It's been 2000 years since
the glorious light of the cross
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illuminated a world veiled
in darkness and confusion about
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the character of God. And
still today the greatest need of
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mankind is a revelation of God's
love as revealed in the life of
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Christ. Amazing Facts presents
the Everlasting Gospel with
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Pastor Doug Batchelor coming
to you each week from Sacramento
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Central Church in sunny
California. Discover hidden
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treasures in God's word today.
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Today we're dealing with
Nicodemus part 3 and it would
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be titled Whosoever Believeth.
Whosoever Believeth. Now just to
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give you a little background,
there is this man named
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Nicodemus. I don't want to
assume everybody has been here
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for each part of the series. He
is a Pharisee. Pharisees often
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had problems with Jesus and
Jesus with them because there
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was all this outward religion.
They were preoccupied with the
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doing of the deeds without the
new heart and Christ said except
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your righteousness exceeds the
righteousness of the scribes and
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the Pharisees you will not enter
the kingdom of God. It could not
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be simply the external actions.
It needed to be the inner
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attitude, a new heart. And
Nicodemus, he thought maybe he
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was going to help Jesus because
he was in the Sanhedrin, a very
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wealthy man. He was a ruler
among the people, a leader.
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He had heard some of the musings
the talk among the Pharisees in
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the Sanhedrin about how we
needed to deal with this Jesus.
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We needed to get rid of him. He
was a threat to the nation, and
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Nicodemus would speak up in
Christ's behalf but he realized
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that Jesus needed to be warned.
He also wondered, perhaps this
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is the Messiah. Kind of
interesting, he thought he was
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going to come to Jesus and save
Jesus. Jesus said no you're not
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coming to save me, but I
can tell you how to be saved.
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You need to be born again.
And he was going to talk to him
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about you know are the Messiah.
And Jesus talked to him as if
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there's no question about that,
now let me tell you what to do.
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You need to be born again. So
they entered into this dialogue
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and in our talk last week we
ended up and matter of fact you
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might resume with me by going to
verse 14, just to play the tape
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back a little bit so you know
where we're at. Jesus says to
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Nicodemus and as Moses lifted
up the serpent in the wilderness
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even so must the Son of Man be
lifted up. Now all of the Jews
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knew what lifted up means.
It meant crucifixion. It was a
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phrase. You know in our culture
if someone is on death row and
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you say what's going to happen
you say they're going to get
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fried. Well you know what that
means in our culture. I know
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that sounds kind of crude but
crucifixion they had terminology
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for it, it meant lifted up. And
so they knew exactly what that
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meant. That was the
Roman method of execution.
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Also Nicodemus did not have to
think very long what Christ was
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talking about when he talked
about the experience in the
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wilderness with Moses. The
people looked at that serpent up
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on the pole, a symbol of
the defeated enemy, and through
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looking in faith they
were healed. I remember reading
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about a painting. I did not see
it but I heard it described that
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was in one of these great art
galleries and it's a depiction
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of that scene where Moses
is lifting up the serpent.
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The children of Israel have all
been bitten by these serpents
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and there's a number of
individuals in the picture.
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Some of the Israelites who had
been bitten, and you could see
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the serpent who was crawling
away, they were putting a
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poultice on the bite. Some are
looking at Moses and they're not
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getting any better. Some
are looking to their families.
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some are looking at the serpents
but only the one that looks at
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the bronze serpent on the pole
is healed and it's only those...
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not the ones who look to the
preacher, it's not the ones who
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look to the problem, it's
the ones who look to Christ that
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receive the healing. Jesus
became sin for us. By his dying
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on the cross it symbolized that
the venom of sin was going to be
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neutralized. And then we read
verse 15. Now this verse should
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sound familiar to you because
this verse is repeated word for
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word in verse 16. So God
wants us to remember this.
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That whosoever believes in
Him should not perish but have
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eternal life. Does that sound
familiar? Matter of fact, if I
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was to quote verse 15 to
you you would think I was really
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quoting half of verse 16. But
it is repeated in verse 16. Why?
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When Jesus said verily,
verily he's trying to emphasize
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something to us, right? Whoever
believes. That's the title of
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our message this morning. Now
are you a whosoever? The Bible
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ends with the words whosoever.
God will give him the water of
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life freely. We're going to
direct our attention now to that
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famous verse John chapter 3
verse 16. Before I go there I
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want you to notice something.
There are approximately, I just
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want to make sure I get this
right, 1,189 chapters in the
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Bible. This is the Protestant
Bible we're talking about.
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If there are 1,189 chapters in
your Bible, chapter 1000 is John
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chapter 3. Did you know
that. It's interesting. It's the
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millennial chapter. We've
spent three weeks on that now.
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And in that chapter the
most famous verse is what verse?
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John chapter 3 verse 16. It is
the most memorized verse in the
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Bible. How many of you, by show
of hands, I'm not going to put
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you on the spot, just wanted to
know, could quote John 3:16 if
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you were asked. Now I realize
some have modern translations
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that instead of believeth
it says believe and instead of
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whosoever it says whoever,
but it's the same verse in all
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Bibles. Why are these 25 words
so important? It is the summary
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of the plan of salvation. Matter
of fact, Luther called John 3:16
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the gospel in miniature. It
is the gospel compressed and
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blessed in a nut shell. We're
going to look at it again on the
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screen here and you can read
it out loud with me and then I'm
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going to take it apart. You
ready? John 3:16: For God so
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Now I'm going to tell you why
I think that this greatest verse
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in the Bible. Notice here. First
it starts with God, the greatest
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individual, the greatest being.
So - the greatest emphasis.
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Loved the greatest motive.
The world, the greatest number
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that he gave, the greatest act
His only the greatest rarity,
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begotten Son the greatest gift,
that whosoever, the greatest
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invitation, believeth in Him
the greatest opportunity, should
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not perish the
greatest deliverance, but have
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everlasting life, the greatest
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possession. Every nuance of
this verse is on steroids. Maybe
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that's not a good thing to
say these days. I mean, it's
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industrial strength. They're
all very potent verses. Now even
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Ellen White speaking of this
verse, not just Luther and many
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of the great reformers, she says
and this in the book 9Manuscript
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release page 235. And thank you
Roy for reminding me to look for
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this. She said: Speaking of John
3:16, Suppose that we had not
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another promise in all the lids
of scripture, now these are lids
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means in the volume of the Bible
is not this enough to condemn
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every soul that hath not living
faith in a personal Savior
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whosoever believes in him he
gave his only begotten Son that
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whosoever and whosoever means
you and me, it means parents and
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children. For whom did Christ
die? Was it for a select few?
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It was for the whole world, the
world that was fallen because of
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transgression. I like
that phrase, suppose we had not
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another verse between the lids
of scripture. The whole gospel
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is blessed and compressed
in a nutshell in this verse.
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Now we're going to take it more
specifically apart and I want to
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emphasize again what we've
talked about. John 3:16 word by
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word. For - in other words
consider this. God - It begins
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with God. Something like
the Bible, in the beginning God.
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When you pray the Lord's
prayer it begin with Our Father.
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It begins with God. That's where
it needs to start. He's the
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greatest lover of all mankind.
You know, I've heard it said
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that the bestselling books year
after year are the love stories
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and the mysteries. The Bible and
this chapter we've been studying
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in particular has the greatest
love story and the greatest
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mystery, the mystery of the
incarnation, of the sacrifice.
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And that's perhaps why it is
so popular. It begins with God.
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When we are fully cognizant of
his great love for us we'll not
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look to any other. He's so,
I want to stop there. So... You
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know I remember a story I
have never forgotten, and I've
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probably shared this before.
Pastor Fagal who was the founder
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of the Faith For Today program,
tells one morning that he was
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reading the paper and he
read this tragic story in the
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newspaper about a little boy,
four years old, whose parents
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bought him a red Radio Flyer
wagon for his birthday. And
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first day on his birthday he's
playing with his wagon. Did any
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of you have one of those growing
up? How many of you had a friend
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that had one. I just want a
little better response. How many
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of you know what I'm talking
about. A red Radio Flyer wagon.
