 Let's look at that verse on the... 39:06 Since I just read it to you, 39:07 let me go and show it to you on the screen, okay. 39:08 Just to save some time, here it is, 39:10 "Knowing this, 39:12 that our old man was crucified with Him 39:13 that the body of sin might be done away with, 39:16 that we should no longer be," what? 39:18 "Slaves to sin." 39:20 So if you go back and ask the question, 39:21 what happens to us 39:22 when we decide to join Christ at the cross? 39:27 The last part. 39:30 No longer slaves to sin. 39:34 You ever hear when people get excited, 39:35 they say you know what? 39:38 I got delivered from drugs and alcohol, 39:42 and pornography and cigarettes, and stealing and lying. 39:46 You know what they're saying, they are no longer, what? 39:49 Slaves to sin. But you know what? 39:53 This is even deeper than that, 39:55 this is even deeper than the act. 39:57 This is going all the way down to the nature 40:01 because the act is produced by the nature... 40:08 But when we come into this new relationship 40:10 with Christ, 40:12 there's only one thing that survives. 40:15 The baptism, the burial, 40:18 and the resurrection to new life. 40:19 There's only one thing that survives that 40:21 and somebody tell me what that is. 40:29 I guess my point is not as powerful 40:31 as I wanted it to be. 40:33 The body of sin might be done away with. 40:38 What body? Whose body? Whose body? 40:42 Right, these natural inclinations 40:45 and natural tendencies. 40:47 So now let's get this together, 40:48 I don't want this text to go over your head. 40:52 The changes that take place in us, in our thinking, 40:56 in our behavior, happens not 40:58 because we've learned new behavior, 41:01 but because there's a new nature 41:05 that is in charge. 41:07 The nature that is in charge is not the old Adam, 41:09 it is the who? 41:11 The new Adam or the last Adam, Christ. 41:14 So when the Bible says, Romans Chapter 12, 41:17 turn there very quickly, this is what happens. 41:20 Romans Chapter 12. 41:22 This is what happens. 41:29 All right, look at verse 2, this is what happens. 41:32 A lot of times people say, 41:34 I want to know how to prove what God's will is. 41:37 It says, "Do not be conformed to this," what? 41:41 "To this world but be transformed 41:42 by the," what? 41:44 "Renewing of your mind that you may prove 41:46 what is that good and acceptable," in what? 41:50 "Perfect will of God." 41:52 What happens is the mind is renewed, 41:54 you get a new mind. 41:55 Many of you that were here for our New Year's Eve worship, 42:01 we read that devotional where it says, 42:03 the Lord gave us a brand new clean page. 42:07 And it was unsullied and unstained 42:09 and we said it's up to you 42:10 to write your story for the new year. 42:13 When the mind is renewed, 42:15 then the works are going to follow that 42:17 because we read earlier, 42:19 the mind and the wicked works are connected together, right. 42:22 But when the mind is renewed, what kind of works are evident, 42:26 huh, righteous works, 42:30 and the fruits of Christ begin to show up. 42:32 What is the fruit of the spirit? 42:33 Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, 42:36 meekness, patients, the works are there 42:38 because Christ is now 42:40 the one working through that mind, 42:42 because we have the mind of Christ. 42:44 As Paul says, let this mind be where? 42:46 In you which is also in Christ Jesus, 42:49 very big question, it is not in here 42:50 but let me ask you the question. 42:53 How do you get to the mind of Christ to be in here? 42:59 What's the answer? 43:02 Right, this is where Christ's mind 43:04 is revealed in His Word. 43:06 So think of a hard drive. 43:09 How do you get information on a hard drive, Lori, 43:12 how do you do it? 43:14 Right, really, actually uploading. 43:16 Okay, she's real close, 43:18 because she's technical she said downloading, 43:19 it's downloaded from Christ to us. 43:22 But is uploaded to us, okay. 43:25 Downloaded from Him, uploaded to us. 43:27 Am I correct, Dan, is that the right terminology. 43:29 Six of one, half a dozen of the other, right? 43:33 Somewhere along the lines, right? 43:34 The point of the matter, it doesn't come from us, 43:36 when these words start to fill that old mind, 43:42 what happens to that old mind? 43:44 It's renewed, it's renewed. 43:47 So how do we begin to change our behavior, we can't. 43:51 Go with me to James. 43:53 You guys are asking me too many questions. 