Hello, friends, grab
your Bible and a friend
00:00:01.06\00:00:02.73
and sit back as we
explore God's word together
00:00:02.76\00:00:05.22
on this edition
of "House Calls."
00:00:05.25\00:00:07.37
Welcome to the place
00:00:22.79\00:00:24.06
where it's really
happening as a church.
00:00:24.09\00:00:26.48
This is the
place you ought to be,
00:00:26.51\00:00:27.86
so hit the record button,
00:00:27.89\00:00:29.19
you don't want to
miss this program.
00:00:29.22\00:00:30.96
It's going to be really dead on
00:00:30.99\00:00:33.60
as we trust in the Holy Spirit
00:00:33.63\00:00:35.29
to bring to you what
God has laid in our hearts.
00:00:35.32\00:00:38.05
And you know
what, I am not alone,
00:00:38.08\00:00:39.38
I got my friend
here with me, John.
00:00:39.41\00:00:40.56
Good to have you here, John.
00:00:40.59\00:00:41.62
It's great to be
here, John, as usual.
00:00:41.65\00:00:43.61
I tell you, it's always good
00:00:43.64\00:00:44.69
when we're in the
saddle together. That's right.
00:00:44.72\00:00:46.98
This way when we
get those letters say,
00:00:47.01\00:00:49.06
Dear John, we really
don't know who you mean.
00:00:49.09\00:00:51.59
You mean both of
us or either of us.
00:00:51.62\00:00:53.50
We really appreciate that.
00:00:53.53\00:00:54.63
Even if they
disagree, I can just think that
00:00:54.66\00:00:56.33
they're disagreeing with you.
00:00:56.36\00:00:59.28
Well, thank you for joining us,
00:00:59.31\00:01:00.63
but you know, we always
like to begin with prayer
00:01:00.66\00:01:02.34
before we go into anything
having to do with the Bible.
00:01:02.37\00:01:04.47
So bow your heads
with us. Let's do that.
00:01:04.50\00:01:07.04
Dear Father, again we
come before Your throne
00:01:07.07\00:01:09.21
and asking for
wisdom and strength
00:01:09.24\00:01:12.24
and that Your Holy Spirit
will guide us through Your word.
00:01:12.27\00:01:15.56
The truth is so important
00:01:15.59\00:01:17.21
and we just pray that you
help us to know the truth.
00:01:17.24\00:01:20.29
And see how much
it will make us free.
00:01:20.32\00:01:23.01
We just thank You for that
00:01:23.04\00:01:24.15
and look forward to You
spending this time with us
00:01:24.18\00:01:27.08
and us with those who are
watching or listening today,
00:01:27.11\00:01:29.75
in Jesus' name, amen. Amen.
00:01:29.78\00:01:32.61
Well, friends, you know,
00:01:32.64\00:01:33.75
this is greatly a
part about this program,
00:01:33.78\00:01:37.48
there's a part
about this program
00:01:37.51\00:01:38.80
that really makes a difference.
00:01:38.83\00:01:39.91
And it's your Bible questions,
00:01:39.94\00:01:41.40
that's right, Bible
questions that you send to us
00:01:41.43\00:01:44.94
and we really
appreciate whatever you send.
00:01:44.97\00:01:47.59
I know some of the
questions are deep.
00:01:47.62\00:01:49.38
Some of you have the
mind of a theologian,
00:01:49.41\00:01:51.63
thank you for that.
00:01:51.66\00:01:52.69
But try to make those questions
concise and filter them down
00:01:52.72\00:01:55.80
because when we
get past two pages,
00:01:55.83\00:01:58.02
we kind of wonder
what's the question.
00:01:58.05\00:01:59.79
So try to do that
in the very beginning.
00:01:59.82\00:02:01.70
And if you do
have any questions,
00:02:01.73\00:02:02.83
you want to send to us,
00:02:02.86\00:02:03.93
you can send them
to housecalls@3abn.org,
00:02:03.96\00:02:07.31
that's housecalls@3abn.org
00:02:07.34\00:02:10.83
has something to do with
being organized, exactly.
00:02:10.86\00:02:13.83
So send those questions there.
00:02:13.86\00:02:15.44
And today we are
going to dive into it
00:02:15.47\00:02:17.59
by having John bring
us our first question.
00:02:17.62\00:02:20.08
John, this first
question comes from Connard.
00:02:20.11\00:02:24.34
And he is asking us question
in regard to 2 Peter 2:20-22.
00:02:24.37\00:02:31.89
So let's all turn
there. 2 Peter 2:20.
00:02:31.92\00:02:38.34
And here's this
question, he says,
00:02:38.37\00:02:41.55
you brought up a topic
on how someone would know
00:02:41.58\00:02:44.64
if this were to happen
to him in 2 Peter 2:20-22,
00:02:44.67\00:02:50.50
and so basically he is asking
us to clarify our comments so.
00:02:50.53\00:02:54.83
How we would know that
this was happening to us
00:02:54.86\00:02:58.36
in 2 Peter 2:20.
00:02:58.39\00:03:00.44
So I'm going to read
this passage here first
00:03:00.47\00:03:02.71
and then we can talk
a little bit about it.
00:03:02.74\00:03:04.42
All right, read it for me. Okay.
00:03:04.45\00:03:07.47
2 Peter 2:20,
"For if after they have
00:03:07.50\00:03:14.20
escaped the
pollutions of this world
00:03:14.23\00:03:16.66
through the
knowledge of the Lord
00:03:16.69\00:03:18.89
and Savior Jesus Christ,
00:03:18.92\00:03:20.81
they are again
entangled in them, and overcome,
00:03:20.84\00:03:24.29
the latter end is worse
for them than the beginning.
00:03:24.32\00:03:27.69
For it would've been better
00:03:27.72\00:03:28.91
for them not to have
known the way of righteousness,
00:03:28.94\00:03:32.03
than having known it,
00:03:32.06\00:03:33.49
to turn from
the Holy commandment
00:03:33.52\00:03:35.06
delivered to them.
00:03:35.09\00:03:36.70
But it has happened to them
according to the true proverb,
00:03:36.73\00:03:39.73
a dog returns to his own vomit,
00:03:39.76\00:03:42.77
and the sow having washed
to her wallowing in the mire."
00:03:42.80\00:03:48.96
Okay, obviously something that
00:03:48.99\00:03:51.40
none of us want to happen to us.
00:03:51.43\00:03:54.12
But let's explore a little bit,
00:03:54.15\00:03:56.31
what Peter is talking
about here in this passage.
00:03:56.34\00:04:00.04
Clearly those who
have escaped this world,
00:04:00.07\00:04:02.86
the pollutions of this world
00:04:02.89\00:04:04.63
into a knowledge of the Lord
00:04:04.66\00:04:05.89
and Savior Jesus
Christ is talking about
00:04:05.92\00:04:07.56
someone who is
being converted. Right.
00:04:07.59\00:04:10.13
Who is being converted,
00:04:10.16\00:04:11.62
who has accepted
Jesus as their Savior,
00:04:11.65\00:04:14.05
who has read and
studied His word,
00:04:14.08\00:04:16.73
which has made them
free from the power of sin.