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Thank you. He wanted to ride it
down his drive way. You know you
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have to turn the whole tongue
on the thing to turn the wheels
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and I guess first time down the
driveway he didn't know how to
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turn onto the sidewalk and
he went straight out into the
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street, was hit by a truck
and killed. How sad. And Pastor
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Fagal's wife walked over while
he was reading this and his eyes
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were tearing up and she said
what's the problem? And he said,
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Ah, I just read this
tragic story. How grieved those
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parents must be. Strangely
enough then the phone rang and
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it was the family calling him
asking if he would conduct the
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service for this four-year-old
boy that was lost. So he goes
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to the church and I've been at
these services before. A little
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white coffin, they are very
difficult. And he said after you
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do the service and then
after the friends of the family
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typically they file out. The
last to leave are the family and
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they often go by the coffin. And
the mother fell over the coffin
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and just kept saying we loved
you so, we loved so. And he said
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from that point on whenever
he would preach on John 3:16 the
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word so meant a lot more. I was
part of a funeral right here in
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town, a 13-year-old boy that
died, same thing. It was one of
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our Samoan families and
they went there and they said we
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loved you so. Our son, our son.
And you know it takes on more
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meaning when you think about God
didn't have to include that word
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so. He could have said God loved
the world, but saying he loved
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them so much. It's the greatest
emphasis that you can have.
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He so loved. Now that word there
there's a number of words for
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love. There's eros, there's
phileo which is brotherly love.
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Eros is where you get the
word erotic, it's sort of the
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romantic love. But this is the
word agapeo where we get agape.
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It is that unconditional
love, that complete love. It's a
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divine love. He so loved
unconditionally, he so loved
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completely to the greatest
degree. That's what this love
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means. It means it cannot be
exceeded in height or depth or
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breadth or width. Life and death
cannot separate us from that
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love. It is the so love. By the
way. It's the so love for you.
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It's not the so love for the
world. God so loved the world.
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But this is the greatest number.
And sometimes we might struggle
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with that because doesn't the
Bible say not to love the world?
00:14:13.88\00:14:18.36
Matter of fact, its' the same
author of this chapter who says
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in I John chapter 2, love not
the world nor the things that
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are in the world. Now it's not
talking about the people in the
00:14:26.35\00:14:29.47
world. It's talking about the
sins of the world. It's talking
00:14:29.50\00:14:32.80
worldliness. When Jesus talks
about the world here he uses
00:14:32.84\00:14:37.17
the word cosmos and it means
not only this lost planet but
00:14:37.20\00:14:42.29
all the people in the planet.
Now I'll confess to you it's a
00:14:42.33\00:14:47.39
stretch of faith for me to
comprehend the individuality
00:14:47.42\00:14:53.84
of his love. Let me explain. You
can sort of understand how, you
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know if I were to ask you to go
and die for some criminal that's
00:14:58.72\00:15:02.35
on death row to lay down your
life for him you might say you
00:15:02.39\00:15:05.89
know he's getting what he
deserves. It might be a struggle
00:15:05.93\00:15:08.76
for you. Come on, fess up. Don't
admit it but you know in your
00:15:08.80\00:15:11.95
heart right now it might be a
tough thing to do. After all my
00:15:11.99\00:15:15.23
family needs me or whatever
excuses you might have. And I'd
00:15:15.26\00:15:20.51
have them too. But then if I
said we'd like to ask you to die
00:15:20.54\00:15:25.05
for this family. There's about
six or eight of them in the
00:15:25.09\00:15:29.53
family, you'd say well you know
if it's one on one I'm probably
00:15:29.57\00:15:32.19
worth as much as someone else
I might not do that but if it's
00:15:32.22\00:15:35.20
my life for several lives
then that might be a worthwhile
00:15:35.24\00:15:38.91
sacrifice. Or if I were to
say we need you to lay down your
00:15:38.95\00:15:42.59
life that you could save
everybody on an airplane.
00:15:42.62\00:15:46.38
Would you do it? You've got
to tackle the terrorist and take
00:15:46.42\00:15:48.95
the bullet so they all can live.
Well we've already seen examples
00:15:48.99\00:15:52.95
of where that happened during
9/11. These people realized
00:15:52.98\00:15:56.03
that plane was going to be
flown into a public place and
00:15:56.07\00:15:59.10
they kind of put their lives
on the line to stop it from
00:15:59.14\00:16:02.06
happening. So there are even
people who will do that for a
00:16:02.09\00:16:06.75
larger group or for a town
and I think that if you really
00:16:06.79\00:16:11.38
believe that you had to lay down
your life to save every human on
00:16:11.42\00:16:14.38
earth, there's six billion,
you'd probably say that's a no
00:16:14.41\00:16:19.03
brainer. I don't want to do it
but I should because I can never
00:16:19.07\00:16:22.18
live with myself if I didn't.
How many agree with that?
00:16:22.21\00:16:25.14
You or six billion. You're not
worth that much. Of course, you
00:16:25.18\00:16:29.68
should, right? So it's easy when
you say for God so loved the
00:16:29.72\00:16:34.90
world. I could understand there
are so many. But when he says
00:16:34.93\00:16:41.29
that he's really saying you,
just you and you can read, it's
00:16:41.32\00:16:46.82
taught in the Bible that Christ
loves you individually. And in
00:16:46.86\00:16:52.33
the Spirit of Prophecy
Jesus would have gone through
00:16:52.36\00:16:54.86
everything he went through just
for you. Whether you believe him
00:16:54.90\00:16:59.26
or not, whether you accept
him or not, he did it. So the
00:16:59.29\00:17:03.39
question is did he die for you
in vain? Well that's up to you.
00:17:03.43\00:17:08.59
He paid for it. How sad that
Christ would pay for your sins
00:17:08.62\00:17:13.64
and then you have to pay
for them too. Penalty for sin is
00:17:13.67\00:17:18.81
death. He took your penalty.
If you believe that you can be
00:17:18.85\00:17:23.39
saved and have everlasting life.
But if you don't well then you
00:17:23.42\00:17:27.74
have got to pay as though it's
all your own. Isn't that right?
00:17:27.77\00:17:32.06
I'm just giving you basic
theology. So loved the world
00:17:32.09\00:17:39.16
that he gave. The greatest
act in history is giving.
00:17:39.20\00:17:46.20
The greatest act occurred when
the Father sent his Son the Lord
00:17:46.24\00:17:48.83
Jesus to be a sacrifice for
the sins of the whole world.
00:17:48.86\00:17:51.83
He handed over his most valuable
treasure. You know from time to
00:17:51.87\00:18:00.06
time, I've been with families
who have lost a child. And it is
00:18:00.09\00:18:07.66
especially hard when it is
their only child that they have.
00:18:07.70\00:18:15.20
Sometimes families lose a child.
I know it's always heartbreaking
00:18:15.24\00:18:20.74
I know. It's always extremely,
keenly painful and you know in
00:18:20.78\00:18:26.25
the natural course of life
people die and some of us may
00:18:26.28\00:18:29.19
have to bury a spouse someday.
Some of us likely are going to
00:18:29.23\00:18:34.30
have to bury our parents,
siblings, but it's never more
00:18:34.33\00:18:38.25
keen than if you outlive a
child and have to bury a child.
00:18:38.28\00:18:42.85
That's extremely painful. But
when it's their only child and
00:18:42.88\00:18:47.84
then the parents go home and
there's no other children and
00:18:47.88\00:18:51.82
when it says that God so
loved the world he gave his only
00:18:51.85\00:18:55.54
begotten Son some people have
twisted that and they try to
00:18:55.58\00:18:59.23
make something out of the word
begotten and they say Jesus was
00:18:59.26\00:19:02.88
created at some time in the
infinite past that he was...
00:19:02.91\00:19:06.21
it's talking about that God has
an only Son and the only time
00:19:06.25\00:19:11.56
God was begotten as a man
is in Jesus. But he preexisted.
00:19:11.60\00:19:17.77
He is the only Son of God.
God the Son. And when the Father
00:19:17.80\00:19:23.90
withdrew his presence from Jesus
on the cross-Ah it ruptured the
00:19:23.94\00:19:29.51
heart of not only God the
Son but God the Father as well.
