From Arcadia California,
The Carter Report presents
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"The Living
Word" around the world.
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Hello, friend,
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I am John Carter standing on
the banks of the Kazan River,
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that's a tributary of
the mighty Volga River
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in the land of Russia.
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This is the City of
Kazan. The capital of Tatarstan
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of Muslim Republic of
the Russian Federation.
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We are here by
the sheer grace of God
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and we say glory be to
God for this opportunity.
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Because during the year
2008, The Carter Report team
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once again by the grace of
God baptized hundreds of Muslims
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into Christ in front
of the Muslim mosque.
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People said it
could never happen
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but remember this, God is great.
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And Jesus said, with
God all things are possible.
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I want to thank you today
for your marvelous support
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for standing with us
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in the preaching of
the everlasting gospel.
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Please continue to pray
for us and pray for Kazan.
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Write to me please. John Carter,
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Post Office Box
1900, Thousand Oaks,
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California, 91358.
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We're not giving up on
Russia, neither should you.
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Please write to me. John Carter,
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Post Office Box
1900, Thousand Oaks,
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California, 91358.
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That's John Carter,
Post Office Box 1900,
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Thousand Oaks,
California, 91358.
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Support us in this great work.
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Pray for Russia and
thank you in Jesus name.
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May God richly bless you.
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Do you think God
would forgive a pedophile?
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That's about the worst
sin that I can imagine.
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Is there more than forgiveness?
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And is anybody too bad for God?
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That's the topic today,
but before I speak about it,
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would you please
welcome my wife Beverley.
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Good morning,
everyone. Good morning.
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From time to time
I get prayer requests
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and questions about anger.
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Like this one from Diana.
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I have been married
for about six months
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and on our wedding day
my husband and I promised
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each other that we
would never go to bed angry.
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Something has happened
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because I
haven't slept for a week.
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Well, Diana,
you're not the first
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and you won't be the last.
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In the short time that I have,
let's deal with the basics.
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There are
several levels of anger.
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First level is the
quick anger that arises
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when someone cuts in
front of us on the free way
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or perhaps pushes in front of
us in line at the supermarket.
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Or we are at the
mall and in that car
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we're waiting
for a parking spot,
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we see this car
backing out and all of a sudden
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there is other car
zooms in front of us.
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Oh, what do we do, get head up?
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Well, as we mature
and grow up, we let it go.
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Because we realize these
things are just the small stuff
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compared to the bigger
trials and stresses of life.
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This brings us
to the second level.
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Someone steals our car.
Someone steals our identity.
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Someone burns our house down
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and we get angry
and rightfully so.
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We need to hand
that over to the law
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and do whatever
else we need to do,
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but then move
on with God's help.
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The next level
gets more personal.
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Children and youth,
who are being attacked
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by angry bullies at school.
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We need to teach our children
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to never keep
silent about these things
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but to tell both their
teachers and their parents.
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The next level of
anger is not a pretty one,
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while we all can
get angry at times
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either at our own sinfulness
or the sinfulness of others.
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There is no excuse
for constant anger.
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There is a very insidious
lie going around that says,
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well, we can speak
and act badly as we like
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and then just
say, oh, I am sorry.
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But the Bible says to
those that live that way,
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repent before it's too late.
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Sometimes we
need to be assertive
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but not in a manipulative way.
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Some are quick to pick fights,
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they use verbal
abuse to get their own way,
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but this is not the
way of the Christian.
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When husbands and
wives or children and parents
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or people in the
workplace wherever,
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when we have a disagreement,
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let's still show the
other person respect.
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We may not agree
with what they're saying
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or how they're saying it,
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but we can show
the person respect.
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As the Bible says,
we are to treat others
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as we want them to treat us.
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Proverbs 29, "An angry
man stirs up dissension,
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or a woman and a hot
tempered one commits many sins."
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But Proverbs 16 says,
"He that is slow to anger
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is better than the mighty.
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And he that ruleth his spirit
then he that taketh a city."
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And as we look at
those two photos, I'm sure,
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we all know which
family we want to have.
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When we find ourselves angry
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or we're fighting
others that are angry,
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what do we do?
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Many books have been
written on this subject,
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some of them give good advice,
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but for the Christian,
there is one main and chief book
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"The Bible."
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If we're a
Christian, the Bible teaches us
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not to act or
react in like manner.
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If we believe we are
right, let's stand our ground
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but with grace and dignity.
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If we have been
wrongfully accused and put down,
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the Bible says,
don't seek revenge
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for vengeance is
mine saith the Lord.
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We are to forgive whether
the person asks for it or not.
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We remember the Lord's Prayer,
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"Forgive me for my sins
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as I forgive those
who sin against me."
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Forgiving doesn't
mean we become a door mat
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but by releasing
our anger and bitterness
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we are allowing the
Holy Spirit to heal us.
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When God looks
at our sinfulness,
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He also looks at
us with compassion.
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Psalms 103 says,
"The Lord is compassionate
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and gracious, slow to
anger, abounding in love."
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When we yield our
lives to His loving heart,
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He isn't angry with us.
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Instead He
welcomes us with open arms
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and with great
joy and great delight.
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The topic today is, "Why
there is more than forgiveness?"
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Will God forgive a
murderer? A pedophile?
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Can you think of
anything worse than that?
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Is the grace of God sufficient
for all types of sins?
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And if so is there
more than forgiveness?
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The law is tough. The
law doesn't save a person.
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People say, well, you know,
the law has got grace in it.
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No, there's not a
drop of grace in the law.
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The lawgiver that's--
that's another question.
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But the law is
there for a purpose
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and I want you to meet
today a special police officer.
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Would you please
welcome officer Dayne.
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Just a moment.
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Anybody who's got a
cell phone on here today,
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You know, what's gonna
happen to you, don't you?
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Officer Dayne, we're
glad to have you here today.
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Why from--and of
course we are just kidding--
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from the L.A.P.D.
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Now, folks,
watching in Australia,
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you haven't got a
clue what that means,
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I guess the L.A.P.D.
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The Los Angeles
Police Department.
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Now, officer,
what's your main job?
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To instill order
and to uphold the law.
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Is that really needed in
this great city of Angels?
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Ah, I would say so, yes.
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Why is the law so important?
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Because if there was no
law, there'd be a lot of havoc
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going around just like,
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a time I could
remember is the L.A. riots.
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When there was, we had all
our men out on in the field
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and there was
just lot of looting,
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people go--breaking
into houses, stores,
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setting fires, there
was quite a few murders, so.
00:10:25.35\00:10:29.92
So we need the law? Definitely.
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And if there is no law,
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what's gonna
happen to Los Angeles?
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What's going to happen to this
great land of the United States?
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Well, it's gonna
go down fast. Yes.
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And what's--describe
America without the law?
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Well, I mean, you can see
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some of those other countries
in like the Middle East.
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There's people going
around bombing places,
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there's all kinds of
crazy things going on.
00:10:59.60\00:11:02.94
I want to say, and
we want to say this
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to the television audience.
00:11:04.81\00:11:07.21
We believe as Christian
citizens in upholding the law.
00:11:07.24\00:11:12.58
And we thank God
for our police force
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and especially for
policemen like you, Steve.
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Thank you. And
God bless you, Steve.
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Thank you for coming today.
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And you folks all know,
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Steve was doing a little
bit of acting there, wasn't he?
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You all know, who
he was, don't you?
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Yeah, but didn't
he look good? Yes.
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Yeah. I remember--I remember
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telling you folks
sometime back now--
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you know time get by, this must
be in five or six years ago,
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when Beverley and I had
been up to see the girls
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in San Francisco.