00:04:16.76\00:04:20.72
So clearly there's
been a deliverance here
00:04:20.75\00:04:23.11
in this passage from
someone who has being converted,
00:04:23.14\00:04:27.57
who has accepted Jesus as their
Lord and Savior. That's right.
00:04:27.60\00:04:30.56
But this then, it
goes on to talk about
00:04:30.59\00:04:32.77
someone who had
experienced that,
00:04:32.80\00:04:35.22
but then something else
they've also experienced.
00:04:35.25\00:04:37.44
It says that they are
again entangled in them
00:04:37.47\00:04:40.54
that is this world of
sin and will overcome.
00:04:40.57\00:04:44.47
And of course, then
they said the result here is
00:04:44.50\00:04:47.25
that the latter end is worse
for them than the beginning,
00:04:47.28\00:04:49.90
which we know,
includes the lake of fire
00:04:49.93\00:04:52.66
at the end of
time, which no one wants,
00:04:52.69\00:04:54.81
none of us want to experience.
00:04:54.84\00:04:56.01
So good question
here, how do we know
00:04:56.04\00:04:58.15
if this is happened to us
00:04:58.18\00:05:00.08
and you know,
this is very similar,
00:05:00.11\00:05:02.05
John to another
question that we get at times,
00:05:02.08\00:05:05.12
which is how do we know
00:05:05.15\00:05:06.72
if we committed
the unpardonable sin.
00:05:06.75\00:05:09.78
And so a very good question,
00:05:09.81\00:05:11.72
my answer and I
know your answer is been,
00:05:11.75\00:05:14.06
but if you're really worried
or concerned about it happening,
00:05:14.09\00:05:16.35
that you want to be saved,
it hasn't happened. Right.
00:05:16.38\00:05:18.45
Because part of
committing the unpardonable sin
00:05:18.48\00:05:20.88
is a lack of caring about
00:05:20.91\00:05:22.14
spiritual things
anyway in the first place.
00:05:22.17\00:05:24.44
And God can't redeem
someone who doesn't care.
00:05:24.47\00:05:26.91
Okay, so this has to
deal with the same issue.
00:05:26.94\00:05:30.41
And I agree
there's a connection here.
00:05:30.44\00:05:32.25
But notice a couple of key words
00:05:32.28\00:05:33.82
that I want to bring out
here before we understand
00:05:33.85\00:05:37.61
what has happened to a
person who is entangled
00:05:37.64\00:05:41.21
in the pollutions of
the world and overcome?
00:05:41.24\00:05:45.19
First of all, first key word
00:05:45.22\00:05:47.24
I want to bring
up here is overcome.
00:05:47.27\00:05:51.95
Clearly the person
that has been entangled
00:05:51.98\00:05:54.17
in the pollutions of the world
isn't just entangled in there.
00:05:54.20\00:05:58.18
I mean, in other words,
they just haven't committed
00:05:58.21\00:06:00.19
some of the old sins
that they used to commit.
00:06:00.22\00:06:02.22
They have then overcome. Right.
00:06:02.25\00:06:05.31
Okay, this is the key.
00:06:05.34\00:06:07.30
In other words, they are,
00:06:07.33\00:06:10.85
they are no longer interested
00:06:10.88\00:06:12.43
in being
spiritually committed to Christ,
00:06:12.46\00:06:14.63
they've been overcome by
the pollutions of the world
00:06:14.66\00:06:18.40
and that means that
they are no longer interested
00:06:18.43\00:06:21.51
or no longer susceptible to
the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:06:21.54\00:06:25.45
Now if this were to
stop with just simply saying,
00:06:25.48\00:06:27.89
they've been entangled by
the pollutions of this world,
00:06:27.92\00:06:30.95
I would say, the text would be
difficult for us to understand.
00:06:30.98\00:06:33.86
Because God is a forgiving God,
00:06:33.89\00:06:35.53
He doesn't say
that when you sin,
00:06:35.56\00:06:36.73
or when you commit
some of the old sins
00:06:36.76\00:06:38.24
you used to do
that He leaves you alone
00:06:38.27\00:06:40.03
and never accepts you again.
00:06:40.06\00:06:42.03
So God is merciful,
but the issue here is,
00:06:42.06\00:06:46.52
what is your desire?
00:06:46.55\00:06:49.08
Is your desire
to remain entangled,
00:06:49.11\00:06:50.97
to just go back
to that world of sin
00:06:51.00\00:06:52.86
and live in it and
ignore the salvation
00:06:52.89\00:06:55.64
that you had once received?
00:06:55.67\00:06:57.42
If that is your desire,
00:06:57.45\00:06:58.86
I would say that it
has overcome you again.
00:06:58.89\00:07:01.39
You've been overcome
completely by the world,
00:07:01.42\00:07:04.10
and so I say that
the word overcome there
00:07:04.13\00:07:06.11
is the keyword to this passage.
00:07:06.14\00:07:08.47
The second one is in verse 21,
00:07:08.50\00:07:12.39
it says, "It would
have been better for them
00:07:12.42\00:07:14.17
not to have known
the way of righteousness,
00:07:14.20\00:07:16.07
than having known it,
00:07:16.10\00:07:17.54
to turn from
the holy commandment
00:07:17.57\00:07:19.66
delivered to them."
00:07:19.69\00:07:21.00
So the person
that has been overcome
00:07:21.03\00:07:22.65
has also
deliberately turned. Right.
00:07:22.68\00:07:25.96
See the intent here, John.
00:07:25.99\00:07:27.96
They have turned
from the holy commandment.
00:07:27.99\00:07:30.60
In another
words, they don't want
00:07:30.63\00:07:32.24
what is
spiritually benefiting them,
00:07:32.27\00:07:34.36
which is the word of God,
00:07:34.39\00:07:35.52
which is Jesus
Christ who would save them.
00:07:35.55\00:07:37.36
They now want the things
of the world. That's right.
00:07:37.39\00:07:40.03
They have turned
the side from that
00:07:40.06\00:07:42.19
back into a world
00:07:42.22\00:07:43.79
full of
unrighteousness and full of sin.
00:07:43.82\00:07:46.26
So there is a
deliberate action here.
00:07:46.29\00:07:48.76
And I would say an
unpardonable sin of sorts,
00:07:48.79\00:07:51.08
not that God cannot
forgive certain sins,
00:07:51.11\00:07:54.30
but that He is
unable to forgive them
00:07:54.33\00:07:56.57
because of our
desire for sin itself.
00:07:56.60\00:07:59.12
We don't want Him,
00:07:59.15\00:08:00.21
we don't want the Holy
Spirits work on our life.
00:08:00.24\00:08:02.29
We'd rather have
the world of sins,
00:08:02.32\00:08:03.69
so we've been overcome by.
00:08:03.72\00:08:05.10
We've turned from God
00:08:05.13\00:08:06.39
and we are now
living in the world.
00:08:06.42\00:08:07.74
So this is the context of
the person who can't be saved.
