We welcome you once
again to Foundation of Faith.
00:00:17.85\00:00:20.85
My name is CA Murray.
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And we welcome
you to this sermon,
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this part of
our sitting together
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that always brings
us to the confluence
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of mixed emotions.
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We're happy to hear
another message from the Lord,
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and yet we're saddened because
this is the final message
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in the series of four
very powerful messages
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that our
speaker has been blessed
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and used of God to
bring to us over these
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last several sittings together.
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Our pastor is Pastor
Furman F. Fordham II,
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a young vibrant dynamic pastor,
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pastor of the Riverside
Church in Nashville, Tennessee.
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He's pastored in
a number of places
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and I look on his bio
including Melbourne, Australia.
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So he has
international experience,
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also God has called him,
and used him, and blessed him
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over so many years to
preach the Word of God
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with power and with impact.
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And we assure that he is
going to do the same today.
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Let me make a
commercial just really quick
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if you have not
heard him before,
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if you have not
heard him in this series,
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then you can get the CDs,
the DVDs of these messages.
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I am quite sure that they
will be a blessing to you.
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The title of this
particular presentation
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is called
"Better than I Believe".
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And we know that God is
going to use pastor in a marked
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and mighty way as He has
done so many, many times before.
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And so we ask you
to prepare yourself,
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prepare your
heart, prepare your mind,
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grab your Bible,
grab your pencil,
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grab your computer,
grab your iPad, your iPhone,
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anything to take notes
or to follow along with him
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because you will be led in
a study of the Word of God.
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And I'm quite
sure you'll be blessed.
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Our music
ministry has come to us
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over these last
several sittings together
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from Chavvah Lister,
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beautiful person
with a beautiful voice,
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who has lifted us up
to heaven with the gift
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that God has given to her,
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and the talent that
she now returns to Him.
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We're going to pray,
and then we will hear
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the music
ministry of Chavvah Lister,
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she will be singing "Clean"
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and then the next
voice that you'll hear
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will be that of our pastor,
our friend, our preacher,
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the one called to
lift up the name of Jesus,
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Pastor Furman F. Fordham II.
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I need to
mention, he is the husband
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of one wife Jennifer
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and the father of
three strapping boys.
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So he is a busy man
along with his pastoral duties.
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His duties on the home
front keep him quite occupied
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and yet he has been
asked of God to do all
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and to do all well.
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And we thank God for
the blessing on his life.
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Shall we pray?
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Father God, it is with pleasure
that we come to You just now,
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asking for an
anointing, a blessing,
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the presence and
power of Your Holy Spirit
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on the man of God
who has been selected
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to lift up the
name of Jesus just now.
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We ask You to use him
in a marked and mighty way,
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may he be a conduit
for Your blessings to us
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and as we sit, as we
listen, as we contemplate
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may we see Jesus a new,
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may we be led to take
one more step along that road
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that leads to
glory, but more than that
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may we again grasp
the hand of the Master
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and dedicate never to let go.
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Bless the music ministry.
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Bless the preached word.
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And may we sit
even for a little while
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in heavenly places.
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And we thank You dear
Father, for Your promise to hear
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and answer the prayer of faith
in Jesus name, amen and amen.
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I see shattered
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You see whole
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I see broken
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But You see beautiful
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And You're helping me to believe
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That You're restoring me
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Piece by piece
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There's nothing too dirty
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That You can't make worthy
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You wash me in mercy
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I am clean
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There's nothing too dirty
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That You can't make worthy
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You wash me in mercy
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I am clean
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What was dead now
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Lives again
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My heart's beating
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Beating inside my chest
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Oh, I'm coming
alive with joy and destiny
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'Cause You're restoring me
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Piece by piece
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There's nothing too dirty
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That You can't make worthy
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You wash me in mercy
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Now I am clean Oh, yeah
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There's nothing too dirty
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That You can't make worthy
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You wash me in mercy
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I am clean
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Washed in the
blood of Your sacrifice
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Your blood flowed
red and it made me white
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My dirty rags are purified
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I am clean
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Washed in the
blood of Your sacrifice
00:07:08.52\00:07:13.63
Your blood flowed
red and it made me white
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My dirty rags are purified
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Now I am clean I am clean
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Washed in the
blood of Your sacrifice
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Your blood flowed
red and it made me white
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My dirty rags are purified
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Now I am clean Yeah
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Oh, I am clean
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Oh, I am clean
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Oh, You make me
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Oh, You wash me clean
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Now I am clean
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Oh, yeah
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You make me clean
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Isn't that good news?
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I'm clean.
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Praise the Lord
for the good news
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of the gospel,
there's nothing too dirty
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that you can't make worthy.
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You wash me in mercy, I'm clean.
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We appreciate Chavvah
Lister for sharing the good news
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of the gospel in song.
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And thank you
Pastor Murray once again
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for your introduction.
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It has been a joy to share
these last three presentations
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with the Dare to Dream family
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for the Foundation
of our Faith program.
00:09:07.31\00:09:11.88
And I am looking forward
to this last presentation,
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hopeful that we are
seeing that the love of God
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as communicated in
Christ Jesus on the cross
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is indeed the
foundation of our faith.
00:09:25.83\00:09:29.26
During our first sermon
that we entitled this gospel,
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we emphasized that
Jesus paid our penalty
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that He provided
our righteousness.
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And that He promises
us everlasting life now.
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Then in our second presentation
we studied the story
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of Nicodemus and
learned the A, B, Cs
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that we are to respond to
God's gift of everlasting life
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by admitting our
need believing His power.
00:10:02.70\00:10:07.17
And then the
change that is produced
00:10:07.20\00:10:10.21
by the Holy Spirit takes
place and we are born again.
00:10:10.24\00:10:15.01
Then our third message
was entitled The Prequel.
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We looked at what
happened in the heaven
00:10:19.28\00:10:21.98
before the
beginning of planet earth.
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And how Satan and angel
wanted to be worshiped as God
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and in an effort to
receive that worship
00:10:31.69\00:10:34.73
he discredited God's character,
he deceived God's creatures
00:10:34.76\00:10:40.70
into thinking
that God was not love.
00:10:40.74\00:10:44.51
But Jesus who Himself is
God revealed God's character
00:10:44.54\00:10:51.01
and destroyed the
works of the devil
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by showing that
God is a God of love.
00:10:53.62\00:10:57.19
And it was shown preeminently
00:10:57.22\00:10:59.85
when Jesus died on
the cross for humanity.
00:10:59.89\00:11:04.23
And now we will
round out this series
00:11:04.26\00:11:08.13
of gospel
presentations with a subject
00:11:08.16\00:11:12.73
that I am entitling
"Better than I Believed".
00:11:12.77\00:11:18.67
Better than I Believed,
would you pray with me?
00:11:18.71\00:11:24.41
Hover over me Holy Spirit,
00:11:24.45\00:11:27.82
bathe my
trembling heart and brow.
00:11:27.85\00:11:31.59
Fill me with Your
hallowed presence.
00:11:31.62\00:11:34.96
Come O come and fill me now.
00:11:34.99\00:11:38.26
Fill me now, fill me now
only You can fill me now.