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We are driving back
and we're in a speed limit
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of 70 miles an hour
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and so I had the car just
stuck in 70 miles an hour.
00:11:58.82\00:12:03.77
Remember the story,
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a guy went past
riding a motorbike.
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I've never seen
anything like that before,
00:12:06.71\00:12:08.40
because he went past so
fast I could hardly see him.
00:12:08.43\00:12:10.85
And when he went past, he
stood up, actually stood up
00:12:10.88\00:12:15.25
and then he put
his arms out like this.
00:12:15.28\00:12:18.70
Now I--I was like the man
in the Bible who turned aside
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to see that great
sight and so I said
00:12:22.39\00:12:25.52
I am gonna catch up to
him and see what he is doing?
00:12:25.55\00:12:29.71
But he--he was
going down the road,
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I guess 110, may
be 120 miles an hour.
00:12:32.15\00:12:36.12
Standing up in the stirrups
with his hands out like this.
00:12:36.15\00:12:40.22
And so I was catching
up on him but he turned off
00:12:40.25\00:12:43.34
and I slowed down
but as I was slowing down
00:12:43.37\00:12:48.65
a police car was coming
from the other direction
00:12:48.68\00:12:52.61
but there was this
thing between the two of us,
00:12:52.64\00:12:55.05
I thought, ha-ha.
00:12:55.08\00:12:58.98
And so I slowed
down, I was back to 70
00:12:59.01\00:13:02.25
and I heard the noise,
this big car pulled up behind me
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and put his lights on,
but there was a semi-trailer
00:13:08.40\00:13:11.88
next to me and he
pulled straight off the road.
00:13:11.91\00:13:14.69
Because he thought the
policeman was after him.
00:13:14.72\00:13:18.51
But the
semi-trailer pulled off the road
00:13:18.54\00:13:21.38
but the cop
went--went straight down around.
00:13:21.41\00:13:24.82
Didn't stop the
semi-trailer and pull me up
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and when he pull me
up, he put down my window,
00:13:28.17\00:13:31.60
I said, "good morning officer,
nice day." He said, "yes."
00:13:31.63\00:13:36.69
He said, "You know
how fast you were going?"
00:13:36.72\00:13:40.66
I said, "how fast do
you think I was going?"
00:13:40.69\00:13:43.77
Now I shouldn't tell you folks.
00:13:43.80\00:13:46.89
I don't do this folks
except when I'm provoked.
00:13:46.92\00:13:52.48
He--I gave him the
figure which was the figure
00:13:52.51\00:13:55.63
he gave me actually and
I said, "I am relieved."
00:13:55.66\00:13:59.43
He said, "you're relived
to be caught?" I said, "no,
00:13:59.46\00:14:02.41
I am relieved that
I was slowing down."
00:14:02.44\00:14:06.16
He said, "you
were slowing down?"
00:14:06.19\00:14:08.74
He said, "how fast
had you being going?"
00:14:08.77\00:14:11.94
I said, just between friends,
00:14:11.97\00:14:13.66
so I gave him this
three digit figure.
00:14:13.69\00:14:19.11
He said, "what, why
were you doing this?"
00:14:19.14\00:14:22.18
I said-- Beverley said,
00:14:22.21\00:14:24.16
she said plead
temporary insanity.
00:14:24.19\00:14:26.29
You know, she was
talking all the time, I said,
00:14:26.32\00:14:30.02
for goodness sake be
quiet, don't' say anymore.
00:14:30.05\00:14:33.25
She said, "officer, I told
him he ought to keep the law."
00:14:33.28\00:14:37.10
That's what she said.
00:14:37.13\00:14:38.50
"I told him, he
shouldn't have been speeding."
00:14:38.53\00:14:40.86
I said, "officer,
I'm completely guilty,
00:14:40.89\00:14:44.27
but I saw a motorbike go past me
00:14:44.30\00:14:46.80
and the man was standing up
and he was waving like a bird."
00:14:46.83\00:14:50.65
The policeman
said, "you saw that?"
00:14:50.68\00:14:52.68
He said, "I saw it too."
00:14:52.71\00:14:54.44
He said, "what do
you think he was doing?"
00:14:54.47\00:14:56.14
I said, "that's the very
thing I was trying to find out."
00:14:56.17\00:15:00.07
It's true. I said,
00:15:00.10\00:15:01.64
"I was trying to catch him
to see how he could do this?"
00:15:01.67\00:15:05.41
The policeman said, "I've
never seen anything like it."
00:15:05.44\00:15:08.56
He said--had the
book out, he said,
00:15:08.59\00:15:13.72
"what do you do?"
00:15:13.75\00:15:15.35
Oh, I said, "it's
better for you not to know."
00:15:15.38\00:15:20.99
He said, "where do you
live?" I said, "Thousands Oaks."
00:15:21.02\00:15:23.78
He said, "what
you've been doing?"
00:15:23.81\00:15:26.25
I said, "we've been
seeing our daughters."
00:15:26.28\00:15:29.82
He said, "what you
do?" I said, "I'm a pastor."
00:15:29.85\00:15:32.67
Yeah, I said, "one of
the tenants of our faith
00:15:32.70\00:15:35.49
is that we tell
people to keep the law."
00:15:35.52\00:15:39.92
He said, you sort of weren't
very successful today, were you?
00:15:39.95\00:15:44.72
I said, "no, but, you
know, I saw this great."
00:15:44.75\00:15:48.48
And he said, "I did too."
00:15:48.51\00:15:49.88
So we talked about this
guy on the motorbike again
00:15:49.91\00:15:52.56
for a little bit
then he put the book down,
00:15:52.59\00:15:55.10
he said, "I guess
everybody needs a break."
00:15:55.13\00:16:00.62
He said everybody needs a break.
00:16:00.65\00:16:03.41
He said even including you.
00:16:03.44\00:16:05.20
And he said, "just
be careful don't go fast
00:16:05.23\00:16:09.85
because there are lots of
my brethren down the road."
00:16:09.88\00:16:13.84
And I say, "that's
it?" He said, "yeah.
00:16:13.87\00:16:16.77
You have a nice day."
So I said, "God bless you."
00:16:16.80\00:16:22.29
Now listen, folks,
there's such a thing as grace.
00:16:22.32\00:16:25.59
But the law
can't show you grace.
00:16:25.62\00:16:29.19
Only the person
in charge of the law.
00:16:29.22\00:16:32.76
But the law cannot change
00:16:32.79\00:16:36.65
and the law does
not show you mercy.
00:16:36.68\00:16:41.12
And the law
demands its pound of flesh.
00:16:41.15\00:16:47.94
Listen, when you break
the law, you've got to pay.
00:16:47.97\00:16:53.55
There is always a penalty.
00:16:53.58\00:16:54.95
Now we're talking
not about man's law.
00:16:54.98\00:16:57.05
You know, State of California,
you can say 70 or 65 or 55.
00:16:57.08\00:17:02.16
Man can forgive easily that
00:17:02.19\00:17:05.22
but the Law of
God cannot be changed
00:17:05.25\00:17:09.26
and it cannot be bent
just because some guy is riding
00:17:09.29\00:17:14.35
a motorbike and you've
gone out to see the sight.
00:17:14.38\00:17:16.95
I want you to come over
here to Romans Chapter 2:12
00:17:16.98\00:17:19.87
in the Holy
Scriptures, Romans Chapter 2:12,
00:17:19.90\00:17:26.26
Apostle Paul says, "All
who sin apart from the law
00:17:26.29\00:17:31.25
will also perish
apart from the law,
00:17:31.28\00:17:34.04
and all who sin under the
law will be judged by the law."