43:57 Okay, James talks about this whole idea. 44:02 Okay, I'm on the way to James, you guys need be there. 44:05 I'm just about... 44:09 there, okay. 44:15 Oh, I tell you. 44:20 James Chapter 1, okay. 44:26 Talking about this whole process, 44:27 life and death and birth and all those everything. 44:30 Okay, verse 13, verse 13. 44:33 James 1:13, we're moving pretty quickly here, 44:36 but I want to make sure this topic is clear. 44:38 Let no one say when he is tempted. 44:41 I am tempted by God. 44:42 God is not a tempter, the devil is a tempter. 44:47 For God cannot be tempted by evil 44:49 nor does he himself tempt anyone, 44:51 so where does this trouble come from? 44:54 Let's look at this in James 1:14, 44:56 now it says, 44:57 but each one is tempted when he is drawn away 44:59 by his own desire, and what? 45:01 Enticed. You know the word enticed mean? 45:05 You know the word enticed means? 45:11 It's the thing you go like this, 45:12 when you're about to eat something 45:14 that you realize you are... 45:18 My brother-in-law always does that, 45:20 when he is excited he goes. 45:24 It's an excitement to do wrong 45:26 that all of a sudden it springs up. 45:29 Each one is tempted 45:30 when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed, 45:32 and look at the process. 45:34 Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to what? 45:39 Sin, and sin when it is full grown 45:42 brings forth what? 45:43 Death. So let's now substitute. 45:47 I'm not going to... 45:48 I'm not going to add to the Bible 45:50 what it doesn't say, 45:51 but now let's take out the bad desires 45:54 and put in the good desires, so look at verse 15 again. 45:59 Then when desire has conceived, 46:02 if the desire is good would it give birth to sin 46:05 or would it give birth to life? 46:07 Okay, see, so what do you have to have in order for there 46:10 to be life, you've got to have what? 46:12 Come on, the world is there, you got to have what? 46:15 When... 46:16 Say it again, desire. 46:18 So the question is, what do you desire? 46:21 Your desires will be shaped by the things 46:23 you expose yourself to, by the things 46:25 that begin to influence you, it creates a desire. 46:28 Somebody says, you have a walk around, 46:30 somebody says, Man, I need a cigarette, right now. 46:34 Somebody say, man I need a stake right now, 46:36 somebody walks past a restaurant, 46:38 man I need some French fries. 46:41 You get my point, 46:42 these desires are activated by our environment. 46:45 If you put yourself in the environment 46:47 where your desires begin to change, 46:49 the outcome is also going to be different. 46:52 The outcome is also going to be different, 46:55 because the Lord does not ever awaken 46:57 within you a desire for bad things. 46:59 Every good and every perfect gift 47:01 comes from above. 47:03 Now let's go to question number 14, 47:06 all right. 47:08 The answer to question number 13, 47:09 what did you put down. 47:12 Exactly, no longer slaves to sin. 47:15 We want to break that slavery connection. 47:17 Question number 14, moving right along. 47:19 How does the Bible describe 47:21 our condition prior to the cross? 47:23 How does it describe 47:24 our condition prior to the cross? 47:26 Romans 6, okay, 47:30 Romans 6:20 and 21. 47:37 Okay, see it. 47:41 This is huge and I'll break it down, 47:43 Romans 6:21 reads as follows. 47:46 "For when you were slaves of" what? 47:49 "Sin" there on the screen, "you were" what? 47:52 "Free." 47:54 Now get this, when you were slaves to sin, 47:55 you were what? 47:56 Free in regard to righteousness. 48:00 What fruit did you have then in the things 48:04 of which you are now ashamed, 48:06 for the end of those things is" what? 48:09 "Death." 48:10 Now going back to that, if you ask the question, 48:12 what does the Bible describe, 48:14 how does the Bible describe 48:16 our condition prior to the cross? 48:21 What's the last word? 48:26 It simply puts it, our condition is, 48:28 we were free in regard to righteousness. 48:31 Now get this, we were slaves but we were free, 48:35 let me make this clear. 48:36 Paul said and I'll give you the example of this. 48:38 Let's just say a person doesn't know Jesus at all. 48:43 He doesn't have any guilt 48:48 in doing what's wrong, 48:50 because it comes out naturally. 48:54 Oh, man. 48:55 Let me just tell you my own story 48:57 very, very briefly. 