00:11:38.29\00:11:45.10
So fill me thy
hallowed presence,
00:11:45.13\00:11:47.64
come please come
00:11:47.67\00:11:50.94
and fill us now.
00:11:50.97\00:11:54.91
In the name of
Jesus we pray, amen.
00:11:54.94\00:11:59.55
Better than I believed.
00:11:59.58\00:12:03.28
Have you ever
expected something to be good
00:12:03.32\00:12:10.23
and imagined that's
something being good?
00:12:10.26\00:12:16.26
Have you ever anticipated
that thing being good
00:12:16.30\00:12:22.10
and believe that
that thing would be good?
00:12:22.14\00:12:26.14
But when you
finally experienced it,
00:12:26.17\00:12:29.88
it was worse than you believed.
00:12:29.91\00:12:34.58
I remember my family and
I, we went down to Orlando
00:12:34.62\00:12:40.76
for a vacation,
00:12:40.79\00:12:42.66
and we were taking our
children to Disney World,
00:12:42.69\00:12:46.16
and wanted them to enjoy
Mickey Mouse, and the rides,
00:12:46.19\00:12:50.77
and all that Disney
World had to afford.
00:12:50.80\00:12:54.14
And during the
Sabbath hours on Saturday,
00:12:54.17\00:12:58.31
our time when we set aside
particular time to worship God,
00:12:58.34\00:13:03.68
we thought that we would go
to the Holy Land Experience.
00:13:03.71\00:13:09.15
We had heard about
this new theme park,
00:13:09.18\00:13:12.19
this Bible theme park.
00:13:12.22\00:13:14.36
This Holy Land
Experience and we felt like
00:13:14.39\00:13:17.59
it would be the perfect merge,
00:13:17.63\00:13:20.00
a blend between our
Disney World vacation
00:13:20.03\00:13:24.03
and wanting to
spend time worshipping God
00:13:24.07\00:13:27.14
on His holy day.
00:13:27.17\00:13:28.60
So we looked forward
to taking our children
00:13:28.64\00:13:31.11
and I thought that
maybe they might have
00:13:31.14\00:13:33.88
some kind of ride where Jonah
would be thrust into an ocean
00:13:33.91\00:13:39.25
and end up
swallowed up by a fish
00:13:39.28\00:13:41.75
or maybe they'll have a ride
00:13:41.78\00:13:43.59
where you would be
inside of Noah's Ark
00:13:43.62\00:13:46.15
being shakened from
one side to the other.
00:13:46.19\00:13:49.12
But when we got to
the Holy Land Experience,
00:13:49.16\00:13:52.73
they just had a
couple of the little skits
00:13:52.76\00:13:56.33
and a few little kiddy rides.
00:13:56.36\00:13:59.07
And I honestly
left quite disappointed,
00:13:59.10\00:14:02.74
it was worse than I believed.
00:14:02.77\00:14:05.97
Now I understand that
00:14:06.01\00:14:08.41
they've added to
the Holy Land Experience
00:14:08.44\00:14:11.01
and it's much
better than it was before.
00:14:11.05\00:14:13.48
So I encourage
you to go and visit.
00:14:13.52\00:14:15.62
I want to put in a plug
for 3ABN, Holy Land Experience.
00:14:15.65\00:14:20.06
But I want to also ask you,
00:14:20.09\00:14:23.79
have you ever
expected something to be good,
00:14:23.83\00:14:28.30
and imagined that
something being good,
00:14:28.33\00:14:31.93
and anticipated that
something being good,
00:14:31.97\00:14:35.57
and even believe that
that something would be good,
00:14:35.60\00:14:39.67
and then when
you experienced it,
00:14:39.71\00:14:42.74
it was better than you believed.
00:14:42.78\00:14:47.98
Now I happen to be
one of these brothers
00:14:48.02\00:14:51.79
who took the
command to reserve yourself
00:14:51.82\00:14:57.53
for marriage quite seriously.
00:14:57.56\00:14:59.56
So on August 25, 1996,
00:14:59.59\00:15:04.73
when the love of
my life said I do.
00:15:04.77\00:15:08.64
And we walked out of that church
00:15:08.67\00:15:11.77
and down the aisle,
and into our reception,
00:15:11.81\00:15:15.44
and enjoyed that
first meal as Mr. and Mrs.
00:15:15.48\00:15:19.41
And it started dawning on me
00:15:19.45\00:15:21.82
that once this
reception is over,
00:15:21.85\00:15:24.42
I get to enjoy the dessert.
00:15:24.45\00:15:28.06
And I have to admit to you
00:15:28.09\00:15:32.03
that when I received that
00:15:32.06\00:15:35.43
which God has ordained it
was better than I believed.
00:15:35.46\00:15:41.84
I have been studying the gospel,
00:15:41.87\00:15:46.11
and spending time
pondering the gospel,
00:15:46.14\00:15:50.21
and diving into the
gospel, and swimming around
00:15:50.25\00:15:54.88
with the gospel.
00:15:54.92\00:15:56.25
And I want to share with you
00:15:56.28\00:15:57.95
that the more that I imagine it,
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.96
and deal with
it, and encounter it,
00:16:00.99\00:16:03.96
and experience
it, it is even better
00:16:03.99\00:16:08.90
than I believed.
00:16:08.93\00:16:11.40
I want to
introduce you to a woman
00:16:11.43\00:16:13.80
whose experience in
the gospel was even better
00:16:13.84\00:16:18.71
than she first believed.
00:16:18.74\00:16:20.48
Her story is found in
John 8, it begins with verse 2.
00:16:20.51\00:16:26.85
I'm reading in the
New King James version
00:16:26.88\00:16:29.52
of the Bible.
00:16:29.55\00:16:30.89
John 8
beginning with 2, it says,
00:16:30.92\00:16:34.16
"Now early in the morning
00:16:34.19\00:16:37.76
He came again into the temple,
00:16:37.79\00:16:41.73
and all the people came to Him,
00:16:41.76\00:16:44.27
and He sat down and taught them.
00:16:44.30\00:16:47.90
Then the scribes and
Pharisees brought to Him
00:16:47.94\00:16:50.87
a woman caught in adultery.
00:16:50.91\00:16:55.18
And when they had set her
in the midst, they said to Him,
00:16:55.21\00:16:58.98
'Teacher, this woman
was caught in adultery,
00:16:59.01\00:17:03.55
in the very act.
00:17:03.59\00:17:08.19
Now Moses, in
the law, commanded us
00:17:08.22\00:17:11.36
that such should be stoned.
00:17:11.39\00:17:13.50
But what do you say?'
00:17:13.53\00:17:17.17
This they said, testing Him,
00:17:17.20\00:17:19.73
that they might
have something of which
00:17:19.77\00:17:21.90
to accuse Him.
00:17:21.94\00:17:23.27
But Jesus stooped down
and wrote on the ground
00:17:23.30\00:17:27.91
with His finger, as
though He did not hear.