00:08:07.77\00:08:12.79
Not because God
doesn't want to save them,
00:08:12.82\00:08:15.30
it's because they
don't want to be saved.
00:08:15.33\00:08:17.09
They turn from the living God.
00:08:17.12\00:08:19.46
And so I would suggest that if,
00:08:19.49\00:08:22.00
you know, if you
think, or have any question,
00:08:22.03\00:08:24.22
or any concern, or worry
that this is happened to you,
00:08:24.25\00:08:27.44
but you want to be saved,
00:08:27.47\00:08:29.20
this isn't really
speaking about your condition
00:08:29.23\00:08:31.35
because it's
speaking about a condition
00:08:31.38\00:08:32.86
of someone who has
turned away from God
00:08:32.89\00:08:35.15
and deliberately
entangle themselves
00:08:35.18\00:08:36.84
with the world again,
00:08:36.87\00:08:38.05
and don't really be
want to be part of it.
00:08:38.08\00:08:40.75
You know, you also add to that.
00:08:40.78\00:08:44.15
There is another text here.
00:08:44.18\00:08:45.62
This is talking
about a complete shut off.
00:08:45.65\00:08:47.66
Not just, oh, I don't want to be
00:08:47.69\00:08:49.46
bothered right
now. That's right.
00:08:49.49\00:08:50.85
This is talking
about a complete shut off,
00:08:50.88\00:08:52.48
Lord I've made up my mind,
I don't want to go that way.
00:08:52.51\00:08:56.76
Don't bother me.
00:08:56.79\00:08:58.16
And you'll find
in the Bible it says,
00:08:58.19\00:09:00.54
it speaks of a man
by the name of Demas.
00:09:00.57\00:09:03.80
In the Bible the last
commentary we have of Demas,
00:09:03.83\00:09:06.52
who once was an
apostle in the New Testament.
00:09:06.55\00:09:08.80
It says, "Demas has forsaken Me,
00:09:08.83\00:09:13.04
having loved
this present world."
00:09:13.07\00:09:15.60
You also hear that
said of many of those
00:09:15.63\00:09:17.41
who walked with Christ,
00:09:17.44\00:09:18.65
it says, and they
walked with Him no more.
00:09:18.68\00:09:21.57
You see, so when you
get the last commentary,
00:09:21.60\00:09:24.72
it says there's a shutoff,
00:09:24.75\00:09:26.08
there the valve
has bee shut off.
00:09:26.11\00:09:27.69
They don't really care about
spiritual things any longer
00:09:27.72\00:09:31.18
and that was the case
when it came to Demas,
00:09:31.21\00:09:34.05
whom he also
talked about the disciples
00:09:34.08\00:09:35.81
who were once working for Jesus.
00:09:35.84\00:09:38.97
But 2 Timothy, I want
you to see 2 Timothy 2:25.
00:09:39.00\00:09:45.54
Want to go ahead and
punch that one up here,
00:09:45.57\00:09:47.98
2 Timothy 2:25.
00:09:48.01\00:09:52.85
With modern technology
nowadays, notice this text.
00:09:52.88\00:09:56.34
In this text, by the
way he's referring to those
00:09:56.37\00:09:58.64
who may find themselves
going in that direction
00:09:58.67\00:10:01.06
but haven't ended up there yet.
00:10:01.09\00:10:03.02
There's a still a
chance for them to be saved,
00:10:03.05\00:10:05.28
because Lord talks to us about
how we should handle people
00:10:05.31\00:10:10.23
that are going in
a wrong direction.
00:10:10.26\00:10:12.61
And notice the difference,
00:10:12.64\00:10:14.56
verse 24 let me begin
there, 2 Timothy 2:24,
00:10:14.59\00:10:18.84
"And the servant of the Lord
00:10:18.87\00:10:20.95
must not quarrel
or must not strive,
00:10:20.98\00:10:23.87
but be gentle to all,
able to teach in patient."
00:10:23.90\00:10:29.75
In humility correcting
those who are in opposition,
00:10:29.78\00:10:33.68
or as the King
James version says,
00:10:33.71\00:10:35.38
'that oppose themselves.'
00:10:35.41\00:10:37.82
You know there are some people
that say one thing, do another.
00:10:37.85\00:10:41.42
Like the two sons, one says
00:10:41.45\00:10:42.66
I am not going
to go, but he went.
00:10:42.69\00:10:43.87
The other says, I am
going but I didn't go.
00:10:43.90\00:10:45.76
That's kind of
the same situation.
00:10:45.79\00:10:47.83
"Who are in opposition,
00:10:47.86\00:10:49.62
if God perhaps will
grant them repentance
00:10:49.65\00:10:54.09
so that they
may know the truth?"
00:10:54.12\00:10:56.84
See, "And that they
may come to their senses
00:10:56.87\00:11:01.15
and escape the
snare of the devil,
00:11:01.18\00:11:03.60
having been taken
captive by Him to do His will."
00:11:03.63\00:11:07.89
So there are some
people that are taken captive.
00:11:07.92\00:11:10.10
I mean you can be
in the worst situation
00:11:10.13\00:11:11.57
of being taken captive
by the devil to do His will.
00:11:11.60\00:11:14.17
But even in this
situation Lord says,
00:11:14.20\00:11:16.03
when you find a
person like that,
00:11:16.06\00:11:17.94
which is unlike the person
00:11:17.97\00:11:19.14
that's described
there in 2 Peter.
00:11:19.17\00:11:22.91
This person has
a redemptive value.
00:11:22.94\00:11:24.52
They could be
turned around again.
00:11:24.55\00:11:27.12
They could be lead
in the right direction.
00:11:27.15\00:11:28.95
And so the question I think
00:11:28.98\00:11:31.25
the person will
be asking himself
00:11:31.28\00:11:32.66
in an overall sense
is, is it too late for me?
00:11:32.69\00:11:35.49
Well, if you're concerned about
00:11:35.52\00:11:36.55
whether or not
it's too late for you,
00:11:36.58\00:11:37.61
it's not too late for you.
00:11:37.64\00:11:38.67
That's right. Okay.
00:11:38.70\00:11:39.73
Now the other question
that comes out of this too,
00:11:39.76\00:11:41.11
John, which is
one of those things
00:11:41.14\00:11:42.44
that the, the world,
00:11:42.47\00:11:45.30
the Christian world
at large teaches is,
00:11:45.33\00:11:47.09
"Can you loose your salvation?"
00:11:47.12\00:11:50.30
And I would have to
answer from the text
00:11:50.33\00:11:53.00
that was brought
up here in 2 Peter
00:11:53.03\00:11:55.94
and there are
several other texts as well,
00:11:55.97\00:11:57.94
that yes you can.
00:11:57.97\00:12:00.88
It's a choice that we all make.
00:12:00.91\00:12:02.93
Remember salvation
is a choice to be saved,
00:12:02.96\00:12:05.45
but also we can't choose.
00:12:05.48\00:12:07.64
We don't give up
our right to choose,
00:12:07.67\00:12:10.08
at the time we're saved.
00:12:10.11\00:12:11.42
We can choose also to
walk away from the Lord.