00:17:34.07\00:17:37.39
Whether you know the law or
not, it makes no difference.
00:17:37.42\00:17:44.61
Because the law is eternal,
whether you know about it or not
00:17:44.64\00:17:49.41
that's concerning God's law.
00:17:49.44\00:17:51.34
Come over here to Chapter 7:12.
00:17:51.37\00:17:54.69
Paul cries out, "So
then, the law is holy,
00:17:54.72\00:17:59.89
and the commandment is
holy, righteous and good."
00:17:59.92\00:18:05.68
Therefore I want this to
sink down into your ears today
00:18:05.71\00:18:11.06
and if you don't
understand about the law
00:18:11.09\00:18:13.83
you can't understand
about what Christ did for us.
00:18:13.86\00:18:18.06
The Bible teaches
that the law is binding,
00:18:18.09\00:18:22.07
eternal, just unforgiving
and demands its pound of flesh.
00:18:22.10\00:18:29.93
And the good news
of the gospel is this.
00:18:29.96\00:18:33.84
Now this--do you
think the law is the gospel?
00:18:33.87\00:18:38.27
Answer me. Is
the law, the gospel?
00:18:38.30\00:18:42.32
The law is not the gospel.
00:18:42.35\00:18:45.27
People say, well, everything
in the Bible is gospel.
00:18:45.30\00:18:48.51
No, it's not. There is
the law and the gospel.
00:18:48.54\00:18:55.00
But the gospel is
different to the law,
00:18:55.03\00:18:58.76
but it upholds the law.
00:18:58.79\00:19:01.09
Listen, "Jesus paid the
full penalty of the law for me."
00:19:01.12\00:19:08.97
I want you to come now
to John Chapter 18:3-8,
00:19:09.00\00:19:14.00
and I want you to
look at these text
00:19:14.03\00:19:15.68
that you've never
look at them before
00:19:15.71\00:19:17.61
because I've
discovered something wonderful
00:19:17.64\00:19:20.85
in these verses.
00:19:20.88\00:19:23.13
John Chapter 18:3 and onwards.
00:19:23.16\00:19:26.64
John the gospel, according
to Saint John Chapter 18:3
00:19:26.67\00:19:32.45
and onwards, "So
Judas came to the grove,
00:19:32.48\00:19:36.65
guiding a
detachment of soldiers"
00:19:36.68\00:19:39.43
that's like the law coming.
00:19:39.46\00:19:41.60
And some officials
from the chief priests
00:19:41.63\00:19:44.11
and the Pharisees.
00:19:44.14\00:19:45.68
They were carrying
torches, lanterns, and weapons.
00:19:45.71\00:19:50.84
This is like the law.
00:19:50.87\00:19:53.01
Jesus, knowing all that
was going to happen to Him,
00:19:53.04\00:19:57.63
went out and asked
them, "who is it you want?"
00:19:57.66\00:20:03.31
"Jesus of
Nazareth," they replied.
00:20:03.34\00:20:08.46
"I am he," Jesus said.
00:20:08.49\00:20:11.31
And Judas the traitor
was standing there with them.
00:20:11.34\00:20:14.62
When Jesus said, "I am he,"
00:20:14.65\00:20:18.61
they drew back and
fell to the ground.
00:20:18.64\00:20:21.14
Again He asked them,
"Who is it you want?"
00:20:21.17\00:20:25.73
And they said,
"Jesus of Nazareth."
00:20:25.76\00:20:30.30
And look at this next verse
00:20:30.33\00:20:32.04
because this is
sort of amazing, verse 8.
00:20:32.07\00:20:36.67
"I told you that I
am he," Jesus answered.
00:20:36.70\00:20:40.96
"'If you are looking for
me, then let these men go."
00:20:40.99\00:20:46.53
And there is the gospel.
00:20:46.56\00:20:49.15
The law comes with flaming
torches and with soldiers
00:20:49.18\00:20:54.45
but Jesus steps out and He says,
00:20:54.48\00:20:57.34
here I am, let these men go.
00:20:57.37\00:21:04.29
And when the men
were allowed to go
00:21:04.32\00:21:07.08
he went to the Cross to
pay the price of a broken law.
00:21:07.11\00:21:13.76
And so the gospel to me
today and the gospel to you
00:21:13.79\00:21:18.03
is summed up in these
amazing words of our Lord.
00:21:18.06\00:21:22.02
These words that I've overlooked
00:21:22.05\00:21:23.73
for many, many
years when Jesus said,
00:21:23.76\00:21:26.78
"I am he, and let these men go."
00:21:26.81\00:21:33.35
Because He went to the Cross.
00:21:33.38\00:21:38.57
The Bible tells me, He
chose not to go with them,
00:21:38.60\00:21:43.68
He could have gone with them,
00:21:43.71\00:21:46.05
but instead they
went-- they went home.
00:21:46.08\00:21:51.46
He went to the Cross.
00:21:51.49\00:21:54.78
Let me tell you, why the details
00:21:54.81\00:21:59.24
of the passion of
Gethsemane and the Cross
00:21:59.27\00:22:04.21
are a mystery to
many, many people.
00:22:04.24\00:22:07.21
Even a mystery to
many, many Christians.
00:22:07.24\00:22:11.61
A mystery to people
who believe especially
00:22:11.64\00:22:15.19
in the moral influence theory,
00:22:15.22\00:22:19.58
when they read the
story of Gethsemane
00:22:19.61\00:22:21.98
and the story of the Cross,
00:22:22.01\00:22:24.21
it is an
incomprehensible mystery
00:22:24.24\00:22:27.98
because of their theology.
00:22:28.01\00:22:30.54
Firstly, the
sweat of the garden.
00:22:30.57\00:22:36.69
He's taken the cup.
And as He takes the cup.
00:22:36.72\00:22:43.38
He sweats as it were great drops
of blood falling to the ground.
00:22:43.41\00:22:48.76
Why is this? This
is surely a mystery.
00:22:48.79\00:22:53.30
If I was simply drinking
some wine or whatever it was,
00:22:53.33\00:22:58.17
I would not be sweating
in agony drops of blood.
00:22:58.20\00:23:02.26
Would you come
over here to Isaiah 51
00:23:02.29\00:23:05.17
and this gives us
some idea, Isaiah 51:17
00:23:05.20\00:23:11.54
my dear, friends.
00:23:11.57\00:23:14.46
It talks about the
cup of the Lord's wrath.
00:23:14.49\00:23:19.08
"Awake, awake!
Rise up, O Jerusalem,
00:23:19.11\00:23:21.99
you who have drunk
from the hand of the Lord
00:23:22.02\00:23:25.20
the cup of his
wrath. You who have drained
00:23:25.23\00:23:28.85
to its dregs the goblet
that makes men stagger."
00:23:28.88\00:23:33.03
There is a cup from the Lord.
00:23:33.06\00:23:36.51
And as the British call
it, it is the cup of his wrath.
00:23:36.54\00:23:42.18
It is the cup of
punishment and judgment
00:23:42.21\00:23:45.45
and when people
drink from this cup,
00:23:45.48\00:23:48.13
the Bible says, they
stagger like drunk man.
00:23:48.16\00:23:54.74
And then if you come over please
00:23:54.77\00:23:56.21
to the Book of Ezekie
23 in the Holy Scriptures,
00:23:56.24\00:24:01.75
Ezekiel 23 and
look at these verses
00:24:01.78\00:24:05.21
as so you are reading
them for the first time.