00:17:27.94\00:17:33.15
So when they
continued asking Him,
00:17:33.18\00:17:35.72
He raised Himself
up and said to them,
00:17:35.75\00:17:39.39
"He who is
without sin among you,
00:17:39.42\00:17:43.19
let him throw a
stone at her first."
00:17:43.22\00:17:49.16
And again He stooped
down and wrote on the ground."
00:17:49.20\00:17:54.50
Verse 9, "Then
those who heard it,
00:17:54.54\00:17:57.17
being convicted
by their conscience,
00:17:57.21\00:17:59.67
went out one by one,
beginning with the oldest
00:17:59.71\00:18:04.58
even to the last.
00:18:04.61\00:18:06.28
And Jesus was left alone,
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.78
and the woman
standing in the midst.
00:18:09.82\00:18:14.49
When Jesus had
raised Himself up,
00:18:14.52\00:18:17.33
and saw no one but
the woman he said to her,
00:18:17.36\00:18:21.16
'Woman, where are
those accusers of yours?
00:18:21.20\00:18:26.70
Has no one condemned you?'
00:18:26.74\00:18:30.01
She said, "No one, Lord."
00:18:30.04\00:18:34.68
And Jesus said to her,
00:18:34.71\00:18:37.45
"Neither do I condemn you,
00:18:37.48\00:18:42.15
go and sin no more."
00:18:42.18\00:18:47.96
Her story begins during the time
00:18:47.99\00:18:51.73
of the last of
the three great feast
00:18:51.76\00:18:56.97
that would elicit travelers
00:18:57.00\00:19:00.80
from all around the environs
of Jerusalem coming back
00:19:00.84\00:19:06.27
so that they might
worship in the temple.
00:19:06.31\00:19:09.31
It's the time of the
Feast of Tabernacles.
00:19:09.34\00:19:13.38
But this year there's an
extra excitement in the air,
00:19:13.42\00:19:18.75
there's a
different kind of buzz,
00:19:18.79\00:19:22.06
the excitement is
because the word is that Jesus,
00:19:22.09\00:19:27.40
that Galilean preacher
who has been healing diseases,
00:19:27.43\00:19:33.10
and casting out demons,
and has actually raised one
00:19:33.13\00:19:38.47
from the day that this
Jesus has proclaimed Himself
00:19:38.51\00:19:43.81
the Messiah.
00:19:43.85\00:19:45.21
Jesus is actually God
and everyone is talking
00:19:45.25\00:19:50.72
about Jesus and
discussing Jesus.
00:19:50.75\00:19:53.86
They're either debating
Jesus, or denouncing Jesus,
00:19:53.89\00:19:58.09
or defending Jesus,
or discussing Jesus.
00:19:58.13\00:20:02.03
But everybody
journeying is desperately hoping
00:20:02.06\00:20:06.87
to get a glimpse of Jesus.
00:20:06.90\00:20:09.37
He's the trending
topic on every tongue.
00:20:09.40\00:20:12.94
Jesus is a first
century rock star.
00:20:12.97\00:20:18.05
But even though Jesus'
popularity is at all time high,
00:20:18.08\00:20:24.35
the jealousy and the envy of
the scribes and the Pharisees
00:20:24.39\00:20:29.72
is also at an all time high.
00:20:29.76\00:20:32.79
This rise in Jesus'
popularity is too much
00:20:32.83\00:20:37.47
for the old regime to stomach.
00:20:37.50\00:20:40.24
And the religious power
brokers have decided that
00:20:40.27\00:20:44.21
they must burst
Jesus' popularity bubble.
00:20:44.24\00:20:48.58
They have gotten together
looking for an opportunity
00:20:48.61\00:20:52.85
to embarrass Him and bust Him.
00:20:52.88\00:20:55.98
And as John 8:6 says
00:20:56.02\00:20:59.25
in the home and
Christian study Bible,
00:20:59.29\00:21:01.76
"To trap him in order that
00:21:01.79\00:21:04.13
they might have
evidence to accuse Him,
00:21:04.16\00:21:07.26
they interrupt His
teaching presentation,
00:21:07.30\00:21:10.87
and bring a lady on
stage front and center
00:21:10.90\00:21:15.77
and announce that she
was caught in adultery
00:21:15.80\00:21:20.18
in the very act."
00:21:20.21\00:21:26.58
Now I don't desire
to be too indelicate
00:21:26.61\00:21:31.75
but they say it
00:21:31.79\00:21:33.89
she was caught in the very act.
00:21:33.92\00:21:38.89
That means that this lady
is being presented to Jesus
00:21:38.93\00:21:44.03
in front of the crowd probably
uncovered, and unclothed,
00:21:44.07\00:21:49.74
and here she is in
middle of the worship service
00:21:49.77\00:21:53.91
being carried by
the religious leaders.
00:21:53.94\00:21:57.31
What an unfilling, insensitive,
disrespect for practice.
00:21:57.35\00:22:02.82
How dare they parade this woman
00:22:02.85\00:22:05.92
along with her
sins and her shame,
00:22:05.95\00:22:09.12
and set her in the midst
of the service for everyone
00:22:09.16\00:22:13.60
to stare at
her, and gawk at her,
00:22:13.63\00:22:16.87
and glare at
her, and scowl at her.
00:22:16.90\00:22:20.57
Where did we get this
kind of Christian hazing?
00:22:20.60\00:22:24.84
The practice of publicly
meeting out church discipline
00:22:24.87\00:22:29.38
by the hands of
uncaring, uncompassionate,
00:22:29.41\00:22:33.82
legalistic religious leaders.
00:22:33.85\00:22:36.55
Well, I'm so glad to say
00:22:36.58\00:22:38.89
we definitely
didn't get it from Jesus.
00:22:38.92\00:22:42.02
Thank God that Jesus
is the kind of high priest
00:22:42.06\00:22:46.63
who can be
touched with the feelings
00:22:46.66\00:22:49.66
of our infirmities.
00:22:49.70\00:22:51.13
He was tempted in all points
like as we are yet without sin.
00:22:51.17\00:22:56.71
So He understands us,
and gets us, and feels us,
00:22:56.74\00:23:01.94
and relates to us.
00:23:01.98\00:23:03.95
But yet He would
never do anything
00:23:03.98\00:23:06.72
to unnecessarily
wound us, or embarrass us,
00:23:06.75\00:23:11.85
or shame us, or humiliate us.
00:23:11.89\00:23:16.09
Even Jesus'
rebuked are communicated
00:23:16.12\00:23:21.06
with sensitivity and love.
00:23:21.10\00:23:25.70
As the hymn writer
says, "Does Jesus care?"
00:23:25.73\00:23:30.74
When I have tried and failed
00:23:30.77\00:23:33.81
to resist some
temptations thrown.
00:23:33.84\00:23:38.31
When for my deep
grief there is not relief
00:23:38.35\00:23:42.45
though my tears
flow all the night long.
00:23:42.48\00:23:46.65
Oh, yes, He cares.
00:23:46.69\00:23:49.02
I know He cares.
00:23:49.06\00:23:51.06
His heart is
touched with my grief.
00:23:51.09\00:23:55.53
When the days are weary
and the long night dreary,
00:23:55.56\00:24:00.84
I know my Savior cares.