00:19:29.54\00:19:34.99
He gave his only begotten Son,
the greatest gift. You know if
00:19:35.02\00:19:39.89
people said before if your
house was on fire what would you
00:19:39.92\00:19:43.52
retrieve. And I've often thought
it was funny. The first thing
00:19:43.55\00:19:47.75
that people say is photographs.
I said do you have any children?
00:19:47.79\00:19:51.96
Oh, after the children. Of
course, I'd get my children.
00:19:51.99\00:19:57.36
And if you had to choose between
you making it out or your child
00:19:57.40\00:20:04.76
making it out, which would
it be? So for God the Father...
00:20:04.79\00:20:08.31
Some people think that God
is up in heaven and he's wanting
00:20:08.34\00:20:11.98
to snuff out this rebellious
race because you know they're
00:20:12.01\00:20:15.92
so obstinate and God is waiting
to zap us with lightening and
00:20:15.95\00:20:19.83
God the Son is saying please
Father spare them and he's
00:20:19.86\00:20:22.08
pleading in our behalf. Some of
us have this idea that God the
00:20:22.12\00:20:25.35
Father is the authoritarian,
legalist in the heavens who
00:20:25.38\00:20:28.11
wants to destroy us and God
the Son in the loving one who's
00:20:28.14\00:20:31.22
trying to save us. And Jesus
says no, no, no, no. The Father
00:20:31.26\00:20:34.51
himself loves you Christ said.
It is God the Father who loves
00:20:34.55\00:20:39.77
you so much he gave God the Son.
Now it was a joint effort to
00:20:39.80\00:20:45.09
save humanity, but they both
love us. Where is the love even
00:20:45.13\00:20:49.46
the greatest, what would be the
hardest, for you to suffer or
00:20:49.49\00:20:55.50
watch your child suffer. Now you
could go forever circling around
00:20:55.53\00:21:01.51
that thought because it broke
the Son's heart to know the
00:21:01.54\00:21:04.28
Father was suffering so much.
That whosoever. I'm still on our
00:21:04.32\00:21:10.66
verse. I mean can you get any
bigger than that? That's a very
00:21:10.70\00:21:15.41
important verse. I'll tell you
why. Because that verse cuts off
00:21:15.44\00:21:19.18
Calvinism at the knees. Now I
believe John Calvin was a great
00:21:19.22\00:21:22.69
theologian. I expect to see
him in heaven, but part of his
00:21:22.72\00:21:26.21
theology, once saved always
saved and predestination that
00:21:26.25\00:21:30.11
God has arbitrarily selected
some to be saved, they are the
00:21:30.14\00:21:33.57
elect and the others God
has appointed to wrath. I don't
00:21:33.60\00:21:37.64
believe that. That idea of
Calvinism, that God has decided
00:21:37.67\00:21:41.42
who can be saved and we don't
have a free will, that's not
00:21:41.46\00:21:46.20
true and John 3:16 destroys that
If God is going out there and
00:21:46.23\00:21:49.85
he's saying I've created these,
eeny, meeny, miney, moe, you're
00:21:49.89\00:21:53.23
going to be saved and you're not
I've appointed you to salvation
00:21:53.26\00:21:56.95
and you to wrath. And I've made
you to live holy and you to be a
00:21:56.99\00:22:00.65
sinner. If God makes anyone
to sin, then he becomes an
00:22:00.68\00:22:03.69
accomplice. Am I right? Does
that make sense? And that's why
00:22:03.73\00:22:07.51
this verse is so important. God
who would not have any man be
00:22:07.54\00:22:11.65
to perish, I'm now in II Peter.
He's not willing that any should
00:22:11.69\00:22:15.77
perish. God who would have
all men to be saved. Whosoever.
00:22:15.80\00:22:19.78
You know what's wonderful about
this is if you think about it
00:22:19.82\00:22:23.77
that would include you.
The invitation is to whosoever.
00:22:23.80\00:22:31.53
That's wonderful. I remember
hearing a story about a mason
00:22:31.57\00:22:39.53
who was carrying these big
buckets of cement and he'd have
00:22:39.56\00:22:47.45
one in each hand. Did any of you
ever carry a five gallon bucket
00:22:47.49\00:22:51.83
of concrete that's been mixed?
You know those masons they've
00:22:51.87\00:22:56.68
got arms like Popeye, they
get strong. And he's got one in
00:22:56.71\00:23:00.57
each hand and one day he
decided to bring his little boy
00:23:00.60\00:23:04.39
to work with him and he used to
walk up a ladder with two five
00:23:04.43\00:23:07.42
gallon buckets full of concrete.
That must weight, what do you
00:23:07.45\00:23:10.85
think, Barry, 100 pounds apiece.
Something like that. They were
00:23:10.88\00:23:14.00
heavy. And he brought his little
boy to work with him one day
00:23:14.04\00:23:16.91
and the father wanted the boy to
feel like he could help him so
00:23:16.95\00:23:19.96
he took his little beach plastic
sand pale and put a little
00:23:20.00\00:23:22.80
concrete at the bottom and
the boy's struggling, you know,
00:23:22.84\00:23:25.96
carrying it between both legs
and the dad says you want me to
00:23:25.99\00:23:28.85
help you with that and he says
no, it's too heavy for you dad.
00:23:28.89\00:23:36.94
And you know if God's sacrifice
is potent enough to cleanse the
00:23:36.97\00:23:42.99
sins of all the world, not just
all the world today, but all of
00:23:43.02\00:23:49.01
humanity that has ever lived,
how absurd is it for you to
00:23:49.04\00:23:53.55
think that your sins are too
much for him. How absurd for you
00:23:53.58\00:23:57.15
to think, I know there's been a
lot of sinners in the world that
00:23:57.18\00:24:00.40
Jesus has saved and some of them
have been just as far away as
00:24:00.44\00:24:04.34
you can possible imagine, he
somehow saves them, but me, I'm
00:24:04.38\00:24:08.97
pretty heavy. I don't know if
he can save me. Well you've got
00:24:09.00\00:24:13.56
very small faith. If he can
handle the sins of the whole
00:24:13.59\00:24:17.61
world then he can handle
yours. If the blood of Christ is
00:24:17.65\00:24:22.15
affective and sufficient and
potent enough to wash the sins
00:24:22.18\00:24:25.84
of the whole world, what
makes you think your sins are so
00:24:25.87\00:24:29.46
special that he can't wash yours
away? If he can save the whole
00:24:29.50\00:24:33.74
world from sin he can save
you from your sins. Whosoever.
00:24:33.77\00:24:37.92
He's not only inviting everybody
he's assuring everybody I've
00:24:37.96\00:24:42.08
got enough for you. Here
we are at the end of history.
00:24:42.11\00:24:46.03
He's probably run out of
salvation after 6000 years.
00:24:46.06\00:24:52.97
The bank's running low. No.
Whosoever. Believeth in him.
00:24:53.00\00:24:59.70
The word is pisue. It means
to have faith in, to entrust, to
00:24:59.73\00:25:06.40
commit especially one's
spiritual well-being. Now this
00:25:06.43\00:25:12.09
verse is key. That's why it's
part of our title. Whosoever
00:25:12.13\00:25:18.12
does what? Whosoever believeth.
What does that mean? Because
00:25:18.16\00:25:22.71
whoever does it will be saved.
Whoever doesn't do it will be
00:25:22.74\00:25:28.40
lost. Matter of fact, you
remember John not only says in
00:25:28.44\00:25:33.08
John chapter 3 whoever believes
in him would be saved but in
00:25:33.12\00:25:37.72
John 16:16, He that believes
and is baptized will be saved.
00:25:37.75\00:25:42.55
He that believeth not will be
condemned. Belief is the bottom
00:25:42.59\00:25:47.76
line. We are saved by this
belief. What kind of belief is
00:25:47.80\00:25:52.94
it? Is it the same kind
of belief that devils have?