00:24:05.24\00:24:07.56
Ezekiel 23:32 and 33,
00:24:07.59\00:24:13.40
"This is what the
sovereign Lord says,
00:24:13.43\00:24:15.64
'You will drink
from your sister's cup,
00:24:15.67\00:24:18.82
a cup large and
deep; it will bring scorn
00:24:18.85\00:24:22.58
and derision,
for it holds so much.
00:24:22.61\00:24:25.74
You will be filled
with drunkenness and sorrow,
00:24:25.77\00:24:29.74
the cup of ruin and desolation,
00:24:29.77\00:24:33.31
the cup of your sister Samaria."
00:24:33.34\00:24:35.87
The Bible talks about
the cup of the Lord's wrath.
00:24:35.90\00:24:41.53
And the Bible
says that when this cup
00:24:41.56\00:24:43.88
is placed into the
hand of the sinner,
00:24:43.91\00:24:46.75
he trembles and he mourns
00:24:46.78\00:24:49.74
and he cries out in
anguish and he staggers.
00:24:49.77\00:24:55.93
That is the cup that
Jesus was drinking from.
00:24:55.96\00:25:01.79
He was drinking of the
cup of the Lord's fierce anger
00:25:01.82\00:25:08.35
because of the broken law.
00:25:08.38\00:25:12.27
You must remember
and we are inclined
00:25:12.30\00:25:15.07
to overlook this. When
we think of religion today,
00:25:15.10\00:25:22.78
We usually think
not of a young Christ.
00:25:22.81\00:25:28.76
We think of the Father
shown as the ancient of days
00:25:28.79\00:25:33.75
but Jesus in the
Garden of Gethsemane
00:25:33.78\00:25:37.12
is a man in His
prime, in His 30s.
00:25:37.15\00:25:41.07
He is suntanned. He has muscles,
00:25:41.10\00:25:45.55
bless your heart,
He was a carpenter
00:25:45.58\00:25:48.69
and walking 20 or 30
miles a day was nothing to Him
00:25:48.72\00:25:52.48
because He was in
the prime of manhood.
00:25:52.51\00:25:57.25
And yet in the
Garden of Gethsemane,
00:25:57.28\00:25:59.70
He staggers and He cries
and He sweats drops of blood.
00:25:59.73\00:26:05.62
And then you think of the cry
of their election on the Cross,
00:26:05.65\00:26:09.77
a mystery to the world.
00:26:09.80\00:26:12.54
An incomprehensible
mystery when God's own Son,
00:26:12.57\00:26:17.28
the sinless one,
hangs on the Cross
00:26:17.31\00:26:20.13
and He gasps out to His Father,
00:26:20.16\00:26:23.74
"my God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?"
00:26:23.77\00:26:31.47
A person who doesn't understand
the mystery of the Cross
00:26:34.48\00:26:37.32
would say, I would
like to die like Christ
00:26:37.35\00:26:40.81
because He was the Son of God.
00:26:40.84\00:26:43.04
The death of Christ is
the death of a lost soul
00:26:47.79\00:26:53.70
whose drunk the cup
of the Lord's wrath.
00:26:53.73\00:26:57.54
A strong young man, in
his prime who cries out,
00:26:57.57\00:27:01.63
my God, my God, "Why
have you forsaken me?"
00:27:01.66\00:27:03.87
Why? Because the law demands
00:27:03.90\00:27:09.33
its pound of
flesh, never forget it.
00:27:09.36\00:27:14.48
You know the play
written by Shakespeare
00:27:14.51\00:27:18.17
and the man who said,
00:27:18.20\00:27:19.68
I demand my pound of
flesh that is the law.
00:27:19.71\00:27:24.54
And then you think of
the suddenness of His death.
00:27:24.57\00:27:28.82
This also is an incomprehensible
mystery to those
00:27:28.85\00:27:33.12
who do not understand the
doctrine of the blood atonement.
00:27:33.15\00:27:39.12
It is a fact that
a man or even a woman
00:27:39.15\00:27:43.79
because they crucified
women also, in the same way.
00:27:43.82\00:27:48.50
A man or a woman could survive
the torments of the Cross
00:27:48.53\00:27:52.85
not for hours but for days.
00:27:52.88\00:27:58.88
Suspended between
earth and heaven, stark naked
00:27:58.91\00:28:03.95
before the
world, covered in blood,
00:28:03.98\00:28:10.21
the tormented victim
at last would have his
00:28:10.24\00:28:13.66
or her eyes
picked out by the birds.
00:28:13.69\00:28:18.37
But this would take
days of suffering and pain,
00:28:18.40\00:28:22.23
but this stronger
than usual young man.
00:28:22.26\00:28:25.60
A man in the prime of
life, in his probably mid 30s
00:28:25.63\00:28:30.04
expired in a brief six hours.
00:28:30.07\00:28:33.47
They nailed him up at nine,
00:28:33.50\00:28:35.19
He was gone by three.
00:28:35.22\00:28:37.94
And these mysteries to the
world are not mysteries to us
00:28:41.76\00:28:47.25
who understand the gospel.
00:28:47.28\00:28:50.10
The Bible tells
me he was carrying
00:28:50.13\00:28:53.60
the curse of the law.
00:28:53.63\00:28:56.72
And come over here please
to Second Corinthians 5:14
00:28:56.75\00:29:02.32
Second Corinthians 5:14.
00:29:02.35\00:29:08.52
Second
Corinthians 5:14. Paul says,
00:29:08.55\00:29:12.42
"And he died for
all, He died for all,
00:29:12.45\00:29:16.10
that those who live
should no longer live
00:29:16.13\00:29:18.35
for themselves but
for him who died for them
00:29:18.38\00:29:22.16
and was raised
again." Christ died for us.
00:29:22.19\00:29:27.54
And verse 21 says these
words, notice these words.
00:29:27.57\00:29:33.91
"God made him Christ who
had no sin to be sin for us,
00:29:33.94\00:29:41.39
who are full of
sin, So that in him
00:29:41.42\00:29:45.61
we might become the
righteousness of God."
00:29:45.64\00:29:50.74
That is what the Bible says.
00:29:50.77\00:29:53.81
In a way that
is incomprehensible
00:29:53.84\00:29:56.67
to the slow, dull, witted minds,
00:29:56.70\00:30:01.84
the sin of every person
whose ever lived B.C., A.D.
00:30:01.87\00:30:09.62
from the beginning of
time to the end of time.
00:30:09.65\00:30:12.35
The sin of all
people will laid upon Him
00:30:12.38\00:30:17.75
and sin is
breaking the law of God.
00:30:17.78\00:30:21.82
And the law shows no mercy.
00:30:21.85\00:30:25.54
If you come over
here to Galatians,
00:30:25.57\00:30:27.06
Chapter 3 and verse 13,
00:30:27.09\00:30:32.32
unlike the law of
man that can show mercy,
00:30:32.35\00:30:36.64
the law of God
can show no mercy.
00:30:36.67\00:30:41.33
But the lawgiver can.
Galatians 3:13, the Bible says,
00:30:41.36\00:30:47.38
"Christ redeemed us, from what?
00:30:47.41\00:30:50.71
The curse of the law
00:30:50.74\00:30:54.97
by becoming a curse for us,
00:30:55.00\00:30:59.96
for it is written,
"Cursed is everyone
00:30:59.99\00:31:03.83
who is hung on a tree."
00:31:03.86\00:31:06.38
Therefore the mystery
of the cross is understood
00:31:06.41\00:31:11.14
when we appreciate the fact
00:31:11.17\00:31:12.89
that Christ was
carrying the curse of the Law.
00:31:12.92\00:31:16.27
He was being
punished for our sins
00:31:16.30\00:31:19.33
and He was
condemned by the law of God.