00:24:00.87\00:24:04.94
Jesus cared.
00:24:04.97\00:24:08.28
And Jesus cares.
00:24:08.31\00:24:11.41
And the scribes
and Pharisees knew it.
00:24:11.45\00:24:16.58
So that's exactly
what they plan to exploit.
00:24:16.62\00:24:21.92
They were aware of
the softer side of Jesus.
00:24:21.96\00:24:28.50
They had heard His
version of the gospel
00:24:28.53\00:24:32.10
and knew that Jesus
considered nobody too dirty,
00:24:32.13\00:24:37.77
or nobody too filthy, or
nobody as being too far away.
00:24:37.81\00:24:42.91
His gift of salvation
was freely presented to all.
00:24:42.94\00:24:47.58
And the scribes and
Pharisees were sick of it.
00:24:47.62\00:24:50.95
As far as they were concerned,
Jesus' gospel lacked substance.
00:24:50.99\00:24:55.96
It was watered
down and dumped down,
00:24:55.99\00:24:58.53
it was milky with no meat.
00:24:58.56\00:25:00.90
And it would make the
nation flimsy and weak.
00:25:00.93\00:25:04.27
And it was time for everyone
to see it for what it was
00:25:04.30\00:25:08.80
a setting aside of the
justice and righteousness
00:25:08.84\00:25:14.54
required by the law.
00:25:14.58\00:25:18.01
So what the scribes
and Pharisees would do
00:25:18.05\00:25:21.98
is take advantage of
Jesus' penchant for grace
00:25:22.02\00:25:28.92
and show how He is
brand of the gospel
00:25:28.96\00:25:33.19
failed in upholding God's law.
00:25:33.23\00:25:38.30
So pretending to
seek Jesus' wisdom
00:25:38.33\00:25:43.20
and pretending to be
interested in His counsel,
00:25:43.24\00:25:47.94
they bring this woman and say,
00:25:47.98\00:25:50.61
"Teacher, we found this
woman caught in adultery,
00:25:50.65\00:25:55.18
in the very act."
00:25:55.22\00:25:57.02
Now Moses said in the
law that she must be stoned.
00:25:57.05\00:26:02.59
But what do you say?
00:26:02.62\00:26:06.86
They know that Jesus
wants to be kind and gracious.
00:26:06.90\00:26:13.40
They know that Jesus
wants to extend forgiveness.
00:26:13.44\00:26:18.27
But they also know that He knows
00:26:18.31\00:26:21.91
that the
righteousness of God's law
00:26:21.94\00:26:24.58
must be maintained.
00:26:24.61\00:26:26.51
Emphasizing forgiveness
00:26:26.55\00:26:29.32
and mercy alone is insufficient.
00:26:29.35\00:26:33.12
God may be gracious and loving
00:26:33.15\00:26:36.93
but God is also
holy and righteous.
00:26:36.96\00:26:40.56
God has to be just.
00:26:40.60\00:26:44.57
Even we as sinners
expect God to be just.
00:26:44.60\00:26:50.81
We expect Him to
correct some things,
00:26:50.84\00:26:54.41
and fix some things,
and legislate some things,
00:26:54.44\00:26:58.65
and respond to some things.
00:26:58.68\00:27:00.88
He says, "Vengeance
is mine" saith the Lord,
00:27:00.92\00:27:04.29
and we expect Him to repay,
00:27:04.32\00:27:06.99
to repay all the
social injustice,
00:27:07.02\00:27:10.43
and all the economic inequality,
00:27:10.46\00:27:13.50
and all the
racial discrimination,
00:27:13.53\00:27:16.16
and all the
religious intolerance.
00:27:16.20\00:27:19.00
We expect God to
deal with sin and sinners,
00:27:19.03\00:27:23.41
and to establish a kingdom
of genuine righteousness.
00:27:23.44\00:27:28.11
We expect God to be just.
00:27:28.14\00:27:31.48
So if Jesus is
preaching a gospel of grace,
00:27:31.51\00:27:36.58
it must still
maintain the justice,
00:27:36.62\00:27:42.02
and righteousness,
and holiness of God's law.
00:27:42.06\00:27:48.46
And this is the precise corner
00:27:48.50\00:27:53.60
into which the
scribes and Pharisees
00:27:53.64\00:27:57.57
are attempting to paint Jesus.
00:27:57.61\00:28:01.54
But don't get it twisted,
Jesus is immediately aware
00:28:01.58\00:28:07.08
of their pretended religiosity
and pharisaical hypocrisy.
00:28:07.12\00:28:13.76
He understands the whole charade
00:28:13.79\00:28:16.69
Moses in the law
commanded us that
00:28:16.73\00:28:19.53
such should be stoned.
00:28:19.56\00:28:20.90
If they were that concerned
00:28:20.93\00:28:23.70
with maintaining
the Law of Moses,
00:28:23.73\00:28:27.24
then why didn't
they do according to how
00:28:27.27\00:28:31.17
the Law of Moses, it
commanded them to do.
00:28:31.21\00:28:34.88
In Deuteronomy 22, it
says, "If a man happens to meet
00:28:34.91\00:28:39.51
in a town a virgin
pledged to be married
00:28:39.55\00:28:41.88
and he sleeps with her,
you should take both of them
00:28:41.92\00:28:46.92
to the gate of the town
and stone them to death."
00:28:46.96\00:28:51.09
If they are so concerned
about the Law of Moses,
00:28:51.13\00:28:56.46
then where's the dude?
00:28:56.50\00:29:00.50
Wouldn't it make
sense to bring him too?
00:29:00.54\00:29:04.07
Or who knows,
maybe he's already here.
00:29:04.11\00:29:09.01
Maybe he is among the group
of the scribes and Pharisees
00:29:09.04\00:29:15.38
that are trying
to condemn the woman.
00:29:15.42\00:29:18.29
He could be one of the very ones
00:29:18.32\00:29:20.79
bringing that
accusation for all we know.
00:29:20.82\00:29:24.26
Jesus reads this
like an old newspaper.
00:29:24.29\00:29:27.60
He knows that the
issue is between Him
00:29:27.63\00:29:31.00
and the scribes
and the Pharisees.
00:29:31.03\00:29:33.37
And that this particular woman
just happened to get caught
00:29:33.40\00:29:37.61
in the line of fire.
00:29:37.64\00:29:40.91
Jesus sees her fear.
00:29:40.94\00:29:44.08
Jesus takes note
of her every tear.
00:29:44.11\00:29:47.78
He feels the guilt
and the embarrassment,
00:29:47.82\00:29:51.45
and a humiliation, and the shame
00:29:51.49\00:29:54.66
with every fiber of His
being Jesus feels her pain,
00:29:54.69\00:29:59.96
but the scribes and
Pharisees are correct.
00:30:00.00\00:30:06.63
Jesus can be gracious,
00:30:06.67\00:30:10.57
but He also has to be just.
00:30:10.61\00:30:15.54
So look at what Jesus does.
00:30:15.58\00:30:18.61
The Bible says in John 8:6,
"This they say it to trap Him,
00:30:18.65\00:30:25.09
in order that they might
have evidence to accuse Him."
