Well our subject tonight
is entitled The Two Covenants.
00:00:27.27\00:00:30.88
A very, very important subject
because like everything else
00:00:32.15\00:00:37.38
the devil has
perverted this wonderful truth.
00:00:37.58\00:00:40.36
And we have noticed
as we have gone through
00:00:41.71\00:00:43.93
and we are going to continue
to notice as we study the Bible
00:00:44.13\00:00:46.51
for every truth the
devil has a counterfeit
00:00:46.71\00:00:51.22
and he has a trap.
00:00:51.53\00:00:53.67
And tonight in our study
we're going to have a look
00:00:53.94\00:00:56.23
very carefully at this subject
because it's very important.
00:00:56.33\00:00:59.28
And you're going to see how
many Christians, unfortunately
00:00:59.48\00:01:02.37
today, have got the wrong story.
00:01:02.47\00:01:05.43
All right, come over
to the book of Ephesians.
00:01:05.63\00:01:07.50
At the back of the
Bible the book of Ephesians
00:01:07.70\00:01:10.45
the second chapter and verse 11.
00:01:10.55\00:01:14.11
Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 11
00:01:14.31\00:01:17.63
where Paul writes here:
00:01:17.83\00:01:20.97
Now you couldn't imagine a more
hopeless position than that.
00:01:47.30\00:01:50.65
A person who was
estranged from the covenants
00:01:50.95\00:01:54.24
has no hope and without Christ.
00:01:54.44\00:01:58.21
That's the most
hopeless of all situations.
00:01:58.51\00:02:02.00
You know I meet people who
say: "I don't want anything
00:02:02.30\00:02:04.92
to do with the
Jews, I'm a Gentile... "
00:02:05.02\00:02:07.61
Well actually the word
Gentile simply means heathen.
00:02:07.91\00:02:11.35
And the covenants
were made with the Jews...
00:02:12.15\00:02:16.58
whether it's the old
covenant or the new covenant.
00:02:16.78\00:02:20.11
And if you don't want to have
anything to do with the Jews,
00:02:20.31\00:02:23.87
then you are without
hope because the covenants
00:02:24.08\00:02:27.39
were given to the Jews...
00:02:27.60\00:02:29.82
both old and the new.
00:02:30.32\00:02:33.63
And so as we study this it's
a very, very important subject.
00:02:34.13\00:02:38.79
Well you say: "What
are the covenants? "
00:02:39.09\00:02:41.54
Let me illustrate it like this:
00:02:41.84\00:02:43.40
let's say I'm in business,
00:02:43.60\00:02:46.48
and my business gets into
a very bad way and I'm really
00:02:46.68\00:02:50.48
going down the tube.
00:02:50.58\00:02:51.99
And you come along to
me and you tell me about
00:02:52.39\00:02:56.89
a wonderful property... that
if I was to be able to buy this
00:02:56.99\00:02:59.66
property then that
would set me right...
00:02:59.76\00:03:01.92
I'd be right in my business.
00:03:02.02\00:03:03.86
Trouble is I haven't
got any money to buy it.
00:03:04.93\00:03:07.72
But you say to me:
"Look, if you go bankrupt,
00:03:08.02\00:03:11.00
then what I'll do is
I'll give you the property. "
00:03:13.00\00:03:16.71
Well now, that's not likely
to happen in real life, is it?
00:03:18.09\00:03:21.30
Not too likely at all.
00:03:21.50\00:03:23.24
But that's exactly
what Christ has done for us
00:03:23.54\00:03:26.43
because His grace is given
to us when we are bankrupt.
00:03:26.84\00:03:31.93
And it's very likely that as
we study this subject tonight
00:03:33.77\00:03:38.03
it's going to help us to
understand the grace of Christ
00:03:38.13\00:03:41.18
in a much broader understanding
and in a wonderful way.
00:03:41.48\00:03:45.64
But as we said, the
devil has perverted this truth
00:03:45.94\00:03:49.25
like he's
perverted every other truth.
00:03:49.45\00:03:51.23
Well, let's have a look at the
subject of the two covenants.
00:03:51.43\00:03:53.70
Come back to the book of Exodus
at the beginning of the Bible.
00:03:54.00\00:03:56.95
Genesis and then
Exodus the 19th chapter.
00:03:57.05\00:04:00.79
Exodus chapter 19
and we'll notice verse 3.
00:04:00.99\00:04:05.23
Exodus chapter 19 and verse 3:
00:04:09.07\00:04:12.52
So you'll notice it's addressed
to the children of Israel.
00:04:23.82\00:04:25.77
Verse 4:
00:04:25.97\00:04:27.11
So you'll notice that the
people responded very positively
00:05:11.66\00:05:15.96
and very
eagerly, isn't that right?
00:05:16.07\00:05:17.58
They said: "All that
the Lord has said we will do
00:05:17.88\00:05:22.10
and we are going
to be obedient. "
00:05:22.20\00:05:23.78
You see, a covenant
is simply an agreement...
00:05:26.28\00:05:29.29
an agreement between two people.
00:05:31.02\00:05:33.34
We enter into
covenants ourselves.
00:05:33.84\00:05:36.03
You may enter into a
covenant with a builder.
00:05:36.23\00:05:38.59
You pay him so much and
he's going to build you a house
00:05:39.72\00:05:43.58
to those specifications.
That's an agreement.
00:05:43.78\00:05:46.84
We have lots of agreements.
Webster in his dictionary says:
00:05:47.04\00:05:50.17
"a covenant is an agreement
entered into by two or more
00:05:50.20\00:05:54.83
parties. " So here we have
two parties in this covenant.
00:05:54.93\00:05:59.48
We have God on the one
hand and we have the people.
00:05:59.68\00:06:03.26
So that's the
basis of a covenant.
00:06:04.61\00:06:06.92
And we have a covenant
here in Australia between
00:06:08.23\00:06:11.33
the government and ourselves.
00:06:11.43\00:06:12.90
The government agrees to
protect us and to care for us
00:06:13.20\00:06:16.43
and provide us with certain
facilities - basic facilities -
00:06:16.63\00:06:20.27
and we agree to live in harmony
with the laws of the land.
00:06:20.57\00:06:25.86
And that's how a
covenant is entered into
00:06:27.03\00:06:30.16
in a day-by-day relationship.
00:06:30.46\00:06:32.55
Now this old covenant
was not God's covenant.
00:06:32.85\00:06:38.01
Let me read that to you.
00:06:38.21\00:06:39.40
Come back to
Deuteronomy chapter 4.
00:06:39.51\00:06:41.37
Now this may sound just
a little bit complicated
00:06:41.57\00:06:43.96
for a moment, but it's not.
00:06:44.17\00:06:45.30
Deuteronomy
chapter 4 and verse 13.
00:06:45.50\00:06:48.70
Deuteronomy 4 and verse
13. Now this is what it says:
00:06:51.55\00:06:54.55
Now I meet many Christians
who think that the old covenant
00:07:05.26\00:07:09.18
was the Ten Commandments.
00:07:09.48\00:07:11.21
Now that's not what
Deuteronomy is saying
00:07:12.50\00:07:15.03
nor does the Bible
teach that anywhere.
00:07:15.23\00:07:17.08
The old covenant was
not the Ten Commandments.
00:07:17.48\00:07:21.50
The covenant
involves an agreement...
00:07:23.10\00:07:25.42
agreement between
God and the people.
00:07:25.72\00:07:28.82
And the Ten
Commandments were the basis
00:07:29.12\00:07:32.06
of that agreement
between God and the people.
00:07:32.27\00:07:36.02
And the old covenant was
an agreement that the people
00:07:36.52\00:07:39.84
entered into voluntarily.
00:07:40.04\00:07:41.99
God didn't make
them agree to that.
00:07:42.29\00:07:45.13
They entered into that
relationship in a positive
00:07:45.43\00:07:50.41
but in a free-will way.
00:07:50.61\00:07:53.42
In fact, if you
have a look at verse 13
00:07:53.72\00:07:56.41
notice again what God says
about the Ten Commandments.
00:07:56.62\00:07:59.47
It says:
00:07:59.57\00:08:00.66
Now the people had a choice
as to whether they entered into
00:08:09.67\00:08:13.72
the old covenant,
but there was no choice
00:08:13.82\00:08:17.97
as far as the Ten
Commandments were concerned
00:08:18.17\00:08:20.55
because God
commanded the Ten Commandments.
00:08:20.75\00:08:23.12
God has never made that a matter
of whether the whims and fancies
00:08:23.63\00:08:28.42
of individuals wanted
to obey the commandments
00:08:28.45\00:08:31.48
or to keep the commandments.
00:08:31.58\00:08:33.08
Never! God commanded
the Ten Commandments.