48:58 I look back at how I used to be when I was a young boy, 49:01 and for those of you who are tuning in, 49:02 this is time for confession, good for the soul, 49:05 hard on the reputation. 49:06 Dan, when I was young man, I was a very angry young man. 49:10 I remember buying a guitar, my wife remembers this guitar, 49:12 I had a blue guitar. 49:14 Sky blue guitar with sparkles all over it. 49:17 It was imbedded in the acrylic paint 49:19 and there's a guy came over my house 49:21 and just before Christ came in and I told him 49:26 he was about to sit on the edge of the stool in my bedroom 49:29 there and I said, now don't sit on my guitar. 49:32 And he threw my guitar on the floor, Dan, 49:35 and I knocked his two front teeth in. 49:37 Now let me tell you, I cringe. 49:41 When I think of that, 49:44 I literally cringe to think did I actually do that. 49:50 I can't even picture myself today. 49:55 Coming up with any reason 49:57 that I would ever want to hit somebody 49:58 in their mouth. 50:01 But you know what this text is saying. 50:02 When you were slaves, let me go back. 50:05 When we were slaves to sin, nothing, nothing held us back. 50:11 Nothing held us back from doing wrong 50:13 because we were slaves to sin. 50:15 In other words, righteousness wasn't even a thought, 50:18 that's why it says you were free 50:19 in regard to right... 50:20 You could care less about doing what's good. 50:25 And those things when you think back on them now 50:28 of which you are now, what? 50:31 That's what that text is saying. 50:33 Did I actually do that, 50:35 when the Lord comes into our lives, 50:36 there is a godly shame 50:38 that should be experienced by us, 50:40 if you are truly converted, 50:42 there's a godly shame that says I cannot believe I did that. 50:47 Now here's the danger. 50:49 If sin is something that you're not ashamed of, 50:54 then you are not a son of the last Adam, 50:58 but if sin is something that is your desire... 51:01 See, am I breaking this down here clearly. 51:03 If sin is not something we're ashamed of, 51:05 then we have not yet been married to Christ. 51:08 And the fruits of His righteousness 51:11 have no responsibility of showing up, 51:14 because what we're doing now 51:15 the end of those things, His death. 51:17 Yet we don't even know about it, 51:19 we don't even care about it 51:20 because we have no desire at all 51:22 to even want to do anything that's right. 51:23 That's what the attitude of most of the world is, 51:25 but when they become a Christian 51:26 and they look back a year and a half later, 51:28 two years later, five years later, 51:29 ten year later, they say, 51:31 I can't believe that I used to do that. 51:35 So many people, 51:36 Doug Batchelor, David Asscherick, 51:38 the list goes on and on and on of people. 51:40 James Rafferty, I never thought 51:41 that James Rafferty was a gang member in L.A. 51:45 When he tell me, there's a James Rafferty, 51:46 don't even look like 51:47 he could have been a gang member. 51:49 What a change God makes in our lives. 51:51 Can you say amen to that. 51:53 And you know what's nice about someone 51:54 who go back to the original text, 51:56 I want you to catch this now 51:57 because a lot of times people say, 51:59 well, sooner or later, I'll be reconciled to God. 52:00 The good news is this, I want you to catch this. 52:03 The good news is this. 52:05 The Lord opens the invitation to us 52:08 even before we accept the invitation. 52:10 He says, "Come on in, be reconciled. 52:13 I've made provision for you to be reconciled." 52:16 So here's the question. 52:18 So the answer to number 14 is, 52:20 how does the Bible describe 52:21 our condition prior to the cross? 52:23 Slaves of sin. Slaves of sin. 52:27 But now let's move to question number 15, 52:29 question 14, the answer, how does the Bible 52:31 describe our condition prior to the cross? 52:33 Slaves to sin. 52:35 Those things that we do, 52:36 we don't really want to do them, 52:37 but that's why the word slave is used 52:40 because slaves don't want to do 52:41 what they do, but they are what? 52:43 Slaves, all right. Question number 15, here it is. 52:49 How is our condition described after the cross? 52:53 That's what we're all interested in, 52:54 and we're going to go to Romans 6:22, 23 52:59 to get the answer for that. 53:01 Romans 6:22, 23. 53:05 All right, we talked about 53:06 before the cross we were slaves, 53:08 what about after the cross. 