00:12:11.45\00:12:14.09
And you talked
about the commentary
00:12:14.12\00:12:15.76
of Demas and some others.
00:12:15.79\00:12:17.35
The person here
that was once saved
00:12:17.38\00:12:20.26
and had experienced the
saving grace of Jesus Christ
00:12:20.29\00:12:22.93
who has walked away,
00:12:22.96\00:12:23.99
in a deliberate way
turned from the commandment
00:12:24.02\00:12:26.73
that we can walk
away from Christ. Right.
00:12:26.76\00:12:29.90
It is possible to do that.
00:12:29.93\00:12:31.67
Now I agree the Bible also says,
00:12:31.70\00:12:34.42
the devil can't snatch us
00:12:34.45\00:12:35.85
or take us away
against our choice
00:12:35.88\00:12:39.25
and that's the part the text
00:12:39.28\00:12:40.37
doesn't say
there, but it implies.
00:12:40.40\00:12:42.19
The devil can't take us away,
00:12:42.22\00:12:44.12
unless we choose to walk away
00:12:44.15\00:12:46.23
and that's where
God doesn't allow us
00:12:46.26\00:12:47.88
to slip up ever
away from His hand
00:12:47.91\00:12:49.91
but that doesn't mean
that we can't walk away,
00:12:49.94\00:12:52.32
we cannot choose to walk
away from Jesus, our Savior.
00:12:52.35\00:12:56.90
So can someone be lost
after they're saved? Absolutely.
00:12:56.93\00:13:00.27
I think the Bible
is very clear on that
00:13:00.30\00:13:01.60
and very consistent on that.
00:13:01.63\00:13:02.70
You have to really,
00:13:02.73\00:13:03.99
if you accept
that once you're saved
00:13:04.02\00:13:05.47
you're always
saved, you have to be,
00:13:05.50\00:13:08.39
you have to ignore several texts
00:13:08.42\00:13:12.36
that are glaringly clear that,
that is infact, not the case.
00:13:12.39\00:13:18.08
Right, the
saving is that's what--
00:13:18.11\00:13:19.76
it's a saving relationship.
00:13:19.79\00:13:21.86
And we know that that
once saved always saved
00:13:21.89\00:13:25.36
concept is
forgetting justification,
00:13:25.39\00:13:29.49
sanctification,
glorification. It's a process.
00:13:29.52\00:13:33.71
You know that
when you got married
00:13:33.74\00:13:34.77
and on the day you got married,
00:13:34.80\00:13:35.83
you are really in love
00:13:35.86\00:13:36.89
but if you've been
married for 25 years,
00:13:36.92\00:13:38.82
you really at least
you should be in love,
00:13:38.85\00:13:41.74
stronger than you were
when you first got married.
00:13:41.77\00:13:44.18
Here's another
text I want to point out
00:13:44.21\00:13:45.83
because we talked about those
who are unable to comeback,
00:13:45.86\00:13:50.96
those who have just turned
away from the holy commandment.
00:13:50.99\00:13:54.06
Here is the situation,
this is a caution by the way
00:13:54.09\00:13:57.03
because this is about one
of the disciples of Jesus.
00:13:57.06\00:14:01.24
You know his
name, his name is Judas.
00:14:01.27\00:14:03.06
He did a couple of
things but he did them too late.
00:14:03.09\00:14:05.51
Listen to this.
00:14:05.54\00:14:06.90
This is Mathew 27:3,
"Then Judas his betrayer,
00:14:06.93\00:14:12.87
seeing that he
had been condemned,"
00:14:12.90\00:14:15.92
that is, that Jesus is
being condemned to death,
00:14:15.95\00:14:19.18
"was remorseful"
he felt remorsed,
00:14:19.21\00:14:23.00
"and brought back
the 30 pieces of silver
00:14:23.03\00:14:25.39
to the chief priest and elders."
00:14:25.42\00:14:27.33
He felt remorse. Okay.
00:14:27.36\00:14:30.60
"Saying, I have sinned in
by betraying innocent blood.
00:14:30.63\00:14:34.98
And they said,
what is that to us?
00:14:35.01\00:14:37.28
You see to it."
Then he go, he confess.
00:14:37.31\00:14:40.21
He was
remorseful, then he confessed.
00:14:40.24\00:14:42.72
But look at verse 5,
00:14:42.75\00:14:45.25
"Then he threw down the
pieces of silver in the temple,
00:14:45.28\00:14:47.97
and departed, and
went and hanged himself."
00:14:48.00\00:14:51.46
Okay, you discover here.
00:14:51.49\00:14:53.04
He was remorseful, he confessed,
00:14:53.07\00:14:56.32
but his remorse and
confession was too late.
00:14:56.35\00:14:59.37
And so as Jeremiah says,
00:14:59.40\00:15:01.46
we want to make sure
that if we are remorseful,
00:15:01.49\00:15:03.46
that we confess
while we have time.
00:15:03.49\00:15:05.64
The harvest is ripe.
00:15:05.67\00:15:08.45
The harvest that
Jeremiah talks about
00:15:08.48\00:15:10.58
is the harvest that's past.
00:15:10.61\00:15:12.72
So at the time of the harvest,
00:15:12.75\00:15:13.84
when the harvesting is
done, you can't be a fruit
00:15:13.87\00:15:17.00
and if you say "What about me?"
00:15:17.03\00:15:18.98
The harvest is
done, there are no labors,
00:15:19.01\00:15:20.78
nobody's gathering anything,
00:15:20.81\00:15:22.26
you are left in the field
00:15:22.29\00:15:23.49
to burn with the
rest of the refuse.
00:15:23.52\00:15:25.40
So if your heart
is feeling condemned,
00:15:25.43\00:15:27.48
the time to repent
00:15:27.51\00:15:28.75
is to repent now
while there is still time.
00:15:28.78\00:15:30.29
You know, and I would just say
00:15:30.32\00:15:31.35
Judas was
remorseful, as you said.
00:15:31.38\00:15:33.31
And he confessed but
he was not repenting. No.
00:15:33.34\00:15:35.81
Because God will never turn away
00:15:35.84\00:15:37.30
from someone who
has repentant heart.
00:15:37.33\00:15:40.01
Because repentance
includes turning around
00:15:40.04\00:15:41.69
and going the other direction.
00:15:41.72\00:15:43.32
So while he was remorseful,
he felt sorrow, he confessed,
00:15:43.35\00:15:48.42
he knew that he'd done wrong,
he wasn't willing to change.
00:15:48.45\00:15:52.57
Deep down in his heart
there was no repentance there
00:15:52.60\00:15:55.32
and instead he hung himself.
00:15:55.35\00:15:57.13
And so there are
many who I believe,
00:15:57.16\00:15:59.28
John who, you know, they
do feel sorry for their sins.
00:15:59.31\00:16:05.09
They do confess their sins
00:16:05.12\00:16:07.14
but turning from
their current way,
00:16:07.17\00:16:11.37
the direction they are
going and following God's way
00:16:11.40\00:16:14.14
according to His word,
00:16:14.17\00:16:15.38
is something that many are
unwilling to take the step,
00:16:15.41\00:16:17.78
that final step to do.