00:30:25.12\00:30:29.49
They want to trap
Jesus trying to be forgiving,
00:30:29.52\00:30:34.96
and then bust Him and
say, "You are not just,
00:30:35.00\00:30:39.20
you are not
upholding God's law."
00:30:39.23\00:30:42.30
But Jesus stooped down
00:30:42.34\00:30:46.44
and started
writing in the ground
00:30:46.47\00:30:50.75
as if He did not hear them.
00:30:50.78\00:30:56.15
Now scripture does not give us
00:30:56.18\00:31:01.19
a bunch of
examples of Jesus' writing.
00:31:01.22\00:31:04.99
Matter of fact, the only time
we could say other than this
00:31:05.03\00:31:09.16
might be the writing
of the Ten Commandments
00:31:09.20\00:31:12.53
if you understand
in 1 Corinthians 10:4
00:31:12.57\00:31:17.81
that Jesus is that
angel of the covenant
00:31:17.84\00:31:20.94
who was in the
cloud that followed
00:31:20.98\00:31:23.28
the children of
Israel along their way
00:31:23.31\00:31:25.21
and Jesus very well
may have been the one
00:31:25.25\00:31:28.82
who wrote the
Ten Commandment law
00:31:28.85\00:31:31.25
and gave it to Moses.
00:31:31.29\00:31:32.89
But other than
this, this with that,
00:31:32.92\00:31:35.69
this would be the only
time we find Jesus writing.
00:31:35.72\00:31:41.40
So I have my fair share
of nosiness and curiosity,
00:31:41.43\00:31:46.03
I want to know what He wrote.
00:31:46.07\00:31:50.74
The Bible does not
tell us, it just says that
00:31:50.77\00:31:54.68
"Jesus stooped down,
00:31:54.71\00:31:57.91
wrote on the
ground with His finger
00:31:57.95\00:32:00.98
as though He did not hear."
00:32:01.02\00:32:02.78
And then it says that
the scribes and the Pharisees
00:32:02.82\00:32:07.32
kept approaching
Him and talking to Him
00:32:07.36\00:32:10.23
and Jesus kept writing,
00:32:10.26\00:32:13.63
then it says
that He stood back up.
00:32:13.66\00:32:19.13
And said, "He who is
without sin among you,
00:32:19.17\00:32:25.21
let him cast a
stone at her first."
00:32:25.24\00:32:31.01
Then He stooped back down
and continued His writing.
00:32:31.05\00:32:37.42
And then the Bible
says, "Those who heard it,
00:32:37.45\00:32:41.92
being convicted
by their conscience,
00:32:41.96\00:32:44.89
went out one by one,
00:32:44.93\00:32:47.83
beginning with the
oldest even to the least."
00:32:47.86\00:32:52.77
Now remember, these are
the scribes and the Pharisees.
00:32:52.80\00:32:58.67
These are the
kinds of individuals
00:32:58.71\00:33:01.08
who prided themselves
on their righteousness.
00:33:01.11\00:33:05.65
If somebody said, "He
who is without sin among you,
00:33:05.68\00:33:09.98
let him cast a
stone at her first."
00:33:10.02\00:33:12.65
These are the
kind of individuals
00:33:12.69\00:33:14.86
who would step forward
and say, "I am without sin."
00:33:14.89\00:33:18.33
They prided themselves
on their righteousness.
00:33:18.36\00:33:22.53
And yet the Bible is saying,
00:33:22.56\00:33:25.17
"That they left from
the oldest to the youngest."
00:33:25.20\00:33:29.97
I am believing
that they did not leave
00:33:30.01\00:33:33.48
because they heard Jesus
say, "He who is without sin
00:33:33.51\00:33:37.78
let him cast the
stone at her first."
00:33:37.81\00:33:40.22
I believe they left because
they imagined the onlookers
00:33:40.25\00:33:45.45
hearing Jesus
read what He wrote.
00:33:45.49\00:33:49.09
It is possible even probable
that Jesus is writing the sins
00:33:49.12\00:33:55.06
of these very
accusers of the woman,
00:33:55.10\00:33:58.13
and they are willing
to have the woman sins
00:33:58.17\00:34:02.30
publicly presented
for all the world to see,
00:34:02.34\00:34:06.01
but the horror if Jesus
publicly presents theirs,
00:34:06.04\00:34:11.25
so they dropped their stones
00:34:11.28\00:34:14.45
and from the
oldest to the youngest
00:34:14.48\00:34:18.32
they say we got to go.
00:34:18.35\00:34:22.39
And now Jesus
00:34:22.42\00:34:27.56
and the woman
00:34:27.60\00:34:30.27
are the only ones remaining.
00:34:30.30\00:34:35.70
And when Jesus raised Himself up
00:34:35.74\00:34:40.58
and saw no one but the woman.
00:34:40.61\00:34:44.75
He said to her, "Woman,
00:34:44.78\00:34:48.58
where are those
accusers of yours?
00:34:48.62\00:34:53.29
Has no one condemned you?"
00:34:53.32\00:34:58.66
When the four men
first heard Jesus say,
00:34:58.69\00:35:02.70
"He who is without sin,
00:35:02.73\00:35:05.80
let him cast a
stone at her first."
00:35:05.83\00:35:12.07
She was expecting
to receive stones.
00:35:12.11\00:35:17.35
She knew that she was guilty,
00:35:17.38\00:35:19.91
and she knew the
demands of the law,
00:35:19.95\00:35:22.98
and she expected her accusers
00:35:23.02\00:35:26.29
to start
pummeling her with stones,
00:35:26.32\00:35:29.09
but when she hears
the voice of Jesus,
00:35:29.12\00:35:33.43
she raises up and
amazingly, miraculously
00:35:33.46\00:35:38.83
all of her accusers are gone.
00:35:38.87\00:35:43.64
She releases a
huge sigh of relief,
00:35:43.67\00:35:49.64
but then it dawns on
her everybody is not gone,
00:35:49.68\00:35:56.28
Jesus is still there.
00:35:56.32\00:36:00.32
And didn't He say,
00:36:00.36\00:36:02.89
"He who is
without sin among you,
00:36:02.92\00:36:08.86
let him cast a
stone at her first."
00:36:08.90\00:36:13.84
The Bible says
that, "All have sinned
00:36:13.87\00:36:16.71
and fallen short
of the glory of God."
00:36:16.74\00:36:19.64
And there is none
righteous, no not one,
00:36:19.67\00:36:23.04
but that is
excepting one, the Holy one,
00:36:23.08\00:36:28.78
Jesus is the one who said,
00:36:28.82\00:36:31.55
"Who among you can
convict you of sin?"
00:36:31.59\00:36:34.62
In John 14:30, He would say,
00:36:34.66\00:36:37.86
"The prince of
this world cometh,
00:36:37.89\00:36:40.16
and he has nothing in me."
00:36:40.20\00:36:43.06
There is only one
being in all of human history
00:36:43.10\00:36:49.14
who could legitimately fulfill,
00:36:49.17\00:36:52.04
Jesus is criteria
who is without sin
00:36:52.07\00:36:56.48
and could cast a stone first.