00:08:33.28\00:08:36.00
There was no compromise on that.
00:08:36.30\00:08:38.56
But as far as the old
covenant was concerned -
00:08:38.87\00:08:41.40
that is, the agreement to
keep those Ten Commandments -
00:08:41.61\00:08:45.19
that was voluntary.
00:08:45.39\00:08:47.52
God never forced the people
to enter into any relationship
00:08:47.82\00:08:52.94
with Him. That
was purely voluntary.
00:08:53.14\00:08:55.28
So we must not
confuse the covenant
00:08:55.58\00:08:59.93
with the Ten Commandments.
00:09:00.13\00:09:01.22
The Ten Commandments were
the basis of the covenant.
00:09:01.32\00:09:03.93
Get the idea?
00:09:04.03\00:09:05.08
That was what God said. He
said: "You obey My commandments
00:09:05.28\00:09:08.54
and then My part will
be that I will bless you
00:09:08.74\00:09:12.39
and make you a
wonderful people. "
00:09:12.59\00:09:14.26
That's the
basis of the covenant.
00:09:15.45\00:09:18.83
And the people said: "Well,
we go along with that Lord.
00:09:19.03\00:09:21.37
All that You've said we will do
00:09:21.57\00:09:23.44
and we are going
to be obedient. "
00:09:23.54\00:09:25.24
And the trouble with the
old covenant was the fact that
00:09:26.49\00:09:30.70
the old covenant... the people
never asked God to help them
00:09:32.13\00:09:36.19
to keep it. " That was the
tragedy with the old covenant.
00:09:36.30\00:09:41.12
You see, the people
had just come out of Egypt.
00:09:41.42\00:09:43.74
They were self-willed.
00:09:43.94\00:09:45.35
They had learned to forget about
God for the last 400 years.
00:09:45.55\00:09:49.36
And when God said:
"Well look, I want you to keep
00:09:49.56\00:09:52.19
My commandments" they
said "Lord, you just tell us
00:09:52.29\00:09:54.86
what You want us to do. We'll
do it, no trouble at all. "
00:09:54.96\00:09:58.96
And that was the problem.
00:10:01.02\00:10:02.71
They never
asked God to help them
00:10:02.91\00:10:04.48
because they didn't
think they needed God's help.
00:10:04.68\00:10:06.34
They were quite
sufficient in and of themselves.
00:10:06.54\00:10:08.98
Just come back
to Exodus chapter 23
00:10:11.92\00:10:14.81
and we'll notice something else
here that's very interesting.
00:10:15.01\00:10:17.31
Exodus chapter 23 and verse 20
00:10:17.51\00:10:20.02
about this old covenant.
00:10:20.22\00:10:21.83
Exodus 23 and
we'll pick up verse 20
00:10:22.03\00:10:25.42
where God says:
00:10:27.78\00:10:28.96
So God clearly points out
00:10:58.61\00:11:01.89
that there was no
forgiveness in the old covenant.
00:11:02.09\00:11:05.21
That's what we
just read, isn't it?
00:11:08.98\00:11:10.65
God says: "You
make sure you obey
00:11:10.96\00:11:13.50
because if you disobey He'll not
pardon your transgressions. "
00:11:13.70\00:11:18.83
So God expected them
to have perfect obedience.
00:11:20.06\00:11:24.22
That's always
been the plan of God:
00:11:24.42\00:11:26.93
to obey God perfectly.
00:11:27.13\00:11:30.85
Because a perfect God
could never be expected to have
00:11:32.33\00:11:36.04
any standard less than that.
00:11:36.14\00:11:37.94
And that was certainly
the standard back here.
00:11:38.24\00:11:40.90
But there is no
Savior in the old covenant.
00:11:41.20\00:11:44.46
There's no
salvation in the old covenant
00:11:44.67\00:11:46.94
because the people
never asked God for salvation.
00:11:47.14\00:11:50.69
They thought they were self-
sufficient... they could do it
00:11:50.99\00:11:53.47
in their own strength.
"You just tell us, Lord,
00:11:53.57\00:11:55.17
what You want us to do and
we'll be very happy to do it. "
00:11:55.27\00:11:58.01
In fact, if you
come to chapter 24 now
00:12:02.02\00:12:06.08
of Exodus and verse 3
00:12:06.28\00:12:08.63
it tells you why it's
impossible for people to keep
00:12:10.00\00:12:13.37
the old covenant.
Chapter 24 verse 3:
00:12:13.47\00:12:16.27
However,
00:13:13.02\00:13:14.75
that old covenant was
broken very, very soon after.
00:13:15.05\00:13:19.49
Because you remember the
story of the golden calf?
00:13:19.79\00:13:22.60
Hardly had Moses
turned his back on the people
00:13:23.88\00:13:26.79
and they were down
worshiping naked a golden calf.
00:13:28.07\00:13:32.35
Well you say: "Why did
God give the old covenant
00:13:34.16\00:13:37.65
if He knew that
it was impossible
00:13:37.75\00:13:40.40
for the people to keep
it? " Well let me illustrate.
00:13:40.60\00:13:42.74
Here's mother walking along the
road and she has a big parcel
00:13:43.24\00:13:47.19
in her hand. And
she's walking along
00:13:47.32\00:13:49.85
and suddenly her little
son of five years of age
00:13:49.95\00:13:54.17
says: "Mommy, I want
to carry the parcel. "
00:13:54.37\00:13:59.47
Mother explains to him:
"Sonny, it's too heavy for you.
00:14:00.64\00:14:04.19
You could never lift this. "
00:14:04.40\00:14:06.66
And he puts on a bit
of a performance because
00:14:06.96\00:14:09.72
he wants to carry it.
And mother explains again:
00:14:09.92\00:14:12.19
"No, Sonny, it's
too heavy for you. "
00:14:12.40\00:14:14.73
But he's still not
satisfied and more performance.
00:14:15.03\00:14:18.55
What's the best way for mother
to demonstrate that he can't
00:14:18.86\00:14:21.65
carry it? "All
right, " she said...
00:14:21.76\00:14:24.33
She gives it to him.
00:14:24.53\00:14:26.12
He can't even get
it off the... the path.
00:14:26.42\00:14:30.15
And that's why God gave
the old covenant to the people:
00:14:30.55\00:14:35.03
because they
were so self-willed,
00:14:35.24\00:14:38.22
they were so determined
that they could do everything
00:14:38.52\00:14:41.46
that the Lord wanted them to do,
00:14:41.56\00:14:42.86
that they never
asked God for any help.
00:14:43.16\00:14:46.34
They never asked God...
expected any forgiveness
00:14:46.64\00:14:49.17
because they didn't
think they would fail anyway.
00:14:49.37\00:14:51.81
Just like that little boy.
And until God could demonstrate
00:14:52.21\00:14:56.88
to them that they couldn't do it
00:14:56.98\00:14:58.79
then they
recognized their need of God.
00:14:59.19\00:15:04.12
But at this particular stage
- just coming out of Egypt -
00:15:04.42\00:15:07.63
they were so stiff
necked and self-willed
00:15:07.83\00:15:10.71
that nothing - even God
Himself - couldn't help them
00:15:10.92\00:15:14.18
to realize their inadequacies.
00:15:14.38\00:15:16.15
That's why in the old
covenant it always starts off by
00:15:16.35\00:15:19.57
saying: "If, if, if, if... "
00:15:19.67\00:15:22.71
That's what God
continues to say to the people
00:15:22.91\00:15:25.22
because He knew very well that
they wouldn't be able to do it.
00:15:25.42\00:15:28.79
The same as mother knew
that that little tot couldn't
00:15:28.99\00:15:31.75
carry that heavy parcel.
00:15:31.95\00:15:33.42
But he never learned until
mother gave him the opportunity
00:15:33.72\00:15:37.18
to try. Then he
became very convinced
00:15:37.38\00:15:40.47
that what she was
saying was correct.
00:15:40.68\00:15:42.40
And that's the way the
Lord worked with the children
00:15:42.70\00:15:45.07
of Israel.
00:15:45.17\00:15:46.37
Now you remember the
background to the giving of the
00:15:46.57\00:15:49.11
old covenant. Just have a look
at chapter 24 again and verse 7.
00:15:49.21\00:15:52.15
Chapter 24 and verse 7.
00:15:52.35\00:15:55.74
Unfortunately, the people
never realized their complete
00:15:56.04\00:15:59.84
lack of spiritual
understanding and their lack of
00:16:00.04\00:16:05.08
a relationship with God.
00:16:05.22\00:16:06.58
Notice chapter 24 and verse 7:
00:16:06.68\00:16:08.67
You see, that's why the
old covenant was always linked
00:16:23.34\00:16:27.09
with the sacrificial system.