00:25:52.97\00:25:57.11
The word belief here that's
used and you don't often hear it
00:25:57.15\00:26:01.21
taught that way, it means to
commit yourself to, to commit
00:26:01.25\00:26:05.86
your trust to, to commit
your faith to. It is a belief of
00:26:05.90\00:26:10.44
commitment. It means really what
it says. Whoever believeth, it
00:26:10.48\00:26:14.30
means to be lived. That's what
the word belief means. Whoever
00:26:14.33\00:26:18.84
be lives in him. That what it
means to be in Christ. It means
00:26:18.88\00:26:23.18
to place all that you are and
all that you have into Christ's
00:26:23.22\00:26:28.57
hands. Surrender. To be live
in him. Whoever be lives in him
00:26:28.60\00:26:34.17
will not perish. So it's not
this cheap faith that has become
00:26:34.21\00:26:39.03
so popular where it's simply
a mental ascent. Yeah I think
00:26:39.06\00:26:43.81
Jesus really lived and yeah I've
asked him to forgive me my sins
00:26:43.85\00:26:46.10
and that's where it stops.
It's not a surrender. There's no
00:26:46.13\00:26:50.82
repentance of living on your own
and saying I'm surrendering. I'm
00:26:50.86\00:26:55.46
going to take up my cross.
I'm placing all in your hands.
00:26:55.49\00:26:57.41
I believe in you. I can trust
you with my life. That's what it
00:26:57.45\00:27:02.89
means. Whoever does that will
not perish. That's why we've got
00:27:02.92\00:27:07.14
to know what it is that happens
and I could spend the whole
00:27:07.17\00:27:11.57
message just talking about
that faith. Yours ought to be a
00:27:11.61\00:27:18.01
saving faith that leads to
deeds We're not saved by deeds.
00:27:18.05\00:27:24.38
Nicodemus he came to Jesus as a
Pharisee and Jesus said you must
00:27:24.42\00:27:29.22
be born again. Pharisees
had lots of deeds, lots of work.
00:27:29.25\00:27:34.81
It's more than that. Believes
what? In him. It must be placed
00:27:34.84\00:27:39.65
in Christ. What does that mean?
Well the teachings of the gospel
00:27:39.69\00:27:44.47
He is the Word; believing
in the Word. Christ is the Word
00:27:44.50\00:27:50.85
incarnate. Whoever believes in
him should not perish. Now that
00:27:50.89\00:27:56.02
is so important because God said
to Adam and Eve in the day you
00:27:56.06\00:28:01.16
sin you will die. That's what
it means, to die, to perish.
00:28:01.19\00:28:05.34
Eternal death. You know
this verse is also so important
00:28:05.37\00:28:09.45
because not only does it correct
Calvinism's misunderstandings,
00:28:09.49\00:28:14.03
it also gets rid of this idea of
eternal torment. There are two
00:28:14.06\00:28:19.00
choices, two destinies anybody
can pick between, eternal life
00:28:19.03\00:28:23.99
or perish. Isn't that what
he says? You've got believe, not
00:28:24.02\00:28:29.63
perish but eternal life. Those
are the two options. The Bible
00:28:29.66\00:28:34.40
tells us that we are saved by
grace through faith. The wages
00:28:34.44\00:28:40.87
of sin is what? Death. But God
offers us eternal life. Life and
00:28:40.91\00:28:47.31
death. Eternal life or
perish. The two options and he's
00:28:47.34\00:28:51.04
offering us the best of the two.
There's no third option. There's
00:28:51.08\00:28:54.75
no door number three. So
you need to ask yourself, do I
00:28:54.78\00:28:58.93
believe in him? Do I have
eternal life? If you don't what
00:28:58.97\00:29:03.09
do you have? A judgment,
condemnation, perishing.
00:29:03.12\00:29:09.58
And he talks about that later
in this passage too. You know,
00:29:09.62\00:29:13.35
there's a poem and whenever I
taught the Revelation Seminars
00:29:13.38\00:29:17.86
I always liked this poem by
Louisa Tarkington. I wish there
00:29:17.90\00:29:21.62
was some wonderful place called
the land of beginning again
00:29:21.65\00:29:25.32
where all of our mistakes and
all of our heartaches and all of
00:29:25.36\00:29:29.18
our poor selfish grief could be
dropped like a shabby old coat
00:29:29.21\00:29:33.11
at the door and never put on
again. He's offering us when he
00:29:33.15\00:29:37.32
says not perish, a transition,
a transformation. You go from
00:29:37.36\00:29:42.08
death to life. That's where
the conversion takes place. It's
00:29:42.11\00:29:47.34
right there where it says
not perish but. A conversion, a
00:29:47.37\00:29:52.42
change. This is the greatest
difference. You know, whenever
00:29:52.46\00:29:57.05
someone says but sometimes
you wait for that in a sentence,
00:29:57.09\00:30:01.60
right? I wasn't going to sell
you this car but... What does
00:30:01.64\00:30:05.42
that mean when you hear that.
There's going to be a change.
00:30:05.46\00:30:09.32
There's a turn happening in the
conversation. Or sometimes you
00:30:09.35\00:30:12.82
don't want to hear that word
but. You know I know we've been
00:30:12.85\00:30:17.47
dating a long time but... That's
not good. What's coming next
00:30:17.50\00:30:21.58
you don't want to hear it. Or
if the doctor comes out of the
00:30:21.61\00:30:27.02
emergency room and he says we
did our best to try to save him
00:30:27.06\00:30:31.31
but... You don't want to hear
that word. That's an important
00:30:31.34\00:30:35.56
word, right. You realize
that word how pivotal it is.
00:30:35.59\00:30:38.27
It's like the word so. Those are
important words. And so here we
00:30:38.31\00:30:43.56
are perishing, we're on our way
to destruction and God says but.
00:30:43.60\00:30:48.89
You like that one? It means
I've got good news. Everything's
00:30:48.93\00:30:56.50
going to change. Not perish but
have everlasting life. Have. Not
00:30:56.53\00:31:04.60
borrow, not just look at for
a little while, not just touch.
00:31:04.63\00:31:10.67
I heard about this millionaire,
rich Saudi prince, he has the
00:31:10.70\00:31:15.33
most expensive Mercedes. I don't
remember what version it is but
00:31:15.36\00:31:20.14
it's the most expensive Mercedes
and he plated it with gold and
00:31:20.17\00:31:24.80
covered it with diamonds. It's
over there is Dubai somewhere
00:31:24.84\00:31:28.21
You can read about this on the
internet. I don't remember his
00:31:28.24\00:31:32.29
name, Prince Something or Other.
And they said they had it at a
00:31:32.33\00:31:37.13
mall in Dubai and if you wanted
to pay $1000 you could touch it.
00:31:37.17\00:31:41.45
You don't get to drive it and
you certainly don't get to own
00:31:41.48\00:31:45.52
it but for $1000 you could touch
it, you could maybe look at it
00:31:45.56\00:31:50.17
for free. Having it would have
been different. That would mean
00:31:50.20\00:31:55.00
that it's yours. And God is
telling us we can have it, you
00:31:55.04\00:31:59.77
can embrace it, you can own it,
it's yours. It's your possession
00:31:59.81\00:32:05.51
to have everlasting life. And
that's of course our last part.
00:32:05.55\00:32:10.44
The greatest possession you can
have is not just eternal life.
00:32:10.48\00:32:14.84
I mean some churches teach you
get eternal life one of two ways
00:32:14.88\00:32:19.01
You either get eternal life in
heaven or eternal life in hades.
00:32:19.04\00:32:23.14
And I don't want that eternal
life. They say you've got an
00:32:23.17\00:32:26.78
immortal soul and I keep asking
where is that verse that says
00:32:26.82\00:32:31.26
immortal soul. It's not in the
Bible. We've got two choices.
00:32:31.29\00:32:35.99
It's eternal death or eternal
life. And to have eternal life
00:32:36.02\00:32:40.49
and the right kind of eternal
life. Not eternal life in some
00:32:40.53\00:32:44.06
fictitious place of suffering
but this is eternal life in a
00:32:44.09\00:32:47.36
very real place where there
are pleasures at his right hand
00:32:47.39\00:32:52.17
forever more. Then we go to our
next verse. And you know there
00:32:52.20\00:32:56.95
are a lot of people they
know John 3:16, but you ask them
00:32:56.98\00:33:00.59
John 3:15 or John 3:17. You
know so many people go to these
00:33:00.62\00:33:04.06
stadiums, you've probably
seen it before and these games,
00:33:04.09\00:33:07.26
football, baseball games and
they know the cameras pan the
00:33:07.29\00:33:09.89
audience and so they want to
witness for Jesus and so they
00:33:09.93\00:33:12.79
get this big banner, they get
this big sign and they hold up,
00:33:12.83\00:33:16.03
what verse do they hold up?