00:16:17.81\00:16:19.39
And so I would
suggest that many of you,
00:16:19.42\00:16:22.38
if you are feeling sorrow
00:16:22.41\00:16:24.74
and you have
confessed your sins,
00:16:24.77\00:16:26.92
read God's word and
as you draw closer to Him
00:16:26.95\00:16:28.99
in your relationship with Him.
00:16:29.02\00:16:30.05
You'll see not only is he loving
00:16:30.08\00:16:32.12
but He wants to save
you and help you turn.
00:16:32.15\00:16:35.90
Remember repentance,
John, is a, or what you call it.
00:16:35.93\00:16:39.82
It's also a gift from God.
00:16:39.85\00:16:42.19
You know we can have sorrow,
00:16:42.22\00:16:43.59
we can if we want to confess
but sometimes we need to pray,
00:16:43.62\00:16:46.46
Lord, put the desire
within me. That is very good.
00:16:46.49\00:16:49.29
To want to not do
this kind of thing anymore,
00:16:49.32\00:16:52.30
to be more repentant,
00:16:52.33\00:16:54.06
and if we ask,
we're giving God the will,
00:16:54.09\00:16:56.77
or giving our will to God
00:16:56.80\00:16:58.14
and asking God to make
that change within our lives,
00:16:58.17\00:17:00.72
and He can help us turn around.
00:17:00.75\00:17:02.52
He can help us turn
the other direction.
00:17:02.55\00:17:04.42
And so these all are
steps are part of our salvation.
00:17:04.45\00:17:07.61
You know, John
you mentioned that,
00:17:07.64\00:17:09.08
you know salvation
isn't just a one step process,
00:17:09.11\00:17:11.07
this isn't just been
saved from the penalty of sin,
00:17:11.10\00:17:13.94
which is death.
00:17:13.97\00:17:15.47
It's also our sanctification
that we grow in Christ
00:17:15.50\00:17:19.37
and we become, not
only are we sanctified,
00:17:19.40\00:17:22.74
or we made Holy, we
begin to do Holy things,
00:17:22.77\00:17:26.18
rather than doing sinful things.
00:17:26.21\00:17:28.31
And I notice that there are
several references in the Bible
00:17:28.34\00:17:31.13
to those who are being saved,
00:17:31.16\00:17:33.13
or they've been
saved, they've been justified
00:17:33.16\00:17:34.76
but they continued to be
saved everyday. That's right.
00:17:34.79\00:17:37.42
And remember God
wants to save you everyday.
00:17:37.45\00:17:40.59
And through
Jesus, He can give you
00:17:40.62\00:17:42.20
the power of
salvation from sin everyday,
00:17:42.23\00:17:46.52
but we need to live
constantly with the attitude
00:17:46.55\00:17:48.87
and desire within our heart
to live a pure and holy life.
00:17:48.90\00:17:52.43
You know I am glad
that you mentioned that John
00:17:52.46\00:17:53.75
because there's a
passage in the Bible
00:17:53.78\00:17:55.15
that lot of
people kind of ignore,
00:17:55.18\00:17:57.00
but it says 1 Corinthians 1:18,
00:17:57.03\00:18:00.46
"For the message of
the cross is foolishness
00:18:00.49\00:18:03.14
to those who are perishing."
00:18:03.17\00:18:04.81
Notice they are
perishing, they're not--
00:18:04.84\00:18:06.63
In the process of
perishing. Exactly.
00:18:06.66\00:18:09.03
But to us who are being
saved, it is a power of God.
00:18:09.06\00:18:12.89
Notice, perishing,
process, being saved, process.
00:18:12.92\00:18:17.96
So don't forget those things.
00:18:17.99\00:18:19.25
Lot of times we say, are saved.
00:18:19.28\00:18:21.17
It's like saying, "I am lost."
00:18:21.20\00:18:23.30
You do want people
to say, "I am lost."
00:18:23.33\00:18:25.09
I am being lost is
probably more accurate. Exactly.
00:18:25.12\00:18:27.47
There's still a
chance for them to be saved.
00:18:27.50\00:18:29.86
I am being saved.
I am in the process.
00:18:29.89\00:18:31.85
God is perfecting in me more
and more His character everyday.
00:18:31.88\00:18:34.90
He began it, and
He is an author--
00:18:34.93\00:18:36.35
He is the author of it
and he will complete it.
00:18:36.38\00:18:38.37
He's going to
complete it, so don't forget.
00:18:38.40\00:18:40.36
But here's
another question we have.
00:18:40.39\00:18:42.63
Thank you Jenny, I
won't give the last name,
00:18:42.66\00:18:45.18
it would be a dead giveaway.
00:18:45.21\00:18:46.85
"I believe like you do,
00:18:46.88\00:18:48.13
that the Bible
makes itself very clear
00:18:48.16\00:18:50.08
that the wages of sin is death.
00:18:50.11\00:18:52.40
However what do I say
00:18:52.43\00:18:53.95
to those who bring
up the story of rich man
00:18:53.98\00:18:57.10
and Lazarus?
00:18:57.13\00:18:58.95
I have heard you
said that was just a story
00:18:58.98\00:19:02.07
that was popular in those days
00:19:02.10\00:19:03.87
and that Jesus was just
using it to make a point?
00:19:03.90\00:19:06.87
I have two questions
about that theory however.
00:19:06.90\00:19:09.57
First one is, why would
Jesus use an inaccurate story
00:19:09.60\00:19:12.39
to make a point instead
of one of His own parables?
00:19:12.42\00:19:16.62
The second is, why would that be
00:19:16.65\00:19:18.41
a popular story among the Jews
00:19:18.44\00:19:20.88
when they knew that the
soul that sins it shall die?"
00:19:20.91\00:19:24.47
That is the point, okay.
00:19:24.50\00:19:26.60
"Or that they
just got into corrupted
00:19:26.63\00:19:29.59
by the cultures around them."
00:19:29.62\00:19:31.47
Okay, that's the point.
00:19:31.50\00:19:32.87
Thank you very much
for the question, Jenny.
00:19:32.90\00:19:35.66
The rich man and
Lazarus is a parable in fact.
00:19:35.69\00:19:39.44
One of the point you actually
00:19:39.47\00:19:40.68
answered the question
right in the question.
00:19:40.71\00:19:42.19
Yeah, she did.
00:19:42.22\00:19:43.25
Because the Jews have become
so corrupted by that idea.
00:19:43.28\00:19:48.42
One of the
things, many of the things
00:19:48.45\00:19:49.94
that were floating
around was the idea that,
00:19:49.97\00:19:51.98
first of all if you're
child of Abraham, you are set.
00:19:52.01\00:19:55.64
So Jesus said, okay
you are child of Abraham.
00:19:55.67\00:19:58.23
Secondly, a theory
came to the surface that
00:19:58.26\00:20:00.53
Abraham's bosom was a
parabolical way of saying,
00:20:00.56\00:20:03.15
you're safe in heaven.
You got it made, you know.