00:16:27.19\00:16:28.92
Because God was
trying to teach those people
00:16:29.88\00:16:32.99
through the sacrificial
system that their sufficiency
00:16:33.19\00:16:36.75
wasn't in themselves but
it was in the Savior to come.
00:16:36.95\00:16:39.86
Get the thought?
00:16:40.06\00:16:41.10
And all through the Old
Testament God was continually
00:16:41.40\00:16:45.49
teaching them through
this enactment... day after day
00:16:45.59\00:16:49.25
after day that
they needed a Savior.
00:16:49.45\00:16:52.37
They WERE NOT
sufficient in and of themselves.
00:16:52.67\00:16:56.08
But it was very hard for
God to let them see the poverty
00:16:56.38\00:17:00.71
of their relationship
00:17:00.91\00:17:03.38
and their lack of
spiritual understanding.
00:17:03.58\00:17:07.38
And that was the reason for
the giving of the old covenant.
00:17:07.68\00:17:10.73
But it doesn't mean
because the people failed up
00:17:11.13\00:17:16.50
in their relationship to God
00:17:16.70\00:17:18.62
that that meant the Ten Command-
ments were done away with.
00:17:18.82\00:17:21.91
There wasn't anything
wrong with the Ten Commandments.
00:17:22.21\00:17:24.73
That wasn't the problem.
00:17:24.93\00:17:26.98
The problem was with
the people. Get the thought?
00:17:27.18\00:17:30.15
And we must
never ever forget that.
00:17:30.45\00:17:32.79
Nowhere does the Bible
ever suggest that the problem
00:17:32.89\00:17:35.50
is with the Ten Commandments.
00:17:35.60\00:17:37.15
Let me illustrate.
00:17:38.47\00:17:40.15
Let's say that I decide to
buy a house, and you sell me
00:17:40.45\00:17:43.55
your house. And I NEED a house.
00:17:43.75\00:17:47.24
And well the
price is fairly steep
00:17:48.44\00:17:51.92
and the payments that
we set out pretty high, but
00:17:52.12\00:17:56.59
I need the house. So I
decide that I'm going to
00:17:56.69\00:17:59.73
put the hefty deposit down
00:17:59.93\00:18:02.21
and I have to make
these weekly payments.
00:18:02.41\00:18:05.57
So I start off.
00:18:05.87\00:18:07.67
But it's not long unfortunately
before I get hopelessly behind
00:18:07.87\00:18:12.09
with my payments.
00:18:12.29\00:18:13.81
And you come to me.
00:18:17.81\00:18:19.65
And so you decide
because I'm so far now behind
00:18:19.95\00:18:23.66
with my payments, you decide
that the way to fix this up
00:18:23.86\00:18:27.34
is to burn the house down.
00:18:27.54\00:18:29.07
Would that solve the problem?
00:18:30.33\00:18:32.00
Getting rid of the
house. Is the house the problem?
00:18:32.30\00:18:34.69
No! Nothing
wrong with the house.
00:18:34.99\00:18:36.93
That's not the problem.
00:18:37.23\00:18:38.98
The problem is my
inability to repay it.
00:18:39.28\00:18:43.60
Isn't that right?
00:18:43.80\00:18:45.17
That's the problem.
00:18:45.37\00:18:47.07
So you come along and
we work out and we say
00:18:47.37\00:18:50.89
"Well look, instead
of paying $500 a week
00:18:51.09\00:18:55.33
in repayments we'll
make it $250 a week. "
00:18:55.53\00:19:01.16
So we
re-negotiate the repayments.
00:19:01.56\00:19:06.85
And friends, that's
exactly what God has done
00:19:08.30\00:19:12.17
with the new covenant.
00:19:12.37\00:19:14.15
There is nothing wrong
with the Ten Commandments.
00:19:14.35\00:19:17.03
That's not the problem.
00:19:17.33\00:19:18.57
The problem is with us
and God had to re-negotiate.
00:19:18.87\00:19:23.46
In fact, let me read it to you.
Come over to the book of Hebrews
00:19:24.02\00:19:27.63
in the New Testament...
the back of the Bible.
00:19:27.83\00:19:30.24
Hebrews chapter 8
00:19:30.44\00:19:33.60
and we'll read
how God re-negotiated
00:19:33.80\00:19:36.77
His relationship with
the people. Hebrews chapter 8
00:19:37.07\00:19:41.01
and verse 7.
00:19:41.31\00:19:43.51
Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 7.
00:19:45.24\00:19:47.69
Now many people
only read that verse
00:19:59.01\00:20:02.39
and they think: "There
you are... the covenant
00:20:02.59\00:20:05.31
was at fault. " Let's
just read the next verse.
00:20:05.51\00:20:07.98
Where does God say
the problem was? Verse 8:
00:20:08.18\00:20:10.69
"Because finding
fault with... " Whom?
00:20:10.89\00:20:13.86
"with them. " It was...
That's where the problem was.
00:20:14.06\00:20:17.80
It was with the people!
00:20:18.00\00:20:20.35
To say burning the house
down doesn't solve the problem.
00:20:20.65\00:20:23.92
We have to re-negotiate
how I repay the money,
00:20:26.03\00:20:30.44
isn't that right?
And we work out a system
00:20:30.64\00:20:32.95
whereby I can repay if
the payments that I'm making
00:20:33.15\00:20:37.06
are beyond me. And that's
exactly what happened here
00:20:37.16\00:20:40.76
because it says in verse 8:
00:20:41.06\00:20:42.68
Once again, see? The
problem is with the people.
00:21:04.78\00:21:07.09
So you see the problem was
not with the Ten Commandments.
00:21:20.04\00:21:24.36
The problem is
not with the house.
00:21:24.76\00:21:27.14
The problem is with ME and
how I am repaying the debt.
00:21:27.44\00:21:32.92
Now when it comes to the new
covenant and the old covenant
00:21:33.12\00:21:36.87
the problem was with the people.
00:21:37.07\00:21:38.87
That had to be changed.
00:21:39.17\00:21:41.67
But you'll notice that
in both covenants - whether
00:21:42.69\00:21:45.92
it's old or new - the
basis is exactly the same.
00:21:46.12\00:21:50.28
That is: obedience to
God's Ten Commandments.
00:21:50.48\00:21:53.39
That never changed.
00:21:53.69\00:21:55.24
But what DID change is
the people's relationship
00:21:55.44\00:22:00.44
to obedience and to
keeping those commandments.
00:22:00.64\00:22:03.82
God changed that.
00:22:04.02\00:22:05.69
Because remember... in the old
covenant the people didn't sense
00:22:05.99\00:22:09.05
any need? They thought
that they could do everything
00:22:09.15\00:22:11.10
that God wanted them to do.
00:22:11.20\00:22:12.52
"Lord, you just tell
me what You want me to do
00:22:12.82\00:22:15.62
and I'll do it. "
00:22:15.72\00:22:17.02
That self-willed and
that self-confident attitude
00:22:17.32\00:22:22.43
which is so prevalent
with humanity even today.
00:22:23.59\00:22:26.89
We saw it in the apostle Peter.
00:22:27.09\00:22:28.91
He was confident that he
would never deny God... Christ.
00:22:29.22\00:22:33.36
But his
self-confidence tripped him up.
00:22:33.66\00:22:36.48
Now as we read
on here in verse 8
00:22:36.78\00:22:40.14
of Hebrews chapter 8 again,
00:22:40.34\00:22:42.79
well... maybe we'll
read down here in verse 10.
00:22:42.99\00:22:45.97
Just pick up Hebrews
8 and verse 10. It says:
00:22:46.27\00:22:49.64
Did you notice the pronoun
that's mentioned there 3 times:
00:23:11.20\00:23:14.87
I. Who was going to do the work
00:23:15.07\00:23:19.22
in the new covenant?
00:23:19.42\00:23:20.56
God or the people?
00:23:20.86\00:23:22.89
God. God says: "I will
write My laws in your heart. "
00:23:23.09\00:23:28.77
"I will put obedience in
your heart. " Tell me this:
00:23:29.07\00:23:33.02
if God puts His laws in my heart
00:23:33.32\00:23:36.29
and God writes the spirit
of obedience into my heart,
00:23:36.49\00:23:40.51
tell me... is it going to
be very hard to be obedient?
00:23:40.71\00:23:43.90
Do you think it would be?
00:23:44.99\00:23:46.53
Do you?
00:23:46.93\00:23:48.74
No! Not if God puts that
spirit of obedience in my heart.
00:23:48.94\00:23:53.17
Because as we've noticed so far
00:23:53.37\00:23:55.35
by nature we don't
have that spirit, do we?
00:23:55.55\00:23:57.95
We have the spirit of rebellion.