John 3:16. And there was this
00:33:16.06\00:33:20.13
game that was being broadcast
and the camera panned by and
00:33:20.17\00:33:24.84
this guy was holding up a sign
that said John 3:17. And the
00:33:24.88\00:33:28.65
commentator said ah that poor
fellow, he's not very bright, he
00:33:28.69\00:33:32.43
got the wrong verse. And
he didn't really get the wrong
00:33:32.46\00:33:35.77
verse. He was just directing
their attention to our next
00:33:35.81\00:33:39.44
verse that talks about
God wanting to save us and not
00:33:39.48\00:33:43.04
condemn us. Just as important.
For God did not send his Son
00:33:43.08\00:33:47.49
into the world to condemn the
world but the world through him
00:33:47.53\00:33:52.79
might be saved. We're all
naturally condemned. We're born
00:33:52.82\00:33:58.05
with these selfish
fallen natures. Romans chapter 8
00:33:58.08\00:34:04.57
verse 1: There is now therefore
no condemnation to those who are
00:34:04.61\00:34:07.59
in Christ Jesus. What did
we talk about? Being in Christ,
00:34:07.62\00:34:11.38
believing in him. Who is not
condemned? The ones who are in
00:34:11.41\00:34:15.17
Christ. How do they get
there? Through faith. There's no
00:34:15.21\00:34:19.47
condemnation. Now without that
faith how do we stand? We're
00:34:19.51\00:34:23.34
condemned already. That's
when you get to the next verse,
00:34:23.37\00:34:27.13
John 3:18. How important it is
to believe in his name. He that
00:34:27.17\00:34:33.04
believes in him is not condemned
So how do we get to be in him?
00:34:33.07\00:34:38.23
Through belief. But he who does
not believe is condemned already
00:34:38.26\00:34:42.60
In other words, unless you're
born the second time, we talked
00:34:42.64\00:34:46.65
about this earlier, and you're
only born once you're born
00:34:46.68\00:34:51.62
condemned because you've got
that selfish, fallen nature and
00:34:51.66\00:34:56.57
Jesus didn't need to come
to condemn us. We're already
00:34:56.60\00:34:59.63
condemned. You realize when you
first have your hearing before
00:34:59.67\00:35:03.23
the judge, if you plead
guilty, there's no trial. You're
00:35:03.26\00:35:08.15
condemned. You've admitted guilt
They've just got to determine
00:35:08.19\00:35:11.92
the sentence. Well that's where
we all are right now. We all
00:35:11.95\00:35:15.17
stand waiting for our sentence
which we know what that is
00:35:15.20\00:35:18.35
don't we? The penalty. So Jesus
didn't come to try and condemn
00:35:18.39\00:35:25.55
us. We're already condemned.
He came to save us from
00:35:25.58\00:35:29.23
condemnation. He comes, if you
will, to stand before the judge
00:35:29.27\00:35:33.07
and to say, I'm offering to
trade places with the person who
00:35:33.11\00:35:37.34
is condemned. If they accept
me as their substitute, I am
00:35:37.37\00:35:41.15
trading places with them.
See when he died on the cross he
00:35:41.19\00:35:45.01
offered to be our substitute.
And the reason I word it that
00:35:45.05\00:35:48.80
way even though Jesus 2000 years
ago came, lived a perfect life,
00:35:48.84\00:35:53.48
suffered for all of humanity on
the cross, died, took the death
00:35:53.52\00:35:58.13
penalty, the penalty
is suffering and death.
00:35:58.16\00:36:00.07
He took all that. Even though
that's all in the past, unless
00:36:00.11\00:36:03.58
you personally cash the
check it doesn't do you any good
00:36:03.62\00:36:07.02
today. You know there's another
deviant theology that's going
00:36:07.06\00:36:11.56
out there that we're all saved.
The reason people are lost is
00:36:11.59\00:36:16.06
because they reject the
salvation. They choose to reject
00:36:16.09\00:36:18.85
it and if we don't choose to
reject it, we're saved. That's
00:36:18.89\00:36:22.41
not true. We're all condemned.
We must choose to accept it
00:36:22.44\00:36:25.93
is what the Bible says.
How many of you know what I'm
00:36:25.96\00:36:28.30
talking about? Some good people
get mixed up in this stuff.
00:36:28.34\00:36:33.32
It's as though we're passively
saved by not choosing. That's
00:36:33.36\00:36:37.34
ridiculous. The devil wants
us to believe that. No. We are
00:36:37.38\00:36:42.36
naturally condemned and it
is through accepting what Jesus
00:36:42.40\00:36:47.31
provided; cashing the check, if
you will. You've got to act upon
00:36:47.35\00:36:50.31
his sacrifice. Then we're saved.
He's offering us love, but
00:36:50.34\00:36:54.66
there's no marriage if you don't
accept his invitation. It's a
00:36:54.69\00:36:58.68
proposal. You need to accept it.
There's something you need to
00:36:58.71\00:37:02.67
do, otherwise we're condemned.
We need to do what? He's
00:37:02.70\00:37:08.52
condemned. He who does not
believe is condemned already
00:37:08.55\00:37:14.30
because he has not believed,
notice, in the name of the only
00:37:14.34\00:37:19.25
begotten Son of God. And that's
reminding us again when Jesus
00:37:19.28\00:37:23.48
is the only begotten Son of God.
The only time God came to earth
00:37:23.51\00:37:27.45
in the form of men. There were
holy men, there were holy women.
00:37:27.48\00:37:31.39
There were prophets and
prophetesses but the only time
00:37:31.42\00:37:34.12
God was incarnate. Those angels
before, they were not God.
00:37:34.16\00:37:37.18
There's only one person. It
wasn't Buddha, nothing personal.
00:37:37.21\00:37:41.32
It was not Muhammad, it was
not any of these other spiritual
00:37:41.35\00:37:45.64
leaders through the ages.
It was only Jesus when God was
00:37:45.68\00:37:49.23
incarnate. He is the only
begotten Son of God. Do you
00:37:49.27\00:37:53.36
understand what I'm saying?
Because he did not believe in
00:37:53.39\00:37:57.68
the name. Now some have made
a whole theology about you've
00:37:57.71\00:38:01.49
got to say the name the right
way. If you pronounce it the
00:38:01.53\00:38:05.24
wrong way... You know one of the
things I love about our church,
00:38:05.28\00:38:08.60
I really do, is that we're such
an international church. And as
00:38:08.63\00:38:11.92
I visit with the different
families it's fun. You know, I
00:38:11.95\00:38:14.78
talk to some of us who've got
the Romanian accent and I talk
00:38:14.82\00:38:17.19
to some of us who've got
the Samoan or the Fijian accent.
00:38:17.23\00:38:20.03
Some of us have the Filipino
accent. And I understand all
00:38:20.07\00:38:22.91
those nuances and it's fun
listening. Sometimes I don't
00:38:22.95\00:38:25.72
know how you understand each
other because you know with the
00:38:25.76\00:38:30.16
accents if you get someone who's
got a real strong German accent
00:38:30.20\00:38:33.51
and they're talking to someone
who's got a South Pacific accent
00:38:33.54\00:38:36.82
then you're going I barely
understand them. How do they
00:38:36.85\00:38:39.65
understand each other? And there
are some who teach... You don't
00:38:39.69\00:38:43.10
mind me being honest with you
do you? There are some who teach
00:38:43.14\00:38:46.68
that if you don't utter Jesus
name with the right nuance of
00:38:46.72\00:38:50.57
pronunciation in Hebrew he won't
answer your prayer. That's not
00:38:50.61\00:38:54.17
what he's talking about. And
there's a theology going around
00:38:54.21\00:38:57.52
that you can't call him Jesus
which is a Greek pronunciation.