00:20:03.18\00:20:07.08
There's a phrases
nowadays, burning in the bosom.
00:20:07.11\00:20:09.86
A confirmation that what
I believe is in fact soul.
00:20:09.89\00:20:13.51
So in the case of
the Jews of that day,
00:20:13.54\00:20:15.83
they had been affected by
something called Neo-Platonism.
00:20:15.86\00:20:18.63
That's the common
term for it nowadays.
00:20:18.66\00:20:20.77
Meaning they believed in
the immortality of the soul.
00:20:20.80\00:20:23.77
It came from the Greeks.
00:20:23.80\00:20:25.31
It came from the
Greeks schools of that day.
00:20:25.34\00:20:27.63
It began to infiltrate
the schools of the day
00:20:27.66\00:20:30.18
that also was able to infiltrate
the minds of the Pharisees
00:20:30.21\00:20:33.63
and Scribes in the scenes
and all those who began to teach
00:20:33.66\00:20:36.58
and those who were a part
of the sanctuary services.
00:20:36.61\00:20:40.09
They adopted the mindset,
00:20:40.12\00:20:41.52
so Jesus came to them,
in the same way He says,
00:20:41.55\00:20:45.32
"I am, I am the
resurrection and the life."
00:20:45.35\00:20:48.37
He did it at a time,
when they believed that,
00:20:48.40\00:20:51.27
when literally Lazarus had died,
00:20:51.30\00:20:53.51
they believe that
the soul took three days
00:20:53.54\00:20:56.50
to come back into the body
00:20:56.53\00:20:57.86
and if it
succeeded after three days,
00:20:57.89\00:20:59.82
then He came back to life.
00:20:59.85\00:21:01.33
That's why Jesus
stayed away four days
00:21:01.36\00:21:03.56
for his friend Lazarus.
00:21:03.59\00:21:05.15
And then he said
to Mary and Martha,
00:21:05.18\00:21:07.06
"I am the
resurrection and the life."
00:21:07.09\00:21:10.00
He had to
dispel a lot of beliefs
00:21:10.03\00:21:11.62
that became accepted
by the Jews of his day.
00:21:11.65\00:21:14.69
And one of
those was the parable.
00:21:14.72\00:21:18.23
And Jesus used a
fictitious Lazarus,
00:21:18.26\00:21:20.65
because this was the story given
before Lazarus had have died.
00:21:20.68\00:21:24.43
This was not of Lazarus,
00:21:24.46\00:21:25.97
referred to as the
brother of Mary and Martha.
00:21:26.00\00:21:29.19
This was a
different Lazarus altogether.
00:21:29.22\00:21:31.18
But he used them to compare him
00:21:31.21\00:21:33.32
to the people of
the day that had needs.
00:21:33.35\00:21:35.68
And the issue of the story was,
00:21:35.71\00:21:37.95
Lazarus had a need in his
life, that the Jews ignored.
00:21:37.98\00:21:42.06
Lazarus wanted food,
00:21:42.09\00:21:43.55
which was the
teaching of the Jews,
00:21:43.58\00:21:45.51
that they didn't give it to him.
00:21:45.54\00:21:47.07
Lazarus is a man who had sores
00:21:47.10\00:21:49.59
and the Gentiles
were referred to as dogs.
00:21:49.62\00:21:52.08
So Jesus says, you guys say
that you are part of kingdom
00:21:52.11\00:21:55.16
but there are
people that have needs
00:21:55.19\00:21:56.75
that are not even
being taken here by you,
00:21:56.78\00:21:59.13
they're being ignored by you,
00:21:59.16\00:22:00.33
but look at what
the Gentiles are doing?
00:22:00.36\00:22:02.18
The dogs came and
licked Lazarus' sores.
00:22:02.21\00:22:05.45
So he used the
language of the day.
00:22:05.48\00:22:07.50
And to show that it
was a language of the day.
00:22:07.53\00:22:08.98
When a Samaritan
woman came to Jesus
00:22:09.01\00:22:10.58
and his disciples were
there. He said, "It's not good.
00:22:10.61\00:22:14.02
It is not good to
take children's food
00:22:14.05\00:22:16.09
and give it to dogs."
00:22:16.12\00:22:18.06
And they knew
exactly what He meant.
00:22:18.09\00:22:19.89
He had to break
down the prejudices
00:22:19.92\00:22:21.99
by the statements
that existed in His day.
00:22:22.02\00:22:24.60
So Jesus used those
parables not to buy into that
00:22:24.63\00:22:29.02
but He used the
very same teachings
00:22:29.05\00:22:30.55
that they had
already accepted to undo it
00:22:30.58\00:22:33.32
and show them that
he is the real issue.
00:22:33.35\00:22:35.95
And you notice
a number of things
00:22:35.98\00:22:37.65
that were somewhat
elusive, not elusively,
00:22:37.68\00:22:40.94
but somewhat
alluded to the truths
00:22:40.97\00:22:43.28
of that Jesus referred to.
00:22:43.31\00:22:46.53
One of those was
that the rich man said,
00:22:46.56\00:22:50.25
I have five brothers.
00:22:50.28\00:22:52.01
Well, how many books that
they've put their trust in.
00:22:52.04\00:22:54.25
The Pentateuch, the
first five books of the Bible.
00:22:54.28\00:22:57.20
Go and tell
them, and Jesus says,
00:22:57.23\00:22:59.25
even if one rose from the dead,
you really wouldn't believe it.
00:22:59.28\00:23:02.37
And what happens when
Jesus rose from the dead,
00:23:02.40\00:23:04.47
they didn't believe it.
00:23:04.50\00:23:06.03
So this is not just the parable
00:23:06.06\00:23:07.37
but Jesus interlaced in
this parable a number of things.
00:23:07.40\00:23:11.09
One when your life ends,
00:23:11.12\00:23:13.73
there is no way that
you can communicate truth
00:23:13.76\00:23:16.85
to those who are already lost.
00:23:16.88\00:23:18.85
In other words,
there's a great gulf fixed
00:23:18.88\00:23:20.42
between the saved and the lost,
00:23:20.45\00:23:21.73
that was the truth
00:23:21.76\00:23:22.79
Jesus injected into
that particular teaching,
00:23:22.82\00:23:25.18
so inaccurate parable.
00:23:25.21\00:23:27.80
The parable, if you made
it literal, very inaccurate.
00:23:27.83\00:23:32.18
But that's the whole
purpose of the parable.
00:23:32.21\00:23:34.17
It's supposed to not
have a direct message.
00:23:34.20\00:23:36.66
Matter of fact, let me give you
00:23:36.69\00:23:38.66
a couple of the
passages that Jesus used
00:23:38.69\00:23:40.59
and the reason
why He used parables
00:23:40.62\00:23:42.18
at that time to His people.
00:23:42.21\00:23:44.93
Go with us to
Mathew 13:13, and--
00:23:44.96\00:23:51.40
let's go here.
00:23:51.43\00:23:54.16
Mathew 13-- yeah, here I am.
00:23:54.19\00:23:59.22
I'll start with Mathew 13:13.