00:23:58.16\00:23:59.92
But in the new covenant
God wants to put His laws
00:24:00.22\00:24:05.02
in our hearts. Not
just on tables of stone...
00:24:05.22\00:24:08.90
now He wants to
write them in our hearts
00:24:09.10\00:24:11.57
so that I want to do
what God wants me to do.
00:24:11.87\00:24:14.23
That's why as far as
being a Christian is concerned
00:24:14.53\00:24:17.58
it's such an
exciting experience.
00:24:17.78\00:24:19.93
Because God doesn't expect me
to do all that He asks me to do
00:24:20.13\00:24:24.75
in my strength. That's the
trouble with the old covenant.
00:24:24.95\00:24:28.08
And that's why the story has
been recorded in such detail:
00:24:28.28\00:24:31.18
to show that no man, no woman,
00:24:31.38\00:24:33.42
ever, ever, ever could be saved
00:24:33.62\00:24:35.84
in the attitude
of the old covenant.
00:24:36.04\00:24:37.85
Because nobody can
keep the commandments,
00:24:38.05\00:24:40.78
nobody can do anything
that God wants them to do,
00:24:40.98\00:24:43.24
without having Christ
write His laws in our hearts.
00:24:43.44\00:24:48.56
And in the old covenant,
the people never sensed that.
00:24:50.70\00:24:53.83
They never felt that
there was any need of Christ.
00:24:54.89\00:24:58.07
We can do it.
00:24:58.37\00:25:00.29
And that attitude unfortunately
is still the attitude
00:25:01.61\00:25:05.33
today of many people.
00:25:05.53\00:25:07.02
"Look, I don't
need to go to church.
00:25:08.10\00:25:09.39
Don't talk to me about these
things. I live a good life.
00:25:09.59\00:25:12.52
I pay 20 cents or
100 cents on the dollar.
00:25:12.72\00:25:15.76
I am as good as anyone else. "
00:25:15.96\00:25:18.61
That's exactly
the same attitude.
00:25:18.91\00:25:21.39
And it's interesting as
we look at Hebrews chapter 8
00:25:24.53\00:25:27.65
if you remember as
we read those verses,
00:25:27.86\00:25:29.72
who did God make
the new covenant with?
00:25:29.92\00:25:32.02
Was it with the
Gentiles or was it with Israel?
00:25:32.22\00:25:34.94
It was with Israel!
00:25:35.34\00:25:38.30
Yes, the house of
Judah. Says that very clearly
00:25:38.60\00:25:42.54
there in Hebrews chapter 8.
00:25:42.84\00:25:44.97
So you see, unless we
understand the relationship
00:25:45.27\00:25:49.86
that God has with
Israel, we've got to become
00:25:50.06\00:25:52.17
true Israelites.
00:25:52.47\00:25:54.29
And they're the only people
that God has ever dealt with
00:25:55.56\00:25:57.87
whether it's the
Old or New Testament.
00:25:58.07\00:26:00.09
Because a person who
accepts Jesus becomes
00:26:02.21\00:26:05.20
the true Israel
in the New Testament.
00:26:05.41\00:26:08.54
God wants to write
His laws in our hearts.
00:26:10.10\00:26:13.81
And as I said, I meet many
Christians who want to have
00:26:14.01\00:26:16.11
nothing to do
with anything Jewish.
00:26:16.21\00:26:17.90
Well friends, you
are outside the covenants
00:26:18.10\00:26:19.83
if that's the case.
00:26:20.03\00:26:21.07
You're without
Christ, without hope.
00:26:21.28\00:26:23.22
You couldn't imagine a
more hopeless situation.
00:26:23.52\00:26:26.85
Look, just come back to
Jeremiah the 31st chapter
00:26:27.15\00:26:30.26
in the Old Testament.
00:26:30.36\00:26:31.59
Jeremiah 31, and we'll
notice that actually Hebrews
00:26:31.73\00:26:35.53
Paul is quoting from Jeremiah.
00:26:35.73\00:26:37.98
Jeremiah 31 and verse 31.
00:26:38.28\00:26:41.15
Jeremiah 31 verse 31:
00:26:42.50\00:26:44.56
Notice? "With the
house of Israel... "
00:26:54.01\00:26:56.22
Can you see where
Paul is quoting from?
00:27:29.60\00:27:34.60
From Jeremiah.
00:27:34.91\00:27:37.21
In fact, the only way a
person has ever been saved
00:27:37.61\00:27:42.79
whether it's Old
Testament or New Testament
00:27:42.99\00:27:46.01
is under the new covenant.
00:27:46.04\00:27:47.96
Nobody has ever been
saved under the old covenant.
00:27:48.36\00:27:52.57
Because the new covenant
was taught in the Old Testament
00:27:54.31\00:27:58.37
as well as re-emphasized
again in the New Testament.
00:27:58.57\00:28:03.40
We've just read it
there in the book of Jeremiah.
00:28:04.36\00:28:06.75
You can see on the screen there
00:28:07.95\00:28:11.47
the chart which helps you to see
00:28:11.77\00:28:15.06
that the new covenant is
really what the Bible calls
00:28:15.27\00:28:20.18
the everlasting covenant.
00:28:20.28\00:28:21.84
That covenant was
made with Adam and Eve
00:28:22.24\00:28:25.27
back in the
beginning. It was made with Noah
00:28:25.47\00:28:27.53
when God put the
rainbow in the sky.
00:28:27.73\00:28:30.78
That is known as
the everlasting covenant
00:28:32.57\00:28:35.04
or the new covenant
00:28:35.24\00:28:36.52
whereas the old
covenant applied from Mt. Sinai
00:28:38.81\00:28:44.32
until Jesus died on the cross.
00:28:44.42\00:28:46.64
That still was in.
00:28:46.84\00:28:48.77
But nobody's ever been
saved under the old covenant.
00:28:48.97\00:28:51.60
Now you say: "Well why's
it called the old and the new?
00:28:51.90\00:28:54.36
Doesn't the new suggest
that it supersedes the old? "
00:28:54.46\00:28:57.52
Well I must admit that sometimes
people draw that conclusion.
00:28:58.45\00:29:02.81
But that is not the
correct conclusion because
00:29:03.01\00:29:05.85
it is called the old covenant
because that was ratified
00:29:06.05\00:29:11.54
first by blood.
00:29:11.75\00:29:14.02
Get the thought?
00:29:14.42\00:29:15.69
Because it was the
blood of bulls and goats
00:29:15.99\00:29:18.67
which ratified or
sealed the old covenant...
00:29:18.87\00:29:22.11
and that was done first.
00:29:22.32\00:29:23.91
Whereas the new or everlasting
covenant wasn't sealed
00:29:24.21\00:29:27.47
until when? Jesus
died on the cross.
00:29:27.57\00:29:30.97
That's why it's
called the new covenant.
00:29:31.18\00:29:33.08
But we must understand that
every person that's ever been
00:29:34.43\00:29:37.41
saved has always
and only ever been saved
00:29:37.51\00:29:41.12
under the new,
everlasting covenant.
00:29:41.32\00:29:43.38
In the Old Testament it
pointed forward to Jesus.
00:29:43.68\00:29:46.64
In the New Testament
it points back to Jesus.
00:29:46.95\00:29:51.18
But it's the basis
of everyone's salvation.
00:29:52.93\00:29:56.53
The new and the old covenants
were made to the same people.
00:29:56.83\00:30:00.74
It had the same object:
00:30:01.14\00:30:03.34
obedience to
God's Ten Commandments.
00:30:03.65\00:30:05.62
And it rested on
the promises of God
00:30:05.93\00:30:08.66
whereas the old covenant rested
on the promises of the people.
00:30:08.86\00:30:13.58
The old covenant was ratified
by the blood of animals.
00:30:13.88\00:30:18.61
The new covenant was ratified
or sealed by the blood of Jesus.
00:30:18.81\00:30:23.95
And so you can see very
clearly the distinction between
00:30:24.25\00:30:27.13
those two great covenants.
00:30:27.23\00:30:30.00
And I want to
emphasize and thank God today
00:30:30.30\00:30:33.52
for the fact that we are saved
because Jesus writes His law
00:30:33.72\00:30:38.37
in our hearts.
00:30:38.57\00:30:40.07
And all of those people that
were saved in the Old Testament
00:30:40.27\00:30:42.90
who had a wonderful
relationship with Jesus -
00:30:43.10\00:30:45.60
and thank God many of them did -
00:30:45.80\00:30:47.41
they were saved
under the new covenant.
00:30:47.71\00:30:50.89
Nobody has ever been
saved under the old covenant.
00:30:51.09\00:30:53.69
It's impossible!
00:30:53.89\00:30:54.92
You can't do it
in your own strength
00:30:55.22\00:30:57.17
no matter how good you are.