00:31:19.36\00:31:22.51
He suffered the
penalty, so He could say,
00:31:22.54\00:31:26.04
let these men go.
00:31:26.07\00:31:30.43
He could not say those
words, let these men go,
00:31:30.46\00:31:36.56
if He did not go in their place.
00:31:36.59\00:31:40.73
"'Let these men go."
00:31:48.10\00:31:52.11
Forgiveness is described in
the Bible in different ways.
00:31:52.14\00:31:56.15
Today we shall take part too.
00:31:56.18\00:31:59.87
Forgiveness is
described in the Bible
00:31:59.90\00:32:02.13
firstly by the
word justification.
00:32:02.16\00:32:06.47
This is the legal
language of the court.
00:32:06.50\00:32:13.31
This is a forensic term,
00:32:13.34\00:32:16.60
you've heard of a
forensic scientist.
00:32:16.63\00:32:20.86
The word
justification is the term
00:32:20.89\00:32:23.79
that is used in a court.
00:32:23.82\00:32:26.33
Come over here to
Romans Chapter 4 verses 5 to 8,
00:32:26.36\00:32:30.13
Romans Chapter 4
and verses 5 down to 8,
00:32:30.16\00:32:36.29
"However, to the
man who does not work,
00:32:36.32\00:32:39.07
that's for
salvation, but trusts God
00:32:39.10\00:32:42.02
who justifies the wicked,
00:32:42.05\00:32:46.65
his faith is
credited as righteousness.
00:32:46.68\00:32:50.87
David says the same thing
00:32:50.90\00:32:52.68
when he speaks of the
blessedness of the man
00:32:52.71\00:32:55.51
to whom God credits
righteousness apart from works.
00:32:55.54\00:33:00.92
"Blessed are they whose
transgressions are forgiven,
00:33:00.95\00:33:04.75
whose sins are covered.
00:33:04.78\00:33:07.30
Blessed is the
man whose sin the Lord
00:33:07.33\00:33:10.72
will never court against him."
00:33:10.75\00:33:15.33
This word justification,
let me write it up to justify,
00:33:15.36\00:33:22.30
justify, it is a
forensic legal term.
00:33:22.33\00:33:29.02
And it talks, it means
forgiveness in the sense
00:33:29.05\00:33:33.84
that God declares,
justify means to declare
00:33:33.87\00:33:41.13
that the sinner is righteous.
00:33:41.16\00:33:45.67
He now stands in
a different position
00:33:45.70\00:33:49.49
to the position
he stood in before.
00:33:49.52\00:33:52.01
It is to declare
righteous. It does not mean
00:33:52.04\00:33:57.11
as Mother Teresa
was taught to believe,
00:33:57.14\00:34:00.14
it does not mean
to make righteous.
00:34:00.17\00:34:05.55
Now Mother
Teresa, we all believe
00:34:05.58\00:34:09.71
was a great Saint of God.
00:34:09.74\00:34:11.29
I have preached sermons on her,
00:34:11.32\00:34:14.48
but more recently her
letters were published
00:34:14.51\00:34:18.33
in which she
said, she never enjoyed
00:34:18.36\00:34:21.66
for one moment the favor of God.
00:34:21.69\00:34:26.01
Am I here to judge
her, of course not,
00:34:26.04\00:34:28.45
God is the judge.
But often she said,
00:34:28.48\00:34:32.25
she felt that she should become
00:34:32.28\00:34:34.56
an atheist because
she did not see His face.
00:34:34.59\00:34:38.78
She was taught by the
great scholars, the Jesuits.
00:34:38.81\00:34:44.50
The justification is a
process of making righteous
00:34:44.53\00:34:50.93
and therefore she
would ask herself everyday,
00:34:50.96\00:34:53.86
have I been
made righteous enough
00:34:53.89\00:34:57.01
to stand in the presence of God?
00:34:57.04\00:34:59.73
And everyday she said,
00:34:59.76\00:35:01.72
no, I am not good enough.
00:35:01.75\00:35:05.94
In contrast,
there was Martin Luther
00:35:08.14\00:35:13.87
also a Roman Catholic.
00:35:13.90\00:35:18.63
But after Martin Luther
read the sacred Scriptures
00:35:18.66\00:35:22.42
and particularly
the Book of Romans
00:35:22.45\00:35:25.05
that I recommend to you.
00:35:25.08\00:35:26.89
Luther was found kneeling
before a crucifix saying,
00:35:26.92\00:35:30.95
for me, for me.
00:35:30.98\00:35:34.61
He understood the
meaning of the words,
00:35:34.64\00:35:37.71
"Let these men go."
00:35:37.74\00:35:44.39
Because of the blood atonement.
00:35:44.42\00:35:49.79
And so in the scriptures
you have justification
00:35:49.82\00:35:54.25
which brings
complete full forgiveness
00:35:54.28\00:35:57.53
and it also gives us
a restored relationship.
00:35:57.56\00:36:02.54
Come over here
please to Luke Chapter 15,
00:36:02.57\00:36:05.36
a restored relationship.
00:36:05.39\00:36:11.12
Luke Chapter 15, I want you
to see this with your own eyes,
00:36:11.15\00:36:17.08
"Now the tax
collectors and Sinners
00:36:17.11\00:36:19.34
were all gathered
around to hear him.
00:36:19.37\00:36:21.56
But the Pharisees and
the teachers of the law
00:36:21.59\00:36:24.13
muttered, 'This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them.'
00:36:24.16\00:36:29.14
Without knowing it they
were preaching the gospel."
00:36:29.17\00:36:33.14
And then you have the
story of the "Prodigal son"
00:36:33.17\00:36:36.98
verse 11, Jesus
continued, 'There was a man
00:36:37.01\00:36:39.61
who had two sons.
The younger one said
00:36:39.64\00:36:41.49
to his father,
Father, give me, give me,
00:36:41.52\00:36:44.22
give me, that's the
cry of the carnal heart.
00:36:44.25\00:36:47.57
Give me my share of the estate.
00:36:47.60\00:36:49.21
So he divided his
property between them.
00:36:49.24\00:36:51.87
Not long after the younger
son got together all he had,
00:36:51.90\00:36:55.39
set off for a distant country.
00:36:55.42\00:36:57.10
and you know the story, he
squanders it in wild living.
00:36:57.13\00:37:01.38
At in the end he is
completely destitute
00:37:01.41\00:37:05.14
without a friend.
00:37:05.17\00:37:08.26
And verse 20, "So he got up
00:37:08.29\00:37:10.60
and went to his
father after an awakening.
00:37:10.63\00:37:13.99
But while he was
still a long away off,
00:37:14.02\00:37:15.75
his father saw him was
filled with compassion for him;
00:37:15.78\00:37:18.79
he ran to his son,
00:37:18.82\00:37:20.19
threw his arms
around him and kissed him.
00:37:20.22\00:37:22.75
And the son makes the speech,
00:37:22.78\00:37:24.47
Father, I have sinned
against heaven, I am not worthy.
00:37:24.50\00:37:27.59
And verse 23, "The father
said to the servants. Quick!
00:37:27.62\00:37:32.69
Bring the best
robe and put it on him.
00:37:32.72\00:37:34.46
Put a ring on his
finger and sandals on his feet.
00:37:34.49\00:37:37.93
Bring the
fattened calf and kill it.
00:37:37.96\00:37:39.69
Let's have a
feast and celebrate."
00:37:39.72\00:37:44.33
So this verse here is not giving
00:37:44.36\00:37:48.43
an exegesis of justification.