00:36:56.51\00:36:59.41
Jesus is the only one
who could cast a stone
00:36:59.45\00:37:04.75
and Jesus is the only
one standing with the woman.
00:37:04.79\00:37:09.76
What if Jesus picks up a stone?
00:37:09.79\00:37:15.86
The truth is,
00:37:18.90\00:37:22.04
Jesus not only
could pick up a stone,
00:37:22.07\00:37:26.17
Jesus should pick up a stone.
00:37:26.21\00:37:30.05
Don't forget the woman did sin
00:37:30.08\00:37:36.08
regardless of how it happened
00:37:36.12\00:37:38.22
and how it was handled,
she is still guilty as charged.
00:37:38.25\00:37:44.23
God gave her life
and her body temple
00:37:44.26\00:37:48.23
and she has used it as a harlot,
00:37:48.26\00:37:51.83
she deserves to die.
00:37:51.87\00:37:54.77
The wage of sin is death.
00:37:54.80\00:37:57.77
She has broken God's holy law,
00:37:57.81\00:38:00.78
she is part and
parcel of the sin problem.
00:38:00.81\00:38:04.55
She is one of the reasons
there is so much wickedness,
00:38:04.58\00:38:08.32
and decadence, and
selfishness, and crime.
00:38:08.35\00:38:11.95
She is contributing to
heartache, and headache,
00:38:11.99\00:38:15.46
and broken homes, and
children living with divorce,
00:38:15.49\00:38:19.56
and sexually transmitted
disease, and marital distrust,
00:38:19.59\00:38:24.17
and theft, and
violence, and murder,
00:38:24.20\00:38:27.14
she is immoral, impure,
and totally unrighteous.
00:38:27.17\00:38:32.27
She deserves
death, eternal death.
00:38:32.31\00:38:36.78
The truth is Jesus
could pick up a stone
00:38:36.81\00:38:41.62
and Jesus
should pick up a stone.
00:38:41.65\00:38:47.79
He's supposed to do this.
00:38:47.82\00:38:50.99
I mean, if Jesus
doesn't pick up a stone
00:38:51.03\00:38:55.56
and execute justice, who will?
00:38:55.60\00:39:00.54
If Jesus lets this
woman go scot free,
00:39:00.57\00:39:04.47
then will have
adultery and fornication
00:39:04.51\00:39:07.64
running rampant
all over the place.
00:39:07.68\00:39:11.78
Jesus is supposed
to pick up a stone
00:39:11.81\00:39:16.55
because God is just.
00:39:16.58\00:39:21.59
But if Jesus picks up a stone,
00:39:21.62\00:39:25.59
He wouldn't be gracious,
00:39:25.63\00:39:28.36
and God is also gracious.
00:39:28.40\00:39:33.47
We don't just
need God to be just,
00:39:33.50\00:39:38.77
we also need God to be gracious.
00:39:38.81\00:39:43.38
So the question is,
00:39:43.41\00:39:46.25
can He simultaneously be both?
00:39:46.28\00:39:52.65
Jesus asked the woman,
00:39:52.69\00:39:55.22
"Woman, where are your accusers?
00:39:55.26\00:39:59.96
Has anyone condemned you?"
00:40:00.00\00:40:02.13
And she says, "No one, Lord."
00:40:02.16\00:40:07.44
As if to say, "No
one, but will you, Lord?"
00:40:07.47\00:40:13.68
Even she knows that Jesus could,
00:40:13.71\00:40:17.31
even she knows
that Jesus should.
00:40:17.35\00:40:20.85
But then Jesus says,
00:40:20.88\00:40:24.05
"Neither do I condemn you.
00:40:24.09\00:40:28.86
Go and sin no more."
00:40:28.89\00:40:34.93
Now even though this is a lovely
00:40:34.96\00:40:41.70
wonderful kind of ending,
00:40:41.74\00:40:45.64
I've got to ask a
question about Jesus.
00:40:45.67\00:40:50.01
I mean, I appreciate
the fact that He's merciful,
00:40:50.05\00:40:53.65
and forgiving, and gracious,
00:40:53.68\00:40:55.32
but what happened
to Jesus being just.
00:40:55.35\00:40:59.29
I don't wanna
give you the impression
00:40:59.32\00:41:01.12
that I'm voting for
the woman's execution,
00:41:01.16\00:41:04.26
but I thought that Jesus
00:41:04.29\00:41:06.80
was supposed to execute justice.
00:41:06.83\00:41:10.57
Did Jesus just make
an ex cathedra ruling
00:41:10.60\00:41:14.10
and decide to do
away with His law.
00:41:14.14\00:41:17.41
Did Jesus get
scared and feel like
00:41:17.44\00:41:20.34
He could not implement justice?
00:41:20.38\00:41:23.35
Did Jesus make a decision
00:41:23.38\00:41:25.61
that it was too
much for Him to handle?
00:41:25.65\00:41:28.58
Why did Jesus say,
"Neither do I condemn you.
00:41:28.62\00:41:34.72
Go and sin no more."
00:41:34.76\00:41:37.53
Did He do away
00:41:37.56\00:41:40.70
with the demands of the law?
00:41:40.73\00:41:45.70
The answer to what happened
00:41:45.73\00:41:49.84
is the gospel happened.
00:41:49.87\00:41:53.27
Jesus said,
00:41:53.31\00:41:56.11
"Neither do I condemn you,"
00:41:56.14\00:42:00.42
because instead
of condemning her,
00:42:00.45\00:42:04.99
He chose to condemn Himself.
00:42:05.02\00:42:10.03
I need you to understand
00:42:10.06\00:42:12.89
what is happening in this story.
00:42:12.93\00:42:16.00
Jesus says,
"Neither do I condemn you,"
00:42:16.03\00:42:20.24
because instead
of condemning her,
00:42:20.27\00:42:23.91
Jesus chose to condemn Himself
00:42:23.94\00:42:27.68
rather than justly
condemning us for our sins,
00:42:27.71\00:42:32.88
Jesus Christ chose to
willingly take on our sins
00:42:32.91\00:42:39.25
and condemn Himself instead.
00:42:39.29\00:42:42.96
And this is so
that He could be just
00:42:42.99\00:42:47.40
and the justifier
of those that believe.
00:42:47.43\00:42:52.17
This is the gospel.
00:42:52.20\00:42:56.74
That's why 2
Corinthians 5:19 says,
00:42:56.77\00:43:01.04
"God was in Christ
00:43:01.08\00:43:03.65
reconciling the
world unto himself,
00:43:03.68\00:43:07.05
and not counting people's
trespasses against them."
00:43:07.08\00:43:12.82
Because God counted
00:43:12.85\00:43:15.52
a trespasses against him.
00:43:15.56\00:43:19.86
The good news of the
gospel is that even though
00:43:19.89\00:43:24.40
Jesus should condemn
us, could condemn us.
00:43:24.43\00:43:28.67
And all legalism would
say that He would condemn us.