00:30:57.47\00:30:59.00
The only way we can do it
is when God writes His law
00:31:00.05\00:31:03.33
and His will in my heart.
00:31:03.53\00:31:06.82
And then it becomes
a joy and a privilege
00:31:07.12\00:31:10.60
to do what God wants us to do.
00:31:10.80\00:31:12.03
Now people try and tell us
00:31:14.64\00:31:16.79
that Sunday is to be kept today.
00:31:17.00\00:31:20.20
But you know, Sunday is
not in the new covenant.
00:31:22.40\00:31:26.31
Now that will come as a surprise
perhaps to some viewers.
00:31:28.70\00:31:32.07
If Sunday keeping
was in the new covenant,
00:31:33.15\00:31:37.57
it had to be in
before Jesus died.
00:31:37.87\00:31:42.10
Let me illustrate. I'll
show it to you from the Bible.
00:31:43.28\00:31:45.44
Come over the
Matthew chapter 26.
00:31:45.64\00:31:47.50
And the Bible uses an
illustration that we're all
00:31:47.70\00:31:49.97
very, very familiar with
00:31:50.17\00:31:52.12
because all of
us know about wills.
00:31:52.32\00:31:54.88
Matthew 26 and verse 26.
00:31:55.18\00:31:58.40
And we'll read here what
Jesus said to the disciples,
00:31:58.70\00:32:04.06
and they were representatives
of the Christian church.
00:32:04.26\00:32:07.38
Matthew 26 and verse 26:
00:32:07.58\00:32:10.40
So here Jesus was
instituting and about to seal
00:32:38.57\00:32:43.44
the new covenant.
00:32:43.64\00:32:44.91
Because the word covenant
simply means testament or will
00:32:45.11\00:32:50.69
or covenant.
00:32:50.99\00:32:52.45
And that's why Jesus had to
bring in the Lord's Supper...
00:32:53.78\00:32:57.79
the communion service
had to be brought in before
00:32:57.99\00:33:02.73
He died. Because
after a person dies
00:33:02.94\00:33:07.65
can you change a person's will?
00:33:07.85\00:33:09.90
Can you?
00:33:10.23\00:33:11.76
You try and see what happens.
00:33:12.06\00:33:13.80
Serious, isn't it?
00:33:14.10\00:33:15.89
You can never alter a will
00:33:16.19\00:33:18.32
after the person who
wrote the will - the testator -
00:33:18.52\00:33:23.37
after that person dies.
00:33:23.57\00:33:24.90
Now listen. I want you
to follow me very carefully
00:33:27.16\00:33:29.81
on these points because
this a point which is so
00:33:29.91\00:33:33.72
wonderfully simple and clear.
00:33:33.92\00:33:36.75
If Sunday was going to
be in the new covenant,
00:33:38.06\00:33:42.13
when did it have to be kept?
00:33:42.43\00:33:44.87
Before Jesus died
or after Jesus died?
00:33:46.09\00:33:49.49
Before!
00:33:49.79\00:33:51.58
Because everything
that was going to be part of
00:33:51.88\00:33:54.88
the new covenant had to be in
00:33:54.98\00:33:57.36
as part of His
will and testament -
00:33:57.66\00:34:00.05
as part of the covenant -
00:34:00.25\00:34:01.48
before it was sealed.
Because once the death
00:34:01.68\00:34:04.96
of the testator takes
place you cannot alter a will.
00:34:05.16\00:34:09.47
That's why Jesus
brought baptism in.
00:34:09.77\00:34:12.62
That's why He
brought the Lord's Supper.
00:34:12.82\00:34:14.73
All the teachings that
Jesus wanted us to follow in the
00:34:14.93\00:34:17.81
New Testament were all
brought in before Jesus died.
00:34:17.91\00:34:21.37
Let me read you
Hebrews chapter 9
00:34:26.20\00:34:28.84
because Paul now explains in
more detail about this matter
00:34:29.04\00:34:33.61
of a will. Hebrews
chapter 9 and verse 16 and 17.
00:34:33.81\00:34:39.51
Hebrews 9:16-17.
00:34:40.82\00:34:43.44
Is that true for us today?
00:34:57.74\00:35:01.01
In real life is that true?
00:35:02.70\00:35:06.55
Yes it is!
Everybody understands that.
00:35:06.85\00:35:10.45
You could have
the richest parents
00:35:17.63\00:35:20.40
and they may want to
leave you a million dollars.
00:35:21.59\00:35:24.82
But that million dollars if
it's written into their will
00:35:26.48\00:35:29.57
does not become
yours until when?
00:35:29.77\00:35:32.12
Until they die.
00:35:32.43\00:35:34.17
We all understand that,
and that's exactly what Hebrews
00:35:35.86\00:35:38.56
is saying. Before there
is a will or a testament
00:35:38.66\00:35:41.75
or a covenant there has to
be the death of the testator.
00:35:41.95\00:35:46.14
All right. Paul again
explains this in more detail
00:35:46.54\00:35:49.83
back in Galatians.
00:35:50.03\00:35:51.29
Just come back to Galatians
chapter 3 and verse 15.
00:35:51.49\00:35:54.83
Galatians 3 and verse 15
00:35:55.23\00:35:59.20
where Paul writes:
00:36:01.41\00:36:03.51
No one can add anything to a
covenant, a will, or a testament
00:36:18.36\00:36:22.95
after the person has died.
00:36:23.15\00:36:25.94
Many people would like to be
able to do that, wouldn't they?
00:36:27.98\00:36:31.13
Many wills that are
disputed in the courts.
00:36:31.43\00:36:34.45
But once the person
dies and that's been written
00:36:34.85\00:36:39.50
it cannot be changed.
00:36:39.70\00:36:41.90
In the Bible Paul is
using this human illustration
00:36:42.20\00:36:45.63
that we can all
understand. Now listen:
00:36:45.83\00:36:47.53
when did Sunday come in?
00:36:49.34\00:36:51.80
Well you know, the
earliest that I have ever heard
00:36:53.38\00:36:57.04
a person want to
suggest that Sunday came
00:36:57.24\00:37:01.72
was resurrection
Sunday, isn't that right?
00:37:01.92\00:37:04.72
I don't think I've ever
heard anybody suggest that
00:37:05.12\00:37:08.94
before Jesus died on the cross
00:37:09.14\00:37:11.51
Sunday was kept by anybody.
00:37:11.72\00:37:13.58
Is that true? Have
you ever heard anyone?
00:37:13.78\00:37:16.15
I've never heard anybody.
00:37:16.45\00:37:18.03
I don't think there is
anybody who would ever suggest
00:37:18.23\00:37:20.96
such a thing. The earliest
that they say that Sunday
00:37:21.16\00:37:24.87
came in is resurrection Sunday.
00:37:25.07\00:37:27.57
Now listen:
Jesus' will or testament
00:37:30.24\00:37:36.11
or His covenant was sealed when?
00:37:36.31\00:37:41.75
When He died on the cross.
00:37:42.97\00:37:45.95
After Jesus died on the
cross can you add anything
00:37:47.98\00:37:51.74
or subtract anything from His
will, testament, or covenant?
00:37:51.94\00:37:56.29
Absolutely not!
00:37:56.59\00:37:58.47
So can you see that Sunday
is just three days too late?
00:37:59.93\00:38:04.67
It can never be
part of the new covenant.
00:38:06.32\00:38:08.95
Because if Sunday was going
to be part of the new covenant
00:38:10.76\00:38:13.71
it had to be in
before Jesus died.
00:38:13.91\00:38:17.80
Like He brought in the communion
service. Even before He died
00:38:18.10\00:38:21.65
He brought the communion
service which illustrated
00:38:21.85\00:38:24.30
His death on the
cross, isn't that right?
00:38:24.50\00:38:28.49
But that was brought in before:
Thursday night, remember?
00:38:28.79\00:38:31.99
Before He died.
00:38:32.29\00:38:33.42
Baptism that symbolizes
the death and the resurrection
00:38:33.72\00:38:36.80
of Jesus was brought
in before Jesus died.
00:38:37.00\00:38:39.55
And if Sunday's going to
be part of the new covenant
00:38:40.83\00:38:43.75
it also has to be
brought in before Jesus died.
00:38:43.95\00:38:46.71
But it wasn't. And nobody
00:38:46.91\00:38:50.05
I've ever heard of
would suggest that it was.
00:38:50.25\00:38:52.99
In other words, Sunday
is just three days too late.