00:37:48.46\00:37:52.44
It is talking about what happens
00:37:52.47\00:37:55.09
when the sinner comes
to the Father's house,
00:37:55.12\00:37:58.32
He is completely
forgiven and he is restored
00:37:58.35\00:38:02.98
to the fellowship
of the Father's house.
00:38:03.01\00:38:06.50
So when you come back
to the Father's house,
00:38:06.53\00:38:09.55
it is as though you
would never been away.
00:38:09.58\00:38:14.60
The legal basis is
the Cross of Christ.
00:38:14.63\00:38:20.43
Thus the father can
say, "Let these men go."
00:38:20.46\00:38:25.38
They are declared righteous
and there is room for them
00:38:25.41\00:38:28.93
at my table in my house.
00:38:28.96\00:38:33.61
Now the Bible says,
there is forgiveness for all
00:38:33.64\00:38:39.83
who come to
themselves and come home,
00:38:39.86\00:38:45.21
not just for some.
00:38:45.24\00:38:49.28
The Calvinists
teach this T-U-L-I-P.
00:38:49.31\00:38:56.56
This stands for total depravity,
00:38:56.59\00:39:02.12
and by that they
mean that we're depraved
00:39:02.15\00:39:04.55
in every area of our beings.
00:39:04.58\00:39:06.98
And of course, they are
quite correct, the Calvinists
00:39:07.01\00:39:11.74
and they're millions of
earnest Godly Calvinists.
00:39:11.77\00:39:15.43
They also teach the doctrine of
00:39:15.46\00:39:18.59
unconditional, what?
00:39:18.62\00:39:25.19
"Unconditional election."
00:39:25.22\00:39:28.74
So when you are
elected from all eternity.
00:39:28.77\00:39:32.00
There are no conditions.
00:39:32.03\00:39:33.99
And God in his
infinite wisdom has elected
00:39:34.02\00:39:38.34
a certain number to be saved
and a certain number to burn
00:39:38.37\00:39:42.69
for all eternity
in the fires of hell.
00:39:42.72\00:39:46.54
Whether they're good
or whether they are bad.
00:39:46.57\00:39:50.68
Total depravity,
unconditional election.
00:39:50.71\00:39:56.07
And they also teach a doctrine
00:39:56.10\00:39:58.55
that has been
believed by millions
00:39:58.58\00:40:01.67
and that is a
"limited atonement."
00:40:01.70\00:40:08.08
That means the
Christ did not die
00:40:08.11\00:40:10.69
for the whole wide world.
00:40:10.72\00:40:12.09
Why should He do so
00:40:12.12\00:40:13.49
when the whole wide world
is not going to except it?
00:40:13.52\00:40:15.55
He dies only for the elect.
00:40:15.58\00:40:20.15
Only for a small number.
00:40:20.18\00:40:22.81
And he uses
"Irresistible Grace."
00:40:22.84\00:40:30.81
Once his grace comes to
you, you cannot resist it.
00:40:30.84\00:40:35.92
And therefore the
elector going to be saved
00:40:35.95\00:40:39.40
because of his
irresistible grace
00:40:39.43\00:40:42.90
that will give them
grace for perseverance.
00:40:42.93\00:40:48.26
Now this is a great doctrine
00:40:48.29\00:40:50.48
that split the Christian church.
00:40:50.51\00:40:52.23
Total depravity not
all of this is wrong,
00:40:52.26\00:40:54.89
unconditional
election, limited atonement,
00:40:54.92\00:40:58.65
irresistible grace,
perseverance of the saints.
00:40:58.68\00:41:04.92
It is a profound
doctrine believed by millions
00:41:04.95\00:41:08.80
but it is wrong.
00:41:08.83\00:41:10.68
Would you come over here
00:41:10.71\00:41:12.08
to First Timothy
Chapter 2 and verses 5 and 6.
00:41:12.11\00:41:16.41
First Timothy
Chapter 2 and verses 5 and 6.
00:41:16.44\00:41:22.84
And here is the
text, "For there is one God
00:41:22.87\00:41:26.04
and one mediator
between God and men,
00:41:26.07\00:41:28.64
the man Christ Jesus, who
gave himself as a ransom for--
00:41:28.67\00:41:35.15
What does they say? For all men.
00:41:35.18\00:41:37.81
The testimony
given in its proper time.
00:41:37.84\00:41:40.51
Come now to First John right
towards the close to the Bible,
00:41:40.54\00:41:43.50
First John
Chapter 2 and verse 2.
00:41:43.53\00:41:47.32
This is a great text that goes
completely against Calvinism.
00:41:47.35\00:41:52.33
First John
Chapter 2 and verse 2,
00:41:52.36\00:41:54.79
"He is the atoning
sacrifice for our sins,
00:41:54.82\00:41:58.87
and not only for ours
00:41:58.90\00:42:00.72
but also for the sins
of the whole wide world."
00:42:00.75\00:42:06.13
And because my friend
he made a blood sacrifice
00:42:06.16\00:42:11.19
and atoning sacrifice
not a limited atonement
00:42:11.22\00:42:15.02
because he made it for all men.
00:42:15.05\00:42:17.15
He can turn to all men
who come to Him and say,
00:42:17.18\00:42:20.21
let these men
go. Let these men go.
00:42:20.24\00:42:26.97
Because this doctrine is
clearly taught in the Bible.
00:42:27.00\00:42:33.14
There is forgiveness
for every kind of sin
00:42:33.17\00:42:37.95
and every kind of sinner
00:42:37.98\00:42:45.13
Think about it, even
Pharisees, even Pharisees,
00:42:45.16\00:42:52.80
super religious
people can be saved.
00:42:52.83\00:42:55.95
And that takes a
lot of the grace of God.
00:42:55.98\00:42:59.57
But the man who has been called
00:42:59.60\00:43:01.22
the most wicked man in
all the Bible is Manasseh.
00:43:01.25\00:43:05.37
Come over here to
Second Chronicles Chapter 32.
00:43:05.40\00:43:09.16
I don't know if he
is the most wicked.
00:43:09.19\00:43:10.94
There are plenty of
wicked men in the Bible
00:43:10.97\00:43:13.99
but some say that this was
00:43:14.02\00:43:15.80
the most wicked
man in the Bible.
00:43:15.83\00:43:18.21
He's certainly up
there with the worst.
00:43:18.24\00:43:22.02
Chapter 32, verse 33,
00:43:22.05\00:43:28.54
you got that Chapter 32:33.
00:43:28.57\00:43:32.40
"Hezekiah
rested with his fathers
00:43:32.43\00:43:34.84
and was buried on the hill
00:43:34.87\00:43:36.24
where the tombs of
David's descendants are."
00:43:36.27\00:43:38.03
Now he was one
of the best kings.
00:43:38.06\00:43:40.47
He is a great guy.
00:43:40.50\00:43:41.88
But his son was one of
the biggest scoundrels.
00:43:41.91\00:43:46.20
All Judah and the
people of Jerusalem
00:43:46.23\00:43:48.58
honored him when he died.
00:43:48.61\00:43:49.98
And Manasseh, his son
succeeded him as king.
00:43:50.01\00:43:53.76
Read on,
Manasseh was 12 years old.
00:43:53.79\00:43:56.54
He reigned in
Jerusalem 55 years.
00:43:56.57\00:43:59.14
Verse 2, He did evil
in the eyes of the Lord,
00:43:59.17\00:44:01.44
following the detestable
practice of the nations,
00:44:01.47\00:44:05.94
the people, the
Lord had driven out.