00:38:57.55\00:39:00.83
That's because the
New Testament is in Greek.
00:39:00.86\00:39:02.33
That's okay. And if you're
Spanish you don't say Jesus,
00:39:02.37\00:39:06.04
you say Heysuse, right? And
they are all a little different
00:39:06.08\00:39:10.04
And in Hebrew it's Yeshua. And
some say we've got to say it in
00:39:10.08\00:39:13.28
the Hebrew way. Well you know
we're not even sure how they
00:39:13.32\00:39:17.30
said it in Hebrew when Joshua
was first named or even 2000
00:39:17.34\00:39:21.25
years ago when Jesus was named
because words and pronunciations
00:39:21.29\00:39:25.15
change over time. Within 100
years we don't say things the
00:39:25.18\00:39:28.44
same. You know how many times
the King James Bible has had to
00:39:28.48\00:39:32.78
be revised because we don't talk
exactly like this anymore do we?
00:39:32.82\00:39:34.45
So those who are
00:39:34.49\00:39:37.28
trying to make a theology
over praying in the name of
00:39:37.32\00:39:41.01
Jesus you must say it with the
ancient Hebrew enunciation and
00:39:41.04\00:39:45.25
emphasis and syllables. If you
want to say Yeshua, that's fine.
00:39:45.28\00:39:49.29
But don't condemn those who say
Jesus or Heysuse. Got knows who
00:39:49.33\00:39:52.54
knows who we're talking about.
Praying in the name of Jesus
00:39:52.57\00:39:55.91
means much more than that. Quote
here from the book Steps to
00:39:55.95\00:39:59.31
Christ. A classic. I hope you
have this on your shelf. To pray
00:39:59.35\00:40:02.68
in the name of Jesus is
something more than a mere
00:40:02.71\00:40:05.27
mention of that name at the
beginning or ending of a prayer.
00:40:05.31\00:40:09.36
It is to pray in the mind and
the Spirit of Jesus. While we
00:40:09.39\00:40:13.67
believe in his promises, rely
on his grace and work his works,
00:40:13.70\00:40:17.38
praying in the name of Christ
means praying with the mind and
00:40:17.41\00:40:21.06
the attitude in the life of
Christ. It's not like just a
00:40:21.09\00:40:26.83
signature on a letter. While I
do believe our prayers are heard
00:40:26.87\00:40:33.56
they're authorized, if you
will, they're notarized by the
00:40:33.59\00:40:37.75
authority of Christ. So there
is that component but it's much
00:40:37.78\00:40:41.37
more than that when we pray in
Jesus' name. If you just walked
00:40:41.40\00:40:44.96
away from strangling your
neighbor and you think that all
00:40:44.99\00:40:47.60
you've got to do is mention
Jesus' name at the end of your
00:40:47.64\00:40:50.22
prayer, that's not
praying in Christ's name is it?
00:40:50.25\00:40:52.80
It's wanting to be like him.
That's when we invoke his name.
00:40:52.84\00:40:56.07
Otherwise we're breaking that
commandment that says taking
00:40:56.11\00:41:01.57
his name in vain. Believing
in the name of the Son of God.
00:41:01.61\00:41:07.42
I'm still quoting from John 3:18
now. Acts chapter 4 verse 12:
00:41:07.46\00:41:13.34
Nor is there salvation in any
other for there is no other name
00:41:13.38\00:41:19.23
under heaven given among
men whereby we must be saved.
00:41:19.26\00:41:23.70
No other religion, no other
religious teacher. The only name
00:41:23.74\00:41:28.14
we're to pray in is the name
of Christ. He's the only name
00:41:28.18\00:41:32.55
through which we are
saved. Believing in his name.
00:41:32.58\00:41:35.35
That doesn't mean uttering the
name like it's the special magic
00:41:35.39\00:41:38.98
formula. You've probably seen
these fables before where you've
00:41:39.01\00:41:42.38
got some witch or wizard or
sorcerer and they're trying to
00:41:42.41\00:41:45.71
perform some miracle and they've
got to utter this incantation a
00:41:45.75\00:41:49.31
certain way in order for this
magic to happen. Some people
00:41:49.34\00:41:52.01
think that you've got to say
Jesus' name the right way and
00:41:52.04\00:41:55.58
then the magic happens. That's
not what it means. It's talking
00:41:55.61\00:41:59.35
about praying in his character.
By the way, you know God says
00:41:59.38\00:42:03.41
he has exalted his word above
his name. I believe that is
00:42:03.44\00:42:07.40
Psalm 119. He's exalted his word
above his name and so praying
00:42:07.44\00:42:12.63
in the name of Christ
means the character of Christ.
00:42:12.66\00:42:15.21
When someone says you know that
person's got a good name, what
00:42:15.25\00:42:19.99
does that mean? Well it might
mean the name sounds poetic and
00:42:20.03\00:42:23.67
rolls off the tongue well but
most of the time if I would say
00:42:23.71\00:42:27.52
that person's got a good
name it means they've got a good
00:42:27.55\00:42:31.29
reputation. So when you pray in
the name of Jesus it means who
00:42:31.33\00:42:36.08
he is. Knowing him. And
if you want to know someone's
00:42:36.11\00:42:40.12
character and reputation, you've
got to know them. Praying in the
00:42:40.16\00:42:43.10
name of the one that you have
a relationship with. I heard
00:42:43.13\00:42:46.81
about a blind man one time that
stood out on the street corner
00:42:46.84\00:42:49.89
and he was reading this verse
we just quoted there in Acts
00:42:49.93\00:42:54.84
chapter 4 verse 12. As he was
reading a Braille Bible and he
00:42:54.88\00:42:59.78
came to the part where there
is no other name and he lost his
00:42:59.82\00:43:04.05
place on the page and while he
was trying to find where he was
00:43:04.09\00:43:07.51
he kept repeating the last three
words, no other name, no other
00:43:07.55\00:43:10.93
name, no other name, no other
name and there was a man who was
00:43:10.97\00:43:13.93
standing in the crowd who
had grown up a Christian and had
00:43:13.96\00:43:16.65
wandered away and he was
trying to find happiness and was
00:43:16.68\00:43:19.30
miserable and wondering where it
was and he walked by and while
00:43:19.34\00:43:22.56
some people were laughing at
this blind preacher, those words
00:43:22.60\00:43:25.79
repeated, no other
name, impressed him and he was
00:43:25.82\00:43:29.31
converted just by those
words that he would not find it
00:43:29.35\00:43:32.65
anywhere else. John 1 verse 12:
But as many as received him, to
00:43:32.69\00:43:39.13
them he gives power, the right,
authority, to become the sons of
00:43:39.16\00:43:45.07
God to those who believe on his
name. That means believing in
00:43:45.10\00:43:50.23
who he is. That's what it means
to believe in his name. I want
00:43:50.26\00:43:54.68
to read this to you while we're
talking about the name of God.
00:43:54.72\00:43:59.68
Let's be reverent. This is the
name that saves, it should be
00:43:59.71\00:44:04.45
taken very carefully on our
tongues, spoken with reverence,
00:44:04.49\00:44:09.16
never in jesting. Another little
pet peeve I've got when you pray
00:44:09.20\00:44:13.40
you mention Jesus' name, slow
down, say it clearly. I often
00:44:13.43\00:44:18.11
hear people say, they start
their prayer, D'eavenly Father.
00:44:18.14\00:44:22.36
Say what? D'eavenly Father.
What is that. Dear heavenly
00:44:22.39\00:44:27.21
Father. And they just slur
the name of God. Speak it with
00:44:27.24\00:44:31.99
reverence, speak it with clarity
Well let me read this to you.
00:44:32.03\00:44:36.72
This is from Signs of the
Times, 11/18/1886. Angels are
00:44:36.75\00:44:44.46
displeased and disgusted with
the irreverent manner in which
00:44:44.50\00:44:48.09
the name of God, the great
Jehovah, is sometimes used in
00:44:48.12\00:44:51.45
prayer. They mention that name
with the greatest awe. Angels
00:44:51.48\00:44:54.37
mention it with the greatest
awe, even veiling their faces
00:44:54.40\00:44:57.87
when they speak the name of God.