00:38:53.19\00:38:57.81
That's why Jesus
made the statement
00:38:59.30\00:39:01.59
"Till heaven and earth
pass away one jot or one tittle
00:39:01.89\00:39:07.07
will not pass from the law
00:39:09.15\00:39:11.95
while heaven is
above and earth beneath. "
00:39:12.25\00:39:14.26
And remember when were
discussing that jot and tittle
00:39:14.56\00:39:17.19
it's like the dotting of
an i and the crossing of a t.
00:39:17.29\00:39:19.99
The smallest mark on
the page will not be removed
00:39:20.20\00:39:25.55
while heaven is
above and earth beneath.
00:39:25.75\00:39:27.92
Sabbath keeping was
binding before Jesus died.
00:39:30.87\00:39:36.37
It was part of the new covenant.
00:39:36.67\00:39:38.50
It's part of the
everlasting covenant,
00:39:39.80\00:39:41.87
and that's why the Sabbath
is still binding for us today.
00:39:42.17\00:39:46.23
It's part of the new covenant.
00:39:46.53\00:39:47.94
Sunday can never be
part of the new covenant.
00:39:48.14\00:39:50.29
Never has been
and never will be.
00:39:50.59\00:39:52.84
Perhaps a simple illustration.
00:39:55.42\00:39:57.23
I'm lecturing here
in this wonderful place
00:39:58.58\00:40:02.47
and a man comes to me
after the meeting one day
00:40:02.77\00:40:05.76
and he says: "Geoff, look,
00:40:05.96\00:40:07.44
I understand that you
do a bit of building. "
00:40:07.64\00:40:10.06
He said: "What about if
you build a house for me? "
00:40:11.41\00:40:14.10
Wow. And He said: "Look,
you build it and I'll pay you
00:40:16.25\00:40:18.79
for it. " Well I'm rather
delighted about that because
00:40:18.89\00:40:23.00
I could get the money for my
next campaign that I'm running,
00:40:23.20\00:40:26.10
you see? For
advertising and so forth.
00:40:26.30\00:40:28.29
So I say: "Well that
appeals to me. Tell me more. "
00:40:28.60\00:40:33.05
"Well, " he says, "you
know I... these are the
00:40:33.25\00:40:37.01
specifications that I want.
And the first specification
00:40:37.11\00:40:40.65
described the length of the
house and the breadth of the
00:40:40.85\00:40:43.34
house. The height of the house;
the cladding, the type of roof
00:40:43.44\00:40:47.15
and the guttering. And I noticed
on the 5th or 6th specification
00:40:47.35\00:40:52.87
it says it was to be
painted with cream paint
00:40:53.15\00:40:55.14
with chocolate facings.
00:40:55.35\00:40:56.70
It was to have a basement 4
metres by 4 metres underneath.
00:40:56.90\00:41:00.28
It was to have a shower
and a bathroom and a fireplace.
00:41:00.48\00:41:03.53
And the specifications
mentioned the type of bricks.
00:41:03.73\00:41:07.21
And... it was all there.
00:41:07.51\00:41:11.48
And so I... he says: "Look,
I'll give you $250,000 for it
00:41:12.48\00:41:17.99
if you'll build
that house for me. "
00:41:18.19\00:41:19.79
Well I look over it and I
think "Oh well, there's a bit of
00:41:21.01\00:41:23.44
profit in that. " And so
after the campaign, the meetings
00:41:23.54\00:41:27.75
finish I can't get
started quickly enough.
00:41:27.95\00:41:30.67
So he takes me
round to the block
00:41:31.56\00:41:34.42
and then he shows me the
block it's to be built on.
00:41:34.62\00:41:37.47
Wow. As I said I'm so
excited I can't get started
00:41:37.68\00:41:40.40
quickly enough. And I get one
or two helpers to help me a bit
00:41:40.50\00:41:43.51
and we start off.
00:41:43.71\00:41:45.52
And we dig down, and it's
suddenly as we are starting
00:41:45.82\00:41:50.24
to put the foundations in
suddenly we run into rock.
00:41:50.34\00:41:54.53
Bother! Didn't plan on that.
00:41:55.76\00:41:58.28
And I realize that we'll
have to get the jackhammer.
00:41:58.58\00:42:01.62
And the more we dig
the bigger the rock is.
00:42:02.02\00:42:05.02
Huh... bother!
00:42:07.85\00:42:10.75
Well I think to myself: "Well
that rock will make a pretty
00:42:11.05\00:42:12.88
good foundation for
just a nice flat pad. "
00:42:12.98\00:42:15.72
So I forget about the basement
that had to go underneath
00:42:17.06\00:42:20.84
and I just put the pad
down and we start building.
00:42:21.14\00:42:24.76
Well it's not long before
I've got to get the plumber
00:42:25.06\00:42:27.50
to come round. So I get
the plumber to come round.
00:42:27.60\00:42:31.63
And he looks over the
specifications and so forth.
00:42:31.93\00:42:35.42
He said: "Hey Goeff, there's
a bit of a problem here. "
00:42:35.72\00:42:37.82
I say: "What's the problem? "
00:42:38.02\00:42:40.21
He said: "The specifications
say that the pipes have to go
00:42:40.61\00:42:45.03
underneath the basement
but there is no basement. "
00:42:45.23\00:42:47.86
"Oh, " I said...
"bother the jolly basement. "
00:42:49.40\00:42:52.21
"Look, " I say to him, "plumber,
you do what I tell you.
00:42:52.41\00:42:55.51
Just put the plumbing... put
the shower in the living room. "
00:42:55.71\00:43:00.14
"Well, " he said, "that's
not the place for the shower. "
00:43:01.42\00:43:05.74
"Well, " I said, "you can watch
the television while you have
00:43:05.94\00:43:08.88
a shower. " It's a
rather unique house.
00:43:08.98\00:43:12.55
Well he said: "All right,
well you're paying me so I'll
00:43:12.75\00:43:16.91
do what you tell me to do. " And
then I get the brickie along.
00:43:17.01\00:43:20.00
And the brickie looks over the
specifications and the plans.
00:43:22.11\00:43:24.54
He said: "Geoff,
there's a problem here. "
00:43:24.74\00:43:26.14
He said: "The specifications
show that the chimney
00:43:27.75\00:43:32.35
is supposed to go
in the living room
00:43:32.45\00:43:33.76
but there's a shower there. "
00:43:33.86\00:43:35.81
"Ah, " I said, "no problem...
00:43:36.01\00:43:37.58
put the chimney
in the bathroom. "
00:43:37.79\00:43:41.51
I can see you'll be
getting me to build your house.
00:43:43.16\00:43:45.77
Um, and so we go on and
on and finally I then go down
00:43:45.98\00:43:50.60
and everything's looking fine
and it's coming up together.
00:43:50.80\00:43:53.08
The house looks fine.
00:43:53.18\00:43:54.19
And then I've got to go down
to the hardware store to get
00:43:54.39\00:43:58.22
the paint. And
when I get down there
00:43:58.32\00:44:01.48
and I say: "Look, I
need some cream paint. "
00:44:01.68\00:44:03.85
And the hardware man tells me:
"Look, " he says, "unfortunately
00:44:04.05\00:44:07.26
cream paint has just
skyrocketed through the roof
00:44:07.46\00:44:10.64
and we haven't got very much
00:44:10.84\00:44:12.76
and there's a real scarcity
of it. " But he said: "Look,
00:44:12.96\00:44:15.96
I'll give you a
special on yellow paint.
00:44:16.16\00:44:18.38
We've had this in the
shop for years and we want to
00:44:18.59\00:44:20.90
get rid of it. We'll give
it to you at half price. "
00:44:21.00\00:44:23.61
Well... that appeals
to me - my Jewish nature.
00:44:24.75\00:44:27.00
Half price... OK!
00:44:27.20\00:44:28.97
So I get... I buy
all this yellow paint.
00:44:29.17\00:44:31.89
And we get started
and we paint the house.
00:44:32.19\00:44:34.46
And finally the
thing is finished.
00:44:34.76\00:44:36.94
Chocolate facings and so
forth; everything's fine.
00:44:36.97\00:44:39.52
And I go around to the
owner and I say: "Now listen,
00:44:39.72\00:44:44.55
I'm finished. " "Oh, "
he said, "you're finished
00:44:44.65\00:44:47.61
in good time. " "No
problem with us, " I said.
00:44:47.71\00:44:50.02
"When you give me
a job it's done. "
00:44:50.22\00:44:51.89
"Well, " he said... And I
said: "I'm looking forward to
00:44:52.19\00:44:55.21
that check now. "
00:44:55.31\00:44:56.67
"Well, " he said, "let me come
out and have a look at it. "
00:44:56.87\00:44:58.38
So he drives round in his car
00:44:58.69\00:45:01.84
and when he comes round the
corner and he sees this yellow
00:45:02.04\00:45:05.62
paint... "Hey, " he said,
"I asked for cream paint. "
00:45:05.73\00:45:09.50
I said: "Look... "
I told him the story
00:45:09.80\00:45:12.83
of how we got
this paint cheaply.