53:10 In the interest of time, 53:11 I'm going to go right to the answer, 53:12 are you guys okay with that? 53:14 Here we are Romans 6:23... 53:16 22 and 23. 53:19 It starts with one word, 53:21 but it's given us some good news, 53:23 it's given us news better than the verse 53:24 that we just read, but now having been together, 53:29 set free from sin and having become what? 53:34 Slaves of God, you have your fruits to, what? 53:38 Holiness, and the end is what? Everlasting life. 53:44 And this is the context of the text we often repeat, 53:47 for the wages of sin is what? 53:49 Death, but the gift of God is eternal life 53:51 in Christ Jesus our Lord. 53:53 So that's what he's saying to us. 53:55 The answer is, 53:56 how is our condition described after the cross? 54:00 How is it described? 54:03 Free from sin, slaves of God. 54:08 Why is the word slave not a bad word in this text? 54:14 Let me give you the right context. 54:20 When a couple has a baby, 54:23 and the baby comes out looking like the dad, 54:26 does the wife say, 54:30 "If I wasn't your slave, he wouldn't look like you." 54:34 Did you say that to Dan, Cynthia? 54:37 No. What happened there? 54:38 Because the fruit, 54:40 the seed bore the image of the man, 54:44 therefore the son looked like the man from which he came, 54:49 that's in essence saying, 54:51 when you look at the fruit of righteousness, 54:53 you don't say, oh, I don't want to be God's slave, 54:55 because the fruit of God is always beautiful. 54:59 The fruit of God is always right, 55:01 the fruit of God is always His glory 55:03 being revealed in us, Amen to that. 55:06 So how does the good show up in our lives? 55:08 By us giving our lives to Christ 55:10 and then we realize the things 55:12 that show up in our lives happened 55:14 because it's no longer us who is doing it 55:17 but Christ who is doing it within us, right? 55:20 Let's go to this text. 55:21 I don't want to go to the very next verse. 55:24 How is our condition just described after the cross? 55:27 We are what? Free from sin. 55:29 We are now slaves of God, that gift of eternal life. 55:32 Go with me to Galatians 2:20. 55:36 Wish I had my another Bible here today, 55:38 but it's very important text, because I want you to see this, 55:40 so much the Bible talks about seed, 55:43 righteousness, sin, godliness, okay. 55:49 Here it is. 55:55 That's right honey. 55:57 And when you put the whole picture together, 56:00 this is this verse, Galatians 2:20 to me 56:03 is just like another John 3:16, isn't it? 56:07 Look what it says in verse 20. 56:09 "I have been crucified with Christ..." 56:12 The King James version says nevertheless I live, 56:14 I like that. 56:16 "I have been crucified with Christ, 56:17 it is no longer I who live but Christ who does," what? 56:22 "Live in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, 56:28 this mortal body. 56:30 I live by faith in the Son of God 56:34 who does what? 56:36 Who did what? 56:37 Loved me and gave Himself for me. 56:41 So now, what showing up in my life 56:44 is not because I found a new way of living 56:47 or a new way of talking, 56:49 is not because I have adopted a new plan 56:51 or decided to follow 56:53 the seven highly effective habits 56:56 of successful Christians. 56:58 It's not because I found a new spiritual guru 57:01 to suggest what kind of behavior 57:03 you should follow in the pattern of my life, 57:05 but it's because who's doing the work. 57:06 Come on tell me who's doing the work? 57:08 It is no longer I who live, but tell me again, 57:11 but Christ who lives in me. 57:13 So Jeff and April, and Marlina 57:16 and Dan and Hannah and Cynthia, Angie. 57:20 The list goes on and on. 57:21 What shows up in our lives shows up 57:23 because Christ is the one in there living through us. 57:29 So if you've accepted Christ, go home tonight 57:32 and stand in front of the mirror 57:34 for a little longer than you normally would 57:37 and just see if you could see Christ peeking out. 57:41 I'm in here, don't get discouraged, 57:43 I've started some work, 57:45 you may see some dust every now and then, 57:46 you may hear some hammering and sawing 57:48 and some things breaking. 57:49 I'm just getting rid of the old remnants 57:51 of the old man, 57:52 because Christ is on the inside. 57:54 It's so wonderful to know friends, 57:55 if you keep your life in Christ hand, 57:57 what is not clear right now, 57:58 one day will come into a beautiful 58:01 and wonderful sharper focus. 58:03 God bless you. |
Revised 2018-11-05