00:23:59.25\00:24:01.12
Okay, I'm going up to it
now, don't turn away, here is.
00:24:01.15\00:24:04.32
Okay, Mathew 13:13,
00:24:04.35\00:24:06.41
do you have it, John by the way.
00:24:06.44\00:24:07.73
Yeah, therefore. Why
don't you read verse 13, 14.
00:24:07.76\00:24:09.49
"Therefore I speak
to them in parables,
00:24:09.52\00:24:11.52
because seeing they do not see,
00:24:11.55\00:24:13.08
and hearing they do not
hear, nor do they understand.'
00:24:13.11\00:24:15.91
Okay, notice what he
says, and seeing, these people,
00:24:15.94\00:24:19.45
the Jews, didn't
just begin to see,
00:24:19.48\00:24:21.89
they've been
seeing all their lives
00:24:21.92\00:24:23.24
but just they do not see it.
00:24:23.27\00:24:26.11
They've been
hearing for centuries,
00:24:26.14\00:24:28.66
but they just
don't understand it.
00:24:28.69\00:24:31.74
And look at verse 14.
00:24:31.77\00:24:32.92
Matter of fact that goes
back to the Prophet Isaiah.
00:24:32.95\00:24:36.52
"And in them the
prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled,
00:24:36.55\00:24:39.28
which says,
hearing you will hear,
00:24:39.31\00:24:41.59
and shall not understand,
00:24:41.62\00:24:43.39
and seeing you will
see, and not perceive"
00:24:43.42\00:24:46.10
For the hearts of this
people have growing dull,
00:24:46.13\00:24:48.74
and their ears
are hard of hearing,
00:24:48.77\00:24:50.83
and their eyes they have closed,
00:24:50.86\00:24:52.88
lest they should
see with their eyes,
00:24:52.91\00:24:54.40
and hear with their ears,
lest they should understand
00:24:54.43\00:24:56.78
with their hearts in
turn so I should heal them."
00:24:56.81\00:25:00.07
So what do you think
the problem was, John?
00:25:00.10\00:25:02.74
The problem was
that they weren't hearing
00:25:02.77\00:25:04.77
and listening, seeing the truth.
00:25:04.80\00:25:06.16
Self-inflicted.
00:25:06.19\00:25:08.50
And so the parable was
there, because the Lord says,
00:25:08.53\00:25:11.92
I didn't just
start talking to them
00:25:11.95\00:25:13.37
I've been saying
this for centuries.
00:25:13.40\00:25:15.50
And also the
context of this parable.
00:25:15.53\00:25:17.72
If you look at the
discussion between Jesus
00:25:17.75\00:25:20.99
and the people that
were standing there,
00:25:21.02\00:25:23.23
had nothing to
do with what happens
00:25:23.26\00:25:24.46
when you die. No.
00:25:24.49\00:25:25.86
It's just nothing
at all, in fact Jesus,
00:25:25.89\00:25:27.39
always the parables, if you
want to understand the parable,
00:25:27.42\00:25:30.02
look it in the context
with which the parable begins.
00:25:30.05\00:25:33.17
Where, why he brings it up.
00:25:33.20\00:25:34.83
It's usually in the
discussion of what is occurring
00:25:34.86\00:25:37.37
or that the conversation
is going on between Jesus
00:25:37.40\00:25:40.30
and those around Him.
00:25:40.33\00:25:41.84
And in this case,
there was no discussion
00:25:41.87\00:25:43.55
about what
happens when you die. No.
00:25:43.58\00:25:45.40
This parable was not meant
to talk about that at all. No.
00:25:45.43\00:25:48.52
It was not about a
condition in death,
00:25:48.55\00:25:50.37
or what will happen as
you said John after you die.
00:25:50.40\00:25:53.33
A couple of
passages, Psalms 78:2,
00:25:53.36\00:25:56.88
David Psalmist wrote this
about what Jesus would do,
00:25:56.91\00:26:00.26
"I will open my
mouth in a parable.
00:26:00.29\00:26:03.40
I will utter
dark sayings of old."
00:26:03.43\00:26:06.69
Verse 3, "Which we
have heard and known"
00:26:06.72\00:26:09.33
he wasn't saying anything new.
"And our fathers have told us."
00:26:09.36\00:26:13.40
"We would not hide
them from our children
00:26:13.43\00:26:15.47
telling to the generation
to come the praises of the Lord
00:26:15.50\00:26:19.99
and his strength,
and his wonderful works
00:26:20.02\00:26:22.49
that he has done."
00:26:22.52\00:26:24.15
So the testimony
was established there
00:26:24.18\00:26:26.87
and also in Ezekiel now,
00:26:26.90\00:26:29.01
Ezekiel 17:2, "Son
of man, posed a riddle,
00:26:29.04\00:26:34.00
and speak a parable
to the house of Israel."
00:26:34.03\00:26:37.16
You notice what
happened to the house of Israel.
00:26:37.19\00:26:39.06
Now why? Because he
had been so clear to them.
00:26:39.09\00:26:41.61
Now he says,
they're not getting it.
00:26:41.64\00:26:43.18
Let me use some object lessons.
00:26:43.21\00:26:45.14
So when you look at the
story of here in Ezekiel 17,
00:26:45.17\00:26:50.09
the Lord brings out a
truth through a picture.
00:26:50.12\00:26:55.99
And he talks about
the parable of the eagle.
00:26:56.02\00:26:58.25
And last one Ezekiel 24:3,
00:26:58.28\00:27:02.09
"An utter of parable
to the rebellious house
00:27:02.12\00:27:06.53
and say to them,
thus says the Lord God."
00:27:06.56\00:27:10.27
And he starts
with the parable again.
00:27:10.30\00:27:12.30
So notice this.
00:27:12.33\00:27:13.57
They have been used from
generations to generations
00:27:13.60\00:27:15.61
to generations, the Lord
speaking to them in parables.
00:27:15.64\00:27:17.91
But now when Jesus comes,
00:27:17.94\00:27:19.05
He says, I'm
going to speak with them
00:27:19.08\00:27:20.11
because they
haven't hard in the past,
00:27:20.14\00:27:23.04
and they're not hearing it now.
00:27:23.07\00:27:24.81
So that was just a confirmation
00:27:24.84\00:27:26.23
that He was
speaking to the same people.
00:27:26.26\00:27:28.92
You know if, even if
for the sake of argument,
00:27:28.95\00:27:32.04
you were to give
someone this hope.
00:27:32.07\00:27:33.93
And we are
talking about the subject
00:27:33.96\00:27:34.99
of what happens when you die,
00:27:35.02\00:27:36.37
you know there's your
consciousness beyond death.
00:27:36.40\00:27:39.11
Are people's souls
apart from the body
00:27:39.14\00:27:40.89
living in heaven right now?
00:27:40.92\00:27:43.31
Let's say you give them
that some of these texts
00:27:43.34\00:27:46.35
that they bring up
or prove that happens,
00:27:46.38\00:27:48.16
and there's may be, what
four or five in whole Bible.
00:27:48.19\00:27:51.58
Argument, yeah.