00:45:12.93\00:45:14.59
He said: "It looks like
it's got yellow jaundice. "
00:45:14.89\00:45:17.07
Wow! That was only the
beginning of his problems.
00:45:18.40\00:45:21.09
Then we went inside the house.
00:45:21.29\00:45:22.91
You can just imagine what
he said when I tried to explain
00:45:23.11\00:45:26.01
that he could watch the tele-
vision while he had a shower.
00:45:26.21\00:45:28.08
But that didn't appeal to
him. And when he saw the chimney
00:45:28.29\00:45:30.75
in the bathroom that
just about was the last straw.
00:45:30.95\00:45:34.22
And he said: "Geoff, I should
have realized that you're a
00:45:35.23\00:45:37.82
hopeless builder. You're
not a bad speaker but ahhh.
00:45:38.02\00:45:41.54
Dear oh dear. I should have
realized. I should have never
00:45:41.74\00:45:43.62
have given you the job.
00:45:43.72\00:45:44.82
But look, I'll
tell you what I'll do. "
00:45:45.02\00:45:46.45
He said: "Not only am I a farmer
00:45:46.66\00:45:48.74
but I'm also a
master builder myself. "
00:45:48.94\00:45:52.90
And he said: "I'll tell
you what I'm going to do:
00:45:53.72\00:45:55.17
we're going to
knock this thing down
00:45:55.37\00:45:57.00
and we're going
to start again. "
00:45:57.20\00:45:58.42
And he said: "I'm
going to work with you.
00:45:58.72\00:46:01.44
And as you cut the
timber I'll be there
00:46:01.74\00:46:04.89
to make sure it's cut correctly.
00:46:05.09\00:46:07.18
I'll be there to guide
you when the brickie comes
00:46:07.58\00:46:10.30
and the plumber comes and
all of these tradesmen come.
00:46:10.50\00:46:13.25
I'll be there to
guide it through. "
00:46:13.45\00:46:15.58
And he said: "When
the house is finished
00:46:15.78\00:46:17.93
I'll give you the check. "
00:46:18.13\00:46:19.33
Friends, that's exactly the
way it is in the new covenant.
00:46:20.66\00:46:25.22
We try to do it all on our own
00:46:25.42\00:46:27.86
and we get a house like
I was describing before...
00:46:27.96\00:46:30.68
hopeless.
00:46:30.88\00:46:31.96
Because none of us can
do what God wants us to do
00:46:32.16\00:46:34.81
in our own way. We run
into problems all the time.
00:46:35.01\00:46:37.56
But then Jesus - the great
master builder - comes along
00:46:37.76\00:46:42.96
and He says:
"Listen, I'll do it.
00:46:43.16\00:46:45.44
I'll work with you.
00:46:45.74\00:46:47.30
I'll supply the expertise.
00:46:47.50\00:46:49.69
I'll supply the tools.
00:46:49.72\00:46:51.50
I'll supply
everything that you need
00:46:51.70\00:46:54.26
and I'll work
with you and at the end
00:46:54.56\00:46:57.67
I'll give you the gift. "
00:46:58.01\00:47:02.67
You know,
friend, if I had argued
00:47:02.97\00:47:05.37
like many people
argue today to that man,
00:47:05.57\00:47:09.45
"Look, those specifications...
they've been a problem
00:47:09.66\00:47:11.87
from the day one when I
was building the house. "
00:47:11.97\00:47:14.56
Tell me: is there anything
wrong with the specifications?
00:47:14.76\00:47:17.89
No. Nothing wrong
with the specifications.
00:47:18.19\00:47:22.63
The problem was with
the way I went about it.
00:47:23.55\00:47:27.75
The problem was with me.
00:47:27.95\00:47:29.45
And I have people argue...
Just as, you know, I say to him
00:47:29.75\00:47:33.38
"Well paint is
paint. What does it matter?
00:47:33.48\00:47:35.20
Yellow paint... cream
paint. Paint is paint.
00:47:35.30\00:47:38.11
What does it matter? "
00:47:38.31\00:47:39.36
You know, like people
argue: "What does it matter?
00:47:39.66\00:47:41.13
A day's a day. What does it
matter which day you keep? "
00:47:41.23\00:47:43.74
Well I want to tell you,
friend, as far as the builder is
00:47:44.04\00:47:47.15
concerned and the
owner of that house
00:47:47.26\00:47:48.99
when they specify cream paint
that's exactly what they want,
00:47:49.19\00:47:51.89
isn't that right?
00:47:51.99\00:47:53.08
And when God specifies He
wants us to keep the seventh day
00:47:53.28\00:47:56.52
that doesn't mean the first day.
00:47:56.72\00:47:58.08
Doesn't mean the
day that we choose.
00:47:58.18\00:48:00.69
It's the day that He chooses.
00:48:00.99\00:48:02.85
He's the master builder.
00:48:03.15\00:48:04.83
He's the One that tells us
what is right and what is wrong.
00:48:05.03\00:48:07.95
Our job is to be
willing to be obedient
00:48:08.15\00:48:11.04
and to do what God
has asked us to do.
00:48:11.24\00:48:12.95
And that's the whole
basis of the new covenant.
00:48:14.34\00:48:16.42
And getting rid of the
Ten Commandments, friends,
00:48:16.52\00:48:18.41
is not going to help us.
00:48:18.52\00:48:19.79
Now I can't believe that
people want to get rid of the
00:48:20.00\00:48:22.42
Ten Commandments. Tell
me: if you're having a problem
00:48:22.52\00:48:26.32
with honesty, getting rid
of the Ten Commandments...
00:48:26.52\00:48:31.03
is that going to
make you an honest person?
00:48:31.13\00:48:32.95
Will it?
00:48:34.35\00:48:36.04
If we do away with
the Ten Commandments here,
00:48:36.44\00:48:39.23
is that going to make
everybody live a good life?
00:48:39.43\00:48:42.00
Of course not.
00:48:42.30\00:48:43.80
That's not the problem.
The problem is not with the
00:48:44.10\00:48:45.96
Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments are
00:48:46.06\00:48:49.06
the most perfect demonstration
00:48:49.17\00:48:50.74
of what is right
and what is wrong.
00:48:50.94\00:48:52.36
The problem is
with the individual.
00:48:52.56\00:48:54.39
That's what has to be changed...
the person's attitude.
00:48:54.50\00:48:58.79
And that's exactly what
Jesus promises to do in the
00:48:58.99\00:49:01.48
new covenant. Just come over
to Psalm in the middle of the
00:49:01.58\00:49:03.85
Bible, would
you? Psalm chapter 40.
00:49:03.95\00:49:06.70
Let me read you
this wonderful statement.
00:49:07.00\00:49:09.46
Psalm chapter 40
and verses 7 and 8.
00:49:09.66\00:49:12.49
And when Christ
comes into our hearts
00:49:29.66\00:49:32.89
He brings us the power to
be able to do what He wants us
00:49:33.09\00:49:37.29
to do. That's why, as I said,
it's an exciting experience
00:49:37.39\00:49:41.13
to be a Christian. Because
God has a standard that's higher
00:49:41.23\00:49:46.00
than the highest human thought.
00:49:46.10\00:49:47.55
It's way way up here
beyond which I could ever meet.
00:49:47.75\00:49:51.34
But when Christ comes
along and works along side me
00:49:52.37\00:49:55.30
and changes my heart and
gives me a desire to be obedient
00:49:55.40\00:49:58.94
and to do what He wants me to do
00:49:59.05\00:50:00.62
then it becomes a
delight and a pleasure
00:50:00.82\00:50:03.68
to do what God wants us to do.
00:50:03.88\00:50:05.39
And that's why the
Psalmist could write:
00:50:06.43\00:50:08.58
Come over to
Revelation chapter 14,
00:50:14.72\00:50:16.95
the last book in the
Bible, now in verse 12.
00:50:17.15\00:50:19.39
The climax to the great
three messages that we've been
00:50:19.69\00:50:22.81
studying about. Revelation
chapter 14 and verse 12.
00:50:22.92\00:50:26.23
You see, God points out
His people in these last days
00:50:36.30\00:50:39.61
as those who
keep the commandments.
00:50:39.81\00:50:42.19
You know, everywhere I go
I meet people who try to say
00:50:42.29\00:50:45.86
to me: "Nobody can
keep the commandments. "
00:50:46.06\00:50:48.24
You know, friend,
that's a half truth.
00:50:48.54\00:50:50.75
And usually
people get the wrong half
00:50:53.62\00:50:55.72
when they have a half truth.