Angles do. The name of Christ
00:44:57.90\00:45:02.33
also is sacred and spoken with
the greatest reverence and those
00:45:02.36\00:45:06.02
who end their prayers, speaking
of those on earth, use the name
00:45:06.06\00:45:09.27
of God in a common and flippant
manner have no sense of the
00:45:09.31\00:45:12.49
exalted character of God
or Christ or heavenly things.
00:45:12.52\00:45:17.76
So believing in his name means
also handling that name with
00:45:17.80\00:45:22.34
reverence. Now our last verses.
John 3:19. I'm going to read
00:45:22.38\00:45:28.33
right through verse 21 because
they really go together. And by
00:45:28.37\00:45:33.61
the way, the story of Nicodemus
we've been covering goes from
00:45:33.64\00:45:38.02
verse 1 to verse 21. The chapter
goes on but the discourse with
00:45:38.05\00:45:43.94
Nicodemus ends there. Now we're
talking about loving the light.
00:45:43.97\00:45:49.14
John 3 verse 19: And this is the
condemnation, this is why the
00:45:49.17\00:45:53.83
world is condemned, that light
has come into the world and men
00:45:53.87\00:45:59.30
love darkness rather than light.
Why? Because their deeds were
00:45:59.33\00:46:06.09
evil. People loving darkness
rather than light. Did you ever
00:46:06.13\00:46:12.86
notice that at night when
you turn on a light moths are
00:46:12.89\00:46:17.87
attracted to the light? But
if you walk into a dirty kitchen
00:46:17.91\00:46:22.70
and you turn on a light the
cockroaches run. The light has
00:46:22.73\00:46:26.92
an opposite impact on both.
Something about their nature.
00:46:26.95\00:46:31.17
The cockroaches are afraid of
light; they run from the light
00:46:31.20\00:46:35.76
probably exposing that they're
feeding on filth. The moths are
00:46:35.80\00:46:40.38
attracted to the light. How
a person responds to the light
00:46:40.41\00:46:44.04
usually has something to do
with what's going on inside.
00:46:44.07\00:46:47.63
When we want the cleansing of
the Lord in our lives then we're
00:46:47.67\00:46:52.46
drawn to the light. We want that
light. We want to walk in the
00:46:52.49\00:46:57.85
light as he is in the light.
I know this is in print and so
00:46:57.89\00:47:03.52
you've probably heard it, but
I used to have a 1971 Volkswagen
00:47:03.56\00:47:09.44
three speed automatic. It was a
vacuum shift. I owned it in the
00:47:09.48\00:47:15.33
desert. I had a delivery
business when I was there.
00:47:15.36\00:47:17.91
It wasn't in good shape. For one
thing the desert winds, I'd get
00:47:17.95\00:47:23.24
caught in sand storms going
across the windy pass there.
00:47:23.27\00:47:26.38
Some of you have been to
Southern California where
00:47:26.41\00:47:27.92
they've got all the wind
generators now because there's
00:47:27.96\00:47:29.66
so much wind down there. They
didn't have those back then but
00:47:29.70\00:47:32.28
they had the wind and it
actually sand blasted the paint
00:47:32.32\00:47:35.87
off the fenders and certain
parts of the car. It was my
00:47:35.90\00:47:39.39
first car I ever owned. I grew
up in New York City taking a bus
00:47:39.42\00:47:42.71
and a subway. I did not
know how to take care of a car.
00:47:42.75\00:47:44.84
I knew nothing about a car. I
remember one time lifting up the
00:47:44.88\00:47:48.66
front trying to figure out how
to check the oil. Someone said
00:47:48.70\00:47:51.99
Doug make sure you check the
oil and there was no engine in
00:47:52.03\00:47:55.63
there. And then someone said
make sure you check the water
00:47:55.66\00:47:58.49
in the radiator. They didn't
know I had a Volkswagen. There's
00:47:58.53\00:48:01.41
no radiator. I mean, I knew
nothing about cars. Someone said
00:48:01.45\00:48:04.15
keep the oil full. I finally
found where the oil was in the
00:48:04.19\00:48:06.93
back and I kept pouring oil in
until it ran out. I figured it's
00:48:06.96\00:48:09.81
full now. I embarrassed to
tell you that; it's true though.
00:48:09.84\00:48:13.80
That blew out all the seals on
the car and so it used to leak a
00:48:13.83\00:48:17.81
little oil. Parking in the
desert sun you know would crack
00:48:17.85\00:48:21.24
the vinyl in the tires and it
didn't look that good so one day
00:48:21.27\00:48:24.92
I decided to sell the car.
And I wanted to get the most I
00:48:24.95\00:48:28.21
could possible get for it,
so I went to K-Mart and got some
00:48:28.25\00:48:32.39
white paint, painted the fenders
almost the same color. Hard to
00:48:32.43\00:48:36.20
match it exactly when you go to
K- Mart for the paint. And I got
00:48:36.23\00:48:40.00
Armor All and I Armor Alled
the tires and the vinyl to try
00:48:40.03\00:48:43.77
and dress it up a little
bit and cleaned it up and the
00:48:43.80\00:48:47.99
windshield had been pitted
by the sand storms so that if I
00:48:48.03\00:48:51.97
came around a turn and the sun
hit my windshield my windshield
00:48:52.00\00:48:55.27
just whited out and I couldn't
see through it any more that you
00:48:55.31\00:48:58.23
could like a bathroom window.
It was totally opaque. I'd have
00:48:58.27\00:49:01.16
to stick my head out the
window to continue driving
00:49:01.20\00:49:03.04
without wrecking. Some of your
windshields get dirty and you
00:49:03.08\00:49:05.20
know what I'm talking about. All
of a sudden the sun hits it and
00:49:05.23\00:49:08.77
you can't see. Well mine was
always like that. But I noticed
00:49:08.80\00:49:12.47
that when the sun went behind
San Jacinto, it was 11,000 foot
00:49:12.50\00:49:15.60
mountain, the sun would go
behind San Jacinto. There in the
00:49:15.64\00:49:18.47
kind of a twilight for a couple
of hours the car looked pretty
00:49:18.50\00:49:22.91
good in the shade. So when I
ran the ad, the ad in the Palm
00:49:22.94\00:49:27.31
Springs paper said 1971
Volkswagen, 3-speed automatic,
00:49:27.35\00:49:33.52
want $600, will show after
5 o'clock. I really did that
00:49:33.56\00:49:38.32
because there was something
wrong with the car and I didn't
00:49:38.36\00:49:43.17
want the light. I wanted it
to hang out in the dark. Some
00:49:43.20\00:49:46.78
people don't come to Jesus
because they say well the closer
00:49:46.81\00:49:50.35
I get to God the worse I
look. Come anyway. You're not
00:49:50.39\00:49:55.65
condemned because you've got
sin. We've all got sin. You're
00:49:55.68\00:49:58.48
condemned because you love
darkness rather than light.
00:49:58.51\00:50:00.95
God is offering you cleansing.
You know there's something to
00:50:00.99\00:50:04.23
say about those who live in the
desert. When you're out in the
00:50:04.27\00:50:07.31
sun a lot, the sun actually has
a purifying influence on your
00:50:07.34\00:50:11.43
clothes. It will bleach them.
Isn't that right? It cleans.
00:50:11.46\00:50:15.85
Walk in the light. As I finish
this up I hope I don't disturb
00:50:15.88\00:50:18.83
you too much but I'm going
to tell you something you don't
00:50:18.87\00:50:22.32
hear very often. Sometimes
people abuse chapter three
00:50:22.36\00:50:25.68
of John and they abuse John
3:16 and the emphasis is on the
00:50:25.71\00:50:28.85
believing and they never
keep reading what Jesus said to
00:50:28.88\00:50:31.94
Nicodemus. Notice. Nicodemus was
a Pharisee. The important thing
00:50:31.98\00:50:36.09
for a Pharisee was works and
deeds, action. Listen to what
00:50:36.13\00:50:40.96
Christ says. I'm reading the
whole thing again, John 3:19-21:
00:50:40.99\00:50:45.31
This is the condemnation that
he has sent light into the world
00:50:45.34\00:50:49.45
and men love darkness rather
than light because their deeds
00:50:49.48\00:50:53.56
their works, were evil.