00:27:51.61\00:27:52.73
Just for argument sake,
let's say you give them that
00:27:52.76\00:27:55.51
and now you have a problem
because there are many texts,
00:27:55.54\00:27:59.90
probably hundreds that tell you,
00:27:59.93\00:28:03.45
that when you die,
you rest in the grave
00:28:03.48\00:28:06.03
and you don't know anything.
00:28:06.06\00:28:08.01
The dead know nothing. Right.
00:28:08.04\00:28:09.46
Because they have
no part in anything
00:28:09.49\00:28:10.81
that goes on under
the sun. That's right.
00:28:10.84\00:28:12.44
And the soul that sin shall die,
00:28:12.47\00:28:15.17
I mean I can, we can
talk about hundreds of texts.
00:28:15.20\00:28:18.37
So you have a problem,
00:28:18.40\00:28:19.47
because now you make the
Bible inconsistent. Right.
00:28:19.50\00:28:22.86
It is contradictory.
It contradicts itself.
00:28:22.89\00:28:25.76
And now you start
tearing down the word.
00:28:25.79\00:28:27.83
So the burden of
proof is not on us,
00:28:27.86\00:28:30.92
to establish that when you die,
00:28:30.95\00:28:32.81
you rest in the grave
until the resurrection
00:28:32.84\00:28:35.24
not knowing a
thing that's going on
00:28:35.27\00:28:37.12
and then at the resurrection
you're brought back to life,
00:28:37.15\00:28:40.02
body, soul everything
together to go to heaven.
00:28:40.05\00:28:44.26
And so the burden
of proof is not on us,
00:28:44.29\00:28:47.41
it's on someone else,
00:28:47.44\00:28:48.54
who is trying to
take these other texts
00:28:48.57\00:28:50.46
out of the text
of all of scripture,
00:28:50.49\00:28:52.98
these other texts that
clearly establish the truth.
00:28:53.01\00:28:56.90
And you have a problem with
God's word now. That's right.
00:28:56.93\00:29:00.12
You know, you got
to be very careful
00:29:00.15\00:29:01.76
when you are
reading any of these texts,
00:29:01.79\00:29:03.79
to make sure you're
reading the preponderance
00:29:03.82\00:29:05.42
of the evidence,
all the other texts,
00:29:05.45\00:29:06.91
everything else that
deals with the subject
00:29:06.94\00:29:08.36
and putting it together.
00:29:08.39\00:29:09.64
Right, like a house, you
put all the pieces together
00:29:09.67\00:29:12.33
and it doesn't become a car,
00:29:12.36\00:29:14.12
but if you just
take a screw may be,
00:29:14.15\00:29:17.79
or a piece of metal
from the building site,
00:29:17.82\00:29:20.87
and say, this came from a car,
00:29:20.90\00:29:22.74
somebody says, show
me all the rest of it.
00:29:22.77\00:29:25.26
And he goes, it's
not a car, it's a house.
00:29:25.29\00:29:27.37
So that's the thing you
have to be very careful,
00:29:27.40\00:29:28.84
don't take a single text
00:29:28.87\00:29:29.93
and build a whole
teaching around it,
00:29:29.96\00:29:31.85
because not even
Jesus did that. Right.
00:29:31.88\00:29:34.77
Well, thank you
for your questions
00:29:34.80\00:29:36.11
as you know, we
don't always have time
00:29:36.14\00:29:37.78
to go through all the questions,
00:29:37.81\00:29:38.85
but if you have anymore,
00:29:38.88\00:29:40.29
if we've awaken within your mind
00:29:40.32\00:29:41.61
something you like to ask us,
00:29:41.64\00:29:43.59
send those questions
to housecalls@3abn.org.
00:29:43.62\00:29:46.37
That's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:29:46.40\00:29:49.61
And we will get
those answers to you
00:29:49.64\00:29:51.85
from the word of
God as is our custom.
00:29:51.88\00:29:54.41
Thank you very much.
00:29:54.44\00:29:56.38
We're going to
dive back into our topic
00:29:56.41\00:29:58.33
entitled "To tell the truth."
00:29:58.36\00:30:01.58
We've talked about some
things in our prior program
00:30:01.61\00:30:04.71
and to set the stage again
00:30:04.74\00:30:07.14
to going back with
that topic of discussion.
00:30:07.17\00:30:09.73
We talked about
pluralism, relevancy, tolerance.
00:30:09.76\00:30:16.52
These phrases and
words that have now
00:30:16.55\00:30:20.11
dived into Christian church
00:30:20.14\00:30:21.65
are swimming in the
same pool with Christians,
00:30:21.68\00:30:24.50
and but are completely
opposed to the word of God.
00:30:24.53\00:30:27.90
Here Christians are saying,
00:30:27.93\00:30:29.20
now since we are
in the same pool now,
00:30:29.23\00:30:31.58
let's go ahead and
listen to what they have to say.
00:30:31.61\00:30:33.81
And by the way, John,
when you think about it,
00:30:33.84\00:30:37.06
pluralism was
introduced at the tree
00:30:37.09\00:30:38.76
of the knowledge
of good and evil.
00:30:38.79\00:30:40.63
Because they say,
the devil said to Eve,
00:30:40.66\00:30:44.00
did God really say.
00:30:44.03\00:30:45.17
And he said, well,
let me give my view point
00:30:45.20\00:30:47.32
that's what I think God said,
00:30:47.35\00:30:48.84
and he introduced
another viewpoint.
00:30:48.87\00:30:51.58
He says, you
will not surely die,
00:30:51.61\00:30:53.11
so the topic was death.
00:30:53.14\00:30:54.89
The topic was death, follow me.
00:30:54.92\00:30:55.99
Topic is death, Jesus
says, you will surely die,
00:30:56.02\00:30:58.53
Satan says, you
will not surely die.
00:30:58.56\00:31:00.39
Pluralism, right there.
00:31:00.42\00:31:01.89
So pluralism was in our
world from the very beginning
00:31:01.92\00:31:04.63
but now it's found a home
00:31:04.66\00:31:06.60
and it's being sold
through Christianity
00:31:06.63\00:31:09.61
to the rest of
the Christian world.
00:31:09.64\00:31:11.95
And we are now down to the place
00:31:11.98\00:31:13.38
where it says,
does it really matter.
00:31:13.41\00:31:15.75
Is it relevant?
00:31:15.78\00:31:17.42
Are you sure
that your perception
00:31:17.45\00:31:19.20
is more important
than my perception.
00:31:19.23\00:31:21.83
Look at all that's being done,
00:31:21.86\00:31:22.89
why are we spending time on
things that are dividing us.
00:31:22.92\00:31:26.71
So let's find in what I am
hearing being said, John is.
00:31:26.74\00:31:30.06
Let's find out what divides
us and stop believing that.
00:31:30.09\00:31:33.80
But the problem is,
if it's from God's word,
00:31:33.83\00:31:37.20
then we have to prefer the word
of God over just the division.
00:31:37.23\00:31:41.90
And didn't Jesus say,
00:31:41.93\00:31:42.96
He came to
bring us sword? Right.
00