00:50:55.82\00:50:57.42
It is true that nobody
can keep the Ten Commandments
00:50:57.72\00:51:02.13
in their own strength.
00:51:02.34\00:51:03.89
But I want to tell you
the Bible teaches me that
00:51:04.96\00:51:07.75
everybody that has
Jesus in their hearts
00:51:07.95\00:51:10.48
can live a life of obedience.
00:51:10.68\00:51:12.74
That's why Paul could
say: "I can do most things
00:51:12.84\00:51:16.15
through Christ
who strengthens me. "
00:51:16.35\00:51:17.47
"ALL THINGS through
Christ who strengthens me. "
00:51:17.72\00:51:20.69
And God points out His
people in the last days
00:51:20.90\00:51:23.22
as those who are
faithful to Jesus
00:51:23.42\00:51:25.83
and faithful to
His commandments.
00:51:26.03\00:51:27.98
Because when Christ
comes into our heart
00:51:29.19\00:51:31.61
and we have the faith of Jesus
00:51:31.81\00:51:33.32
don't tell me that we
can't keep the commandments.
00:51:33.52\00:51:36.29
Of course we can!
00:51:36.49\00:51:37.71
And then it becomes a
delight and a pleasure.
00:51:38.01\00:51:41.38
"I delight to do
Thy will oh my God.
00:51:43.11\00:51:46.08
Yes, Your law is
written within my heart. "
00:51:46.28\00:51:49.43
That's what Christ does
when He comes into our hearts.
00:51:53.13\00:51:56.43
And I want you just to
think for a moment tonight
00:51:56.73\00:51:59.90
of what Jesus did when He
left the gloryland and came down
00:52:00.00\00:52:03.44
here to die for us.
00:52:03.64\00:52:05.17
People spat upon him.
00:52:05.47\00:52:07.59
People ridiculed Him
and finally hung Him there
00:52:08.91\00:52:12.08
on that cruel cross.
00:52:12.28\00:52:13.96
And He died there
for you and for me.
00:52:14.26\00:52:17.08
Because looking down
here to this very place
00:52:17.38\00:52:21.59
to this very year,
Christ saw that there would be
00:52:21.79\00:52:26.04
human beings
like you and like me
00:52:26.24\00:52:28.47
who want to be faithful to Jesus
00:52:28.67\00:52:30.76
and who want to hang on
to Jesus and who want to have
00:52:30.96\00:52:33.94
Christ in their hearts.
00:52:34.04\00:52:35.79
And that's why He gripped
those nails and hung on and died
00:52:35.99\00:52:39.95
when he prayed
"It is finished. "
00:52:40.15\00:52:42.52
Because He knew that there
would be faithful men and women.
00:52:42.72\00:52:45.93
And in these last
days God is calling us
00:52:46.13\00:52:48.99
to be faithful.
Faithful to His commandments
00:52:49.19\00:52:53.25
and faithful to Jesus.
00:52:53.45\00:52:55.16
Just come over to
Hebrews chapter 10.
00:52:55.36\00:52:57.33
Hebrews the 10th chapter
00:52:57.63\00:53:00.81
and we'll notice
again just quickly verse 26.
00:53:01.01\00:53:04.88
Hebrews 10 and verse 26:
00:53:05.18\00:53:07.10
If people spurn the
blood of the covenant,
00:53:47.67\00:53:50.86
they reject Christ. And
when we reject the commandments
00:53:51.07\00:53:55.95
we are rejecting Jesus.
00:53:55.98\00:53:57.71
Because the commandments are
the embodiment of Jesus' life.
00:53:57.91\00:54:02.50
They summarize all
that God wants us to do.
00:54:02.70\00:54:06.28
Nobody is saved by
keeping the commandments.
00:54:07.73\00:54:09.93
God forbid! That's not
what ever we have said here
00:54:10.13\00:54:12.88
because the Bible
never teaches that.
00:54:13.28\00:54:16.83
We can never be saved by
keeping the commandments.
00:54:17.03\00:54:19.29
But we are saved by the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:54:19.49\00:54:22.86
And when that
power comes into my life
00:54:23.06\00:54:25.38
it leads me to want to
do what God wants me to do
00:54:25.58\00:54:28.85
and it gives me
the power, furthermore,
00:54:29.83\00:54:31.81
to be able to do it.
00:54:32.01\00:54:33.60
Let's come back to
Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 10.
00:54:34.79\00:54:37.88
Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 10:
00:54:40.47\00:54:42.34
Revelation says: "Blessed are
they that do His commandments
00:55:03.47\00:55:08.00
that they may have the
right to the Tree of Life
00:55:08.30\00:55:11.08
and may enter in through
the gates into the city. "
00:55:11.28\00:55:14.82
Sunday was never
part of the new covenant
00:55:15.90\00:55:19.59
and Sunday will die eternally.
00:55:19.79\00:55:22.00
And God is in deadly
earnest about this matter.
00:55:22.30\00:55:24.89
Let me remind you:
God is in deadly earnest
00:55:25.09\00:55:28.89
about this because
Sunday is an imposter.
00:55:29.09\00:55:32.74
Sunday has been
brought in by an apostate power
00:55:34.45\00:55:37.97
which power claims it
as the sign of her power
00:55:38.17\00:55:43.93
whereas the Sabbath is given
to us a sign of our relationship
00:55:46.86\00:55:50.72
with God. It's like the flag.
00:55:50.92\00:55:53.83
If we were to take the
Australian flag and treat it
00:55:55.17\00:55:58.34
as a light thing, every true-
blooded Australian would rise up
00:55:58.44\00:56:03.37
in holy horror. Why?
00:56:03.57\00:56:06.20
Not because it's a bit of
blue and red and white cloth.
00:56:06.33\00:56:11.43
No. It's not the
cloth that's important.
00:56:11.73\00:56:14.27
It's what that stands for that's
important, isn't that right?
00:56:14.47\00:56:17.03
Many millions
died over the years
00:56:17.79\00:56:21.48
for that flag.
00:56:23.02\00:56:25.18
And it represents something.
00:56:25.48\00:56:26.73
It represents all the good
things that we as Australians
00:56:26.93\00:56:30.12
believe in.
00:56:30.32\00:56:31.83
And that's exactly
why God is very upset
00:56:32.14\00:56:35.18
when people disregard
His day: it's His flag.
00:56:35.38\00:56:38.71
And when the devil has
brought an apostate day in -
00:56:39.95\00:56:43.30
a day that is
against the commandments -
00:56:43.51\00:56:46.16
and people want to claim
that they're followers of Christ
00:56:46.36\00:56:49.68
when they want to observe that
day which is not found anywhere
00:56:49.98\00:56:54.12
in the Bible, no wonder
God feels upset about it.
00:56:54.22\00:56:57.08
And in these last days God is
calling for men to be faithful
00:56:57.28\00:57:01.35
to Jesus and
faithful to His commandments.
00:57:01.45\00:57:04.59
Like the martyrs of
old who stood for truth.
00:57:04.69\00:57:07.90
You know, I've often thought
when I get home to heaven
00:57:08.10\00:57:10.28
and I meet some of
those millions of martyrs
00:57:10.48\00:57:12.55
that died for Christ,
I want to be able to say
00:57:12.75\00:57:16.80
that I stood for something
when I was down on that earth.
00:57:17.00\00:57:19.50
Because otherwise I'll
feel very embarrassed along side
00:57:19.70\00:57:23.10
those great men and women
who have given up everything
00:57:23.20\00:57:26.05
to stand for truth. You
know, it's so easy for us today
00:57:26.25\00:57:29.15
to serve God. It's almost an
embarrassment as we think about
00:57:29.35\00:57:32.39
those in the past.
May God give us strength
00:57:32.49\00:57:34.78
and help and power to
live as God wants us to live
00:57:34.99\00:57:39.21
even though it may
include difficulties
00:57:39.32\00:57:41.97
and problems along the
way, but God will be with us.
00:57:42.18\00:57:45.89
Let's just bow our
heads together in prayer.
00:57:46.09\00:57:47.94
Our wonderful Father
in heaven, I just want to
00:57:48.14\00:57:50.03
thank you again. I want
to thank you for Your grace
00:57:50.13\00:57:53.09
and Your power. Help
us, Lord, to understand
00:57:53.19\00:57:55.97
this great truth
in these last days.
00:57:56.07\00:57:57.95
Not a fight over days
but a fight over allegiance.
00:57:58.15\00:58:00.98
We want to be in our
allegiance with Jesus.
00:58:01.18\00:58:04.27
To this end bless us now
00:58:04.47\00:58:05.62
and as we further
study continue to guide us.
00:58:05.82\00:58:08.47
I pray for Christ's sake, Amen.
00:58:08.67\00:58:10.89