For everyone who practices...
00:50:53.59\00:50:58.19
Is it just believing, or
is it practicing. Everyone who
00:50:58.23\00:51:02.76
practices evil hates the light.
Is it understood God wants us to
00:51:02.79\00:51:07.47
practice something other than
evil. And he does not come to
00:51:07.50\00:51:12.03
the light lest his deeds, his
actions, his works, should be
00:51:12.07\00:51:16.76
exposed. But he who does
the truth, he comes to the light
00:51:16.80\00:51:21.98
that his deeds may be clearly
seen that they had been done
00:51:22.02\00:51:27.14
in God. Now that is so important
It tells us that when you come
00:51:27.17\00:51:31.31
to Christ just like you are,
you're born again, you walk in
00:51:31.34\00:51:35.83
the light and your life changes
and your deeds are different.
00:51:35.86\00:51:41.13
You're not a cockroach anymore.
You're now a butterfly and
00:51:41.17\00:51:45.08
you've got the new heart.
You know I just think it's so
00:51:45.11\00:51:48.96
significant that John chapter 3
begins with, it says: There was
00:51:48.99\00:51:55.45
a man and it ends in God. It
starts with men and it ends with
00:51:55.48\00:51:59.95
God. It begins with a man
who is a Pharisee trying to save
00:51:59.99\00:52:05.70
himself by deeds. And it ends
by saying done in God. How is it
00:52:05.74\00:52:10.28
that we can have different kinds
of lives because if you really
00:52:10.31\00:52:15.39
do believeth in him it's a be
living in him. There's a change
00:52:15.43\00:52:19.70
in your heart. First it's
the love of God that changes us.
00:52:19.73\00:52:23.51
Don't ever miss that. We love
him because he first loved us.
00:52:23.55\00:52:26.88
The more we behold his love it
transforms us. That's where the
00:52:26.92\00:52:30.22
new heart comes from. It's
a regenerating love. But then
00:52:30.26\00:52:33.69
seen that their deeds are
different because now their
00:52:33.73\00:52:37.09
deeds are done in God instead
of in the darkness. So what's
00:52:37.13\00:52:42.39
the secret? Run from God or run
to Christ? Run from the light or
00:52:42.42\00:52:46.35
run to the light. Believe
him. You know in closing off our
00:52:46.39\00:52:51.03
story on Nicodemus I want
to take you to the end of the
00:52:51.07\00:52:55.02
gospel of John. When he first
came he maybe thought he was
00:52:55.06\00:52:59.48
going to save Jesus. Jesus
said, no I need to be lifted up.
00:52:59.52\00:53:03.38
He wanted to know if Jesus was
the Messiah. He tried to speak
00:53:03.42\00:53:06.72
up for Christ, but ultimately
you might say Nicodemus came out
00:53:06.76\00:53:10.03
of the closet as a believer
towards the end. John 19
00:53:10.06\00:53:14.85
verse 39: After Christ died,
Joseph got his body off the
00:53:14.89\00:53:19.60
cross. Joseph and Nicodemus
were no doubt good friends, both
00:53:19.64\00:53:24.70
rulers. Then came also Nicodemus
he finally comes out, which at
00:53:24.74\00:53:29.53
the first had come to Jesus by
night. He came in the dark, now
00:53:29.56\00:53:34.31
he's coming before sundown.
And he brought a mixture of
00:53:34.35\00:53:38.11
myrrh and aloes, about a
hundred pound weight. This is
00:53:38.14\00:53:41.83
commonly what would be reserved
for someone like Alexander the
00:53:41.87\00:53:44.79
Great, a fabulous amount
of fragrant embalming oils.
00:53:44.83\00:53:51.45
And they took the body of Jesus
and wound it in linen cloth with
00:53:51.49\00:53:56.08
the spices as the manner of the
Jews is to bury. Nicodemus was
00:53:56.12\00:54:00.67
actually there, personally
involved, in wrapping the body
00:54:00.71\00:54:04.60
of Jesus that had been lifted
up for him. Did you ever think
00:54:04.64\00:54:08.77
about that? He never forgot that
He came out as a believer after
00:54:08.80\00:54:12.90
that. By the way, Psalm 45
verse 8: All of your garments,
00:54:12.93\00:54:16.44
speaking of the Messiah,
are scented with myrrh and aloes
00:54:16.48\00:54:19.92
and with cassia. Any of you ever
heard that song Out of the Ivory
00:54:19.96\00:54:23.96
Palaces? Yeah, there's a verse
in there that talks especially
00:54:24.00\00:54:27.74
about this. I'd like to read
from the book Desire of Ages in
00:54:27.78\00:54:31.49
closing, speaking about
Nicodemus at the end of the
00:54:31.52\00:54:34.14
chapter by the same title:
After the Lord's ascension when
00:54:34.17\00:54:38.64
the disciples were scattered
by persecution, Nicodemus came
00:54:38.68\00:54:43.11
boldly to the front.
He employed his wealth in
00:54:43.15\00:54:46.78
sustaining the infant church.
In the time of peril, he who had
00:54:46.81\00:54:51.06
been so cautious and
questioning was firm as a rock
00:54:51.09\00:54:53.85
encouraging the faith of the
disciples and furnishing means
00:54:53.89\00:54:57.92
to carry forth the work of
the gospel. He was scorned and
00:54:57.96\00:55:01.90
persecuted by those who had paid
him reverence in other days.
00:55:01.93\00:55:05.05
The other Sanhedrin, the other
Pharisees, they persecuted him
00:55:05.08\00:55:08.11
but he didn't care anymore. He
took his stand for Christ, was
00:55:08.15\00:55:13.56
firm as a rock. He became poor
in this world's goods yet he
00:55:13.60\00:55:18.95
faltered not in the faith which
had its beginnings in that night
00:55:18.98\00:55:22.11
conference with Jesus. He
gave so much of his wealth he
00:55:22.15\00:55:26.38
ultimately became poor
for Christ's cause. Nicodemus
00:55:26.41\00:55:30.58
related to John the story, that
we just read, John probably set
00:55:30.61\00:55:34.07
up the meeting. That's why you
and I have a firsthand account
00:55:34.11\00:55:38.22
of this personal interview. He
related the story to John, that
00:55:38.25\00:55:41.86
story of the interview, and by
his pen it was recorded for the
00:55:41.89\00:55:45.46
instruction of millions.
The truths there taught are as
00:55:45.50\00:55:48.92
important today as they
were on that solemn night in the
00:55:48.95\00:55:52.30
shadowy mountain when the Jewish
ruler came to learn the way of
00:55:52.33\00:55:57.73
life from the lowly teacher
of Galilee. It starts with this
00:55:57.77\00:56:02.75
man coming to Jesus and ends
done in God. That's the story of
00:56:02.79\00:56:07.38
salvation friends and it has to
do with do you believe. Christ
00:56:07.41\00:56:11.97
got right to the point
with Nicodemus. Do you believe?
00:56:12.00\00:56:14.71
You're questioning, you're
coming at night, you're not
00:56:14.74\00:56:17.38
sure, you're not going all the
way. He finally went all the way
00:56:17.41\00:56:21.15
didn't he? And he invested his
life and his means. His deeds
00:56:21.19\00:56:24.89
were proof of that. He was
willing to be persecuted to
00:56:24.93\00:56:28.05
take his stand for Christ. Can
you trust him? Can you commit
00:56:28.09\00:56:32.25
everything to him? Do you
believe he'll let you down?
00:56:32.28\00:56:37.45
Whosoever, that's you,
believeth in him will not perish
00:56:37.48\00:56:43.21
that's a guarantee, but have
everlasting life. How many of
00:56:43.25\00:56:48.95
you would like to
have that kind of faith
00:56:48.98\00:56:50.06
and leave with that confidence?
00:56:50.10\00:56:52.17
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00:56:56.29\00:56:59.59
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