00:44:05.97\00:44:07.85
Verse 3, "He
rebuilt the high places
00:44:07.88\00:44:10.08
his father
Hezekiah had demolished
00:44:10.11\00:44:12.27
he also erected
altars to the Baals
00:44:12.30\00:44:14.63
and made Asherah poles.
00:44:14.66\00:44:16.26
He bowed down
to the starry hosts
00:44:16.29\00:44:18.50
and worshipped them.
00:44:18.53\00:44:19.90
He built altars in
the temple of the Lord,
00:44:19.93\00:44:21.95
of which the Lord had said,
00:44:21.98\00:44:23.40
my name will remain
in Jerusalem forever.
00:44:23.43\00:44:26.68
In both courts of
the temple of the Lord,
00:44:26.71\00:44:28.52
he built altars to
all the starry hosts.
00:44:28.55\00:44:31.40
He sacrificed
his sons in the fire,
00:44:31.43\00:44:34.34
in the valley of Ben Hinnom,
00:44:34.37\00:44:36.10
practiced sorcery,
divination, witchcraft,
00:44:36.13\00:44:40.74
consulted
mediums and spiritists."
00:44:40.77\00:44:43.66
He sacrificed his
own flesh and blood.
00:44:43.69\00:44:47.34
He was a spiritists.
He worshipped the devil.
00:44:47.37\00:44:54.73
If we had a person like
that today in the church,
00:44:54.76\00:44:58.62
we might be aroused to put
him under church censorship.
00:44:58.65\00:45:05.42
I don't think you'll
read anywhere in the Bible
00:45:05.45\00:45:07.87
a man is bad as Manasseh.
00:45:07.90\00:45:11.03
Look out verses 10
to 13, verses 10 to 13.
00:45:11.06\00:45:16.53
The Lord spoke to
Manasseh and his people,
00:45:16.56\00:45:18.56
they paid no attention.
00:45:18.59\00:45:20.72
So the Lord brought against them
00:45:20.75\00:45:22.83
the army commanders
of the king of Assyria,
00:45:22.86\00:45:26.91
who took Manasseh prisoner,
put a hook in his nose,
00:45:26.94\00:45:30.40
bound him with bronze shackles
and took him to Babylon.
00:45:30.43\00:45:33.58
In his distress he sought
the favor of the Lord his God,
00:45:33.61\00:45:36.88
but I guess he must have
committed the unpardonable sin.
00:45:36.91\00:45:41.32
After all those
big sins but it says,
00:45:41.35\00:45:44.29
he humbled himself greatly
before the God of his Father.
00:45:44.32\00:45:47.59
And when he prayed to
him the Lord was moved
00:45:47.62\00:45:51.22
by his entreaty and
listened to his plea,
00:45:51.25\00:45:55.25
so he brought
him back to Jerusalem
00:45:55.28\00:45:58.02
and to his kingdom.
00:45:58.05\00:45:59.42
Then Manasseh knew
that the Lord is God.
00:45:59.45\00:46:05.47
Listen, if God
can forgive Manasseh,
00:46:09.28\00:46:13.69
he can forgive you.
00:46:13.72\00:46:16.56
Can you say, amen? Amen.
00:46:16.59\00:46:18.07
If the Lord can just take
away the sins of Manasseh,
00:46:18.10\00:46:21.47
if He can forgive
him, He can forgive me.
00:46:21.50\00:46:26.96
So this is about
the worst character
00:46:26.99\00:46:30.49
I can think of
anywhere in history.
00:46:30.52\00:46:33.35
This man he was a spiritists.
He worshiped the devil,
00:46:33.38\00:46:37.65
he sacrificed
his sons in the fire.
00:46:37.68\00:46:40.99
He put them to death.
He rose to them to death.
00:46:41.02\00:46:45.44
And when God's spoke to him,
00:46:45.47\00:46:46.84
he said, I do
want to hear from you.
00:46:46.87\00:46:50.58
When he turns to
God, God forgives him.
00:46:50.61\00:46:57.31
So God can forgive
murderers, say amen. Amen.
00:46:57.34\00:47:04.27
He can forgive adulterers,
he can forgive pedophiles.
00:47:04.30\00:47:09.49
Now let me talk about this.
00:47:09.52\00:47:13.39
I don't think there's anything
worst than that. It's my belief.
00:47:13.42\00:47:18.00
I don't think there's
anything worst than that.
00:47:18.03\00:47:22.79
I must saying that when
a pedophile is forgiven.
00:47:22.82\00:47:27.66
You're not
gonna be on your guard
00:47:27.69\00:47:30.91
because only God
can read the heart.
00:47:30.94\00:47:34.15
You can't read the
heart. I can't read the heart.
00:47:34.18\00:47:37.21
And God has also
given us a brain.
00:47:37.24\00:47:39.79
But the Bible tells me,
God will forgive every sin
00:47:39.82\00:47:45.91
that is placed upon
Christ in repentance.
00:47:45.94\00:47:49.65
So he'll forgive
murderers and adulterers
00:47:49.68\00:47:54.24
and pedophiles, and
liars, and hypocrites,
00:47:54.27\00:48:01.06
he'll even
forgive churchy people.
00:48:01.09\00:48:03.93
So if you feel hopeless today
00:48:03.96\00:48:06.14
and if you think the church
doesn't care for you a bit.
00:48:06.17\00:48:10.59
Remember this,
Jesus died for the ungodly
00:48:10.62\00:48:16.28
and there is hope
for every person. Amen.
00:48:16.31\00:48:21.07
And that's why Jesus
said, What did he say?
00:48:21.10\00:48:24.91
"Let these men go."
He'll let you go too.
00:48:24.94\00:48:31.61
But there is
more than forgiveness.
00:48:31.64\00:48:34.55
Is the joy of knowing the
father and your relationship
00:48:34.58\00:48:39.70
The joy of knowing
the king's household,
00:48:39.73\00:48:44.22
I am going to read you a dream.
00:48:44.25\00:48:47.91
And this is literary device.
00:48:47.94\00:48:50.97
This was written by an author
00:48:51.00\00:48:52.80
who lived a long, long,
longtime ago in England.
00:48:52.83\00:48:57.50
He was a preacher.
00:48:57.53\00:49:00.07
And he was talking about
Jesus and how Jesus saves.
00:49:00.10\00:49:05.35
"In my third
dream I saw a young man
00:49:05.38\00:49:08.04
who was a university student.
00:49:08.07\00:49:10.45
He was seated alone
in his own small room,
00:49:10.48\00:49:13.19
with his books on
the table before him.
00:49:13.22\00:49:15.81
He was of magnificent physique,
00:49:15.84\00:49:18.17
but he was very lonely and
his heart was disconsolate.
00:49:18.20\00:49:21.66
There was almost a
haunted look on his face.
00:49:21.69\00:49:24.78
And as I looked into his mind
I saw it was in a state of war.
00:49:24.81\00:49:31.52
The good was fighting the evil,
00:49:31.55\00:49:33.79
and the issue
was still uncertain.
00:49:33.82\00:49:36.48
His room was covered,
00:49:36.51\00:49:37.88
was a symbol of
the state of his mind.
00:49:37.91\00:49:40.18
The walls were
covered with vulgar pictures
00:49:40.21\00:49:42.97
cut from chip magazines.
00:49:43.00\00:49:45.07
And yet, on a little
shelf away in a corner,
00:49:45.10\00:49:48.20
was a photograph of his mother.
00:49:48.23\00:49:51.20
I do not remember that I heard
the door open, in my dream.
00:49:51.23\00:49:54.71
I became aware
that Jesus was sitting
00:49:54.74\00:49:57.79
opposite to student
in his bare little room.