00:43:28.70\00:43:34.08
The good news of the gospel
00:43:34.11\00:43:36.34
is not that He discards His law,
00:43:36.38\00:43:39.48
not that He waters down His law,
00:43:39.51\00:43:42.38
not that He does
away with His law,
00:43:42.42\00:43:45.32
but He upholds His
law by condemning Himself
00:43:45.35\00:43:50.69
for the breaking of His law.
00:43:50.73\00:43:53.56
The good news of
the gospel is that
00:43:53.60\00:43:57.30
instead of justly condemning us,
00:43:57.33\00:44:03.94
Jesus willingly chose
00:44:03.97\00:44:07.64
to condemn Himself.
00:44:07.68\00:44:11.78
When the Bible
says in Romans 8:3 that,
00:44:11.81\00:44:15.58
"Jesus condemned
sin in the flesh."
00:44:15.62\00:44:18.89
He didn't just proclaim the
sin in humanity to be condemned,
00:44:18.92\00:44:24.39
He didn't just
decree it and declare it.
00:44:24.43\00:44:28.00
He became human flesh
00:44:28.03\00:44:30.67
and then condemned
and killed Himself.
00:44:30.70\00:44:36.57
2 Corinthians 5:21 says,
00:44:36.60\00:44:39.34
He, God made Him Jesus
00:44:39.37\00:44:44.48
to be sin for us,
00:44:44.51\00:44:47.58
to be sin instead of us
00:44:47.62\00:44:52.19
that we might become
00:44:52.22\00:44:54.62
the righteousness of God in Him.
00:44:54.66\00:44:57.79
That's why Moses
in the wilderness
00:44:57.83\00:45:01.16
did not put a star or a crown
00:45:01.20\00:45:04.67
on top of that brass pole,
00:45:04.70\00:45:07.14
he put a serpent to symbolize
00:45:07.17\00:45:10.31
that Jesus became sin for us.
00:45:10.34\00:45:16.61
The good news of
the gospel is that
00:45:16.64\00:45:21.62
God in Christ
00:45:21.65\00:45:25.22
became sin for us.
00:45:25.25\00:45:30.06
And rather than condemning us,
00:45:30.09\00:45:33.06
He willingly chose
00:45:33.09\00:45:36.03
to condemn Himself.
00:45:36.06\00:45:40.40
But remember,
00:45:40.44\00:45:43.00
the title of our message is
00:45:43.04\00:45:48.04
"Better than I Believed".
00:45:48.08\00:45:51.15
I want to share with you that
00:45:53.75\00:45:56.69
the gospel gets even better.
00:45:56.72\00:46:01.49
It's not just that
Jesus condemned Himself
00:46:01.52\00:46:08.06
instead of
condemning this woman,
00:46:08.10\00:46:12.47
Jesus condemned Himself
00:46:12.50\00:46:15.97
instead of condemning this woman
00:46:16.00\00:46:19.77
and she didn't even confess.
00:46:19.81\00:46:26.72
You look all
throughout the story,
00:46:26.75\00:46:30.22
you will not find
this woman confessing.
00:46:30.25\00:46:37.23
There are
theologians and commentators
00:46:37.26\00:46:40.73
who have written their
thoughts on this subject
00:46:40.76\00:46:44.03
and one that I
appreciate the most,
00:46:44.07\00:46:47.10
the writer of Desire
of Ages suggests that
00:46:47.14\00:46:50.77
the woman went on
after Jesus forgave her
00:46:50.81\00:46:56.54
to confess her sins and
to live a life of godliness,
00:46:56.58\00:47:01.45
but she definitely
according to John 8
00:47:01.48\00:47:05.65
did not confess first,
and isn't that consistent
00:47:05.69\00:47:11.59
with what the
Bible says in Romans 2:7,
00:47:11.63\00:47:16.70
"It's the goodness of God
that leads us to repentance.
00:47:16.73\00:47:23.54
It is not that we come
to God with our confession
00:47:23.57\00:47:30.25
in an effort to
get Him to forgive us,
00:47:30.28\00:47:34.42
and to agree to be with us."
00:47:34.45\00:47:36.72
But in Romans 2 not
verse 7, but verse 4,
00:47:36.75\00:47:41.06
"It says the goodness of
God, that's the grace of God,
00:47:41.09\00:47:46.19
that's the love of God."
00:47:46.23\00:47:49.03
The love of God
presented to us in Christ Jesus
00:47:49.06\00:47:54.87
that is what
prompts us to confess.
00:47:54.90\00:47:58.44
The gospel is
that Jesus forgave us
00:47:58.47\00:48:03.81
not condemning us
but condemning Himself
00:48:03.85\00:48:08.35
even before we confess.
00:48:08.38\00:48:14.36
See, one of the most powerful
but little known aspects
00:48:14.39\00:48:18.63
of the good news
of the gospel is that
00:48:18.66\00:48:21.93
it begins with God and not us.
00:48:21.96\00:48:27.97
Too frequently our
interpretation of the gospel
00:48:28.00\00:48:31.34
is that we must
present some righteousness,
00:48:31.37\00:48:35.44
we must present some holiness,
00:48:35.48\00:48:38.31
we must prove to God
that we should be loved,
00:48:38.35\00:48:42.95
that we should be accepted,
that we should be forgiven,
00:48:42.98\00:48:46.79
but the gospel is
better than we believe.
00:48:46.82\00:48:51.29
Even while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
00:48:51.33\00:48:58.23
Our confession does
not create or elicit
00:48:58.27\00:49:04.07
or light a
loving response in God.
00:49:04.11\00:49:08.04
No, God's love
00:49:08.08\00:49:10.98
lights a loving response in us.
00:49:11.01\00:49:16.69
The good news of
the gospel is far better
00:49:16.72\00:49:22.22
than most of us
have ever believed.
00:49:22.26\00:49:28.20
There is a first
step forgiveness,
00:49:28.23\00:49:34.90
a first phase forgiveness
that Christ gave to this woman
00:49:34.94\00:49:41.68
and that Christ gives to
us when He condemned Himself
00:49:41.71\00:49:46.88
instead of condemning
her that had nothing to do
00:49:46.92\00:49:52.85
with her confession.
00:49:52.89\00:49:55.76
The Old Testament sanctuary
taught that very thought,
00:49:55.79\00:50:01.26
that first phase forgiveness,
that first step forgiveness
00:50:01.30\00:50:07.17
that has nothing to
do with our confession.
00:50:07.20\00:50:12.04
Oh, yes, the sanctuary
system was replete with people
00:50:12.07\00:50:16.44
bringing offerings and placing
their hands over the head
00:50:16.48\00:50:21.75
of the offering and
confessing their sin
00:50:21.78\00:50:24.75
and then taking a knife
and slaying that offering
00:50:24.79\00:50:29.59
as a prophetic understanding
that the Lamb of God would come
00:50:29.62\00:50:35.53
and take away their sins.
00:50:35.56\00:50:37.40
Yes, over and over again
people confess their sins
00:50:37.43\00:50:42.67
and then they received
the sacrificial forgiveness
00:50:42.70\00:50:47.38
given through the Lamb of God.
00:50:47.41\00:50:51.61
But that was the second thing
that happened in the temple.