00:49:57.82\00:50:00.91
The knowledge came to me
00:50:00.94\00:50:02.79
as one becomes
aware of the light
00:50:02.82\00:50:04.73
of some lovely
dawn amid the baleful
00:50:04.76\00:50:07.76
glittering lights
of some belated orgy.
00:50:07.79\00:50:12.50
"You thought of
Me," said the quite voice
00:50:12.53\00:50:15.43
which I had learned
in my dreams to love,
00:50:15.46\00:50:17.54
"and so I am here."
00:50:17.57\00:50:20.86
I also knew that
Jesus could see the battle
00:50:20.89\00:50:23.34
that was raging in
the young man's mind.
00:50:23.37\00:50:26.58
I knew the fiery
temptations of youth,
00:50:26.61\00:50:29.23
the rash impetuousness,
the desire to 'see life,'
00:50:29.26\00:50:34.08
were battling with an
idol of a clean, manly life.
00:50:34.11\00:50:38.99
And the look in Jesus' face
made me think of those words,
00:50:39.02\00:50:42.88
'Jesus looking
upon him, loved him.'
00:50:42.91\00:50:47.24
Then there came to
me strange impression.
00:50:47.27\00:50:51.13
It seemed as though
there emanated from Jesus
00:50:51.16\00:50:53.93
a spirit of belief
in the possibilities
00:50:53.96\00:50:56.43
of the man before him.
00:50:56.46\00:50:59.44
And he held up his head at once.
00:50:59.47\00:51:01.83
Indeed, any man may
well hold up his head
00:51:01.86\00:51:06.02
if Jesus believes in Him.
00:51:06.05\00:51:10.17
And, although no
question had been asked,
00:51:10.20\00:51:12.42
the student said very
quietly, 'I will begin again.'
00:51:12.45\00:51:19.73
And Jesus smiled.
00:51:19.76\00:51:22.99
That is another
strange thing about Jesus.
00:51:23.02\00:51:26.22
He has the power to
see below the surface
00:51:26.25\00:51:29.83
into the very
depths of the heart.
00:51:29.86\00:51:32.83
He sees the
seeds of lovely flowers
00:51:32.86\00:51:36.39
where others see only the
ugly brown soil that hides them.
00:51:36.42\00:51:42.36
It is not so true to say
that He loves the unlovable
00:51:42.39\00:51:45.80
as to say that in everyone
He sees something lovable.
00:51:45.83\00:51:53.80
And, when the students saw
that Jesus believed in him,
00:51:53.83\00:51:58.00
he believed in himself,
00:51:58.03\00:51:59.90
and goodness sprang
into quickend growth.
00:51:59.93\00:52:04.42
Feeling that Jesus
was near as never before,
00:52:04.45\00:52:09.35
there flashed
into the student's mind
00:52:09.38\00:52:11.29
an impetuous wish to ask Him
about some of the intellectual
00:52:11.32\00:52:15.96
religious difficulties
that were troubling him.
00:52:15.99\00:52:19.72
And Jesus, reading
his thoughts, said,
00:52:19.75\00:52:26.95
'Have you not seen enough?'
00:52:26.98\00:52:30.92
And with a great light on
his face the student said,
00:52:30.95\00:52:34.17
"Yes, it is enough."
00:52:34.20\00:52:41.22
He felt that he wanted no proof.
00:52:41.25\00:52:44.47
The student felt
quite sure of Jesus.
00:52:44.50\00:52:48.93
And, indeed, Jesus needs
no credentials except Himself.
00:52:48.96\00:52:56.93
And again in my dream
00:52:56.96\00:52:58.52
I was allowed to
look into the future,
00:52:58.55\00:53:02.53
and I saw the
student in the same room,
00:53:02.56\00:53:06.26
but all the vulgar
pictures had been taken down.
00:53:06.29\00:53:11.42
I remember noticing too
00:53:11.45\00:53:16.60
that the sunlight was
pouring in through the window.
00:53:16.63\00:53:21.98
And when I looked into his mind
00:53:22.01\00:53:24.66
I saw that there, too,
00:53:24.69\00:53:27.16
many thought-pictures
had disappeared,
00:53:27.19\00:53:32.29
that there too
the sun was shining."
00:53:32.32\00:53:39.74
So there is more, I
tell you, than forgiveness.
00:53:39.77\00:53:47.64
There is the power
of the transforming
00:53:47.67\00:53:51.19
presence of the living Christ.
00:53:51.22\00:53:55.51
Amen. Amen.
00:53:55.54\00:53:58.13
Please kneel with me.
00:53:58.16\00:54:01.72
Oh, our father, we thank you,
2,000 years ago, in the garden,
00:54:13.36\00:54:21.06
the strong Son of
God and the Son of man,
00:54:21.09\00:54:26.41
turned to the mob that
represented the seaking Law
00:54:26.44\00:54:33.47
and said of his disciples,
let these go their way.
00:54:33.50\00:54:39.51
We thank you that he did
not go that same way with them.
00:54:39.54\00:54:44.03
But He went to the
Cross to pay the curse
00:54:44.06\00:54:49.28
of the law which
cannot be changed.
00:54:49.31\00:54:54.42
We thank you
because He went to the Cross
00:54:54.45\00:54:57.97
and that the Bible doesn't teach
00:54:58.00\00:54:59.70
the doctrine of a
limited atonement.
00:54:59.73\00:55:02.19
We thank you that there's
hope today for every one of us.
00:55:02.22\00:55:07.02
There's hope for the murderer
00:55:07.05\00:55:08.83
who may be
watching this telecast,
00:55:08.86\00:55:11.52
the rapist, the thief, the liar,
00:55:11.55\00:55:15.97
the gossip, the slanderer,
00:55:16.00\00:55:19.07
the Sabbath
breaker, the pedophile,
00:55:19.10\00:55:25.18
the sexually impure,
00:55:25.21\00:55:30.02
the Pharisee morally impure,
00:55:30.05\00:55:34.42
but who thinks
that he is righteous.
00:55:34.45\00:55:36.89
We thank you that no
sin is too bad for Christ.
00:55:36.92\00:55:42.08
That the God who saved Manasseh
can save every person today.
00:55:42.11\00:55:47.97
If we will trust in Christ
00:55:48.00\00:55:51.43
and that is what
we want to do today.
00:55:51.46\00:55:53.86
We want to thank you, dear Lord,
00:55:53.89\00:55:55.61
for the blood atonement
of our savior on the Cross.
00:55:55.64\00:56:00.29
We want to thank
you for the tears
00:56:00.32\00:56:03.63
like great drops of blood.
00:56:03.66\00:56:06.73
We want to thank you
for the cry, the mourn,
00:56:06.76\00:56:09.48
my God, my God, why
have you forsaken me.
00:56:09.51\00:56:12.91
We want to thank
you today for the death
00:56:12.94\00:56:15.72
that came after six hours
00:56:15.75\00:56:18.30
which shows it was
a supernatural death,
00:56:18.33\00:56:22.15
because the strong Son of
God was dying for our sin,
00:56:22.18\00:56:28.57
so that from the
Cross he might whisper
00:56:28.60\00:56:31.04
in every heart,
let these men go.
00:56:31.07\00:56:36.35
Now, father, we worship
you today and we thank you.
00:56:36.38\00:56:42.67
We praise you for your
love, we thank you for Christ.
00:56:42.70\00:56:48.92
And we rejoice today
that you've let us go.
00:56:48.95\00:56:55.16
Thank you, Lord in Jesus name.
00:56:55.19\00:56:58.99
Amen, amen.
00:56:59.02\00:57:02.08