00:50:51.65\00:50:57.52
Earlier that morning and
later, the evening before,
00:50:57.55\00:51:03.46
there was a morning
and evening sacrifice
00:51:03.49\00:51:09.96
that the priest brought
that no one confessed over.
00:51:10.00\00:51:16.60
And it was provided
for the entire nation
00:51:16.64\00:51:21.51
and it had nothing to
do with their confession
00:51:21.54\00:51:26.18
because Jesus our
High Priest willingly chose
00:51:26.21\00:51:32.29
to condemn Himself
rather than condemning us
00:51:32.32\00:51:37.69
even before we confess.
00:51:37.73\00:51:40.86
Our confession does not produce
00:51:40.90\00:51:45.43
a forgiving heart in God.
00:51:45.47\00:51:48.24
God's loving, forgiving,
00:51:48.27\00:51:52.41
gracious, merciful heart
00:51:52.44\00:51:57.31
produces a confessing
repenting action in us,
00:51:57.35\00:52:04.15
that is the gospel.
00:52:04.19\00:52:09.89
Some would point
to 1 John 1:9 and say,
00:52:09.92\00:52:15.43
"But preacher, the Bible
says, 'If we confess our sins,
00:52:15.46\00:52:20.10
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins,
00:52:20.14\00:52:23.10
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.'"
00:52:23.14\00:52:25.54
It seems to suggest that
if we confess our sins first,
00:52:25.57\00:52:30.95
then He will
forgive us of our sins,
00:52:30.98\00:52:34.02
but that is
describing the second phase,
00:52:34.05\00:52:38.32
the second step in forgiveness.
00:52:38.35\00:52:41.62
The Greek word
behind the word confess
00:52:41.66\00:52:45.86
in 1 John 1:9 is apo hiemi.
00:52:45.89\00:52:51.47
It is derived
from two root words
00:52:51.50\00:52:54.50
apo meaning from, and
hiemi meaning send away,
00:52:54.54\00:52:59.91
making its literal
meaning to send away from.
00:52:59.94\00:53:04.01
It's used when Jesus
sends away the multitude.
00:53:04.05\00:53:08.18
It's used in 1 Corinthians 7:11,
00:53:08.22\00:53:11.35
when a husband
divorces or sends away his wife.
00:53:11.39\00:53:15.62
This type of forgiveness,
this second phase forgiveness
00:53:15.66\00:53:20.76
is communicated to understand
00:53:20.80\00:53:24.00
what we would
call sanctification,
00:53:24.03\00:53:26.97
whereas we continue to
admit and acknowledge our sins,
00:53:27.00\00:53:31.94
continue to confess our desire
to be separated from our sins,
00:53:31.97\00:53:38.08
continue to confess our sins
00:53:38.11\00:53:41.48
and request that
our sins be removed
00:53:41.52\00:53:44.75
and separated from us.
00:53:44.79\00:53:46.86
Christ cleanses us
through the mediatorial work
00:53:46.89\00:53:50.96
of our high
priest, and He forgives us,
00:53:50.99\00:53:54.56
and cleanses us and
separates that sin from us
00:53:54.60\00:53:59.07
and cleanses us
from all unrighteousness.
00:53:59.10\00:54:02.47
But the original
first phase forgiveness
00:54:02.50\00:54:06.41
or the first word forgiveness
is what Jesus gave this woman
00:54:06.44\00:54:11.48
caught in adultery
when He condemned Himself
00:54:11.51\00:54:15.18
instead of condemning us.
00:54:15.22\00:54:17.09
The first phase forgiveness
or the first word forgiveness
00:54:17.12\00:54:22.02
is best understood by
the Greek word charizomai.
00:54:22.06\00:54:27.00
It comes from the Greek
word karis which means grace.
00:54:27.03\00:54:31.50
The verb means to
bestow unconditionally,
00:54:31.53\00:54:35.97
to give graciously,
to grant forgiveness
00:54:36.00\00:54:39.87
or pardon freely.
00:54:39.91\00:54:41.38
It shows up in Jesus' parable
to Simon the leper in Luke 7.
00:54:41.41\00:54:47.72
You remember that
there were these debtors
00:54:47.75\00:54:50.22
who owed their master money.
00:54:50.25\00:54:52.25
You had one who owed 500 denarii
00:54:52.29\00:54:56.06
and the other owed 50.
00:54:56.09\00:54:58.03
And the banker just
freely forgave them both.
00:54:58.06\00:55:04.33
It wasn't dependent
upon their confession.
00:55:04.37\00:55:07.77
It was simply given
00:55:07.80\00:55:10.14
from the gracious
heart of the master.
00:55:10.17\00:55:12.94
He charizomaied them.
00:55:12.97\00:55:16.44
It's also found in
Colossians 2:13 and 14,
00:55:16.48\00:55:21.02
and I'm reading, it says,
00:55:21.05\00:55:22.38
"You were dead
because of your sins
00:55:22.42\00:55:25.72
and because your sinful
nature was not yet cut away.
00:55:25.75\00:55:29.69
Then God made you
alive with Christ,
00:55:29.72\00:55:32.89
for He forgave all your sins,
charizomaied all your sins."
00:55:32.93\00:55:38.73
Remember, this is
when you were dead,
00:55:38.77\00:55:41.94
had no spiritual inclination,
00:55:41.97\00:55:44.74
this is not after you
were convicted and confessed,
00:55:44.77\00:55:48.58
this was while
you were still dead.
00:55:48.61\00:55:50.98
And God made you alive in Christ
00:55:51.01\00:55:54.18
and forgave all your sins.
00:55:54.22\00:55:56.42
He cancelled the record
of the charges against us
00:55:56.45\00:56:00.16
and took it away from
us nailing it to the cross,
00:56:00.19\00:56:04.53
while we were yet sinners.
00:56:04.56\00:56:07.60
Romans 5:6-8,
00:56:07.63\00:56:10.97
God demonstrated His love for us
00:56:11.00\00:56:15.10
by choosing to condemn Himself
rather than condemning us.
00:56:15.14\00:56:21.44
The good news of the gospel
00:56:21.48\00:56:24.55
is better than we believe.
00:56:24.58\00:56:28.65
God's loving action
predates our action.
00:56:28.68\00:56:35.52
God's original
first calls forgiveness
00:56:35.56\00:56:39.26
predates our confession,
00:56:39.29\00:56:42.13
and God did it simply
00:56:42.16\00:56:45.00
because He loves us.
00:56:45.03\00:56:49.40
The good news of
the gospel is not that
00:56:49.44\00:56:52.37
you must
convince God to love you,
00:56:52.41\00:56:57.21
God already loves you.
00:56:57.25\00:57:01.65
The good news of
the gospel is that
00:57:01.68\00:57:04.55
a God who already loves you
00:57:04.59\00:57:07.92
is trying to
convince you to love Him too.
00:57:07.96\00:57:13.46
It's better than we believed.
00:57:13.50\00:57:18.33
And my question to you is,
00:57:18.37\00:57:21.67
will you respond
and love this God
00:57:21.70\00:57:26.27
who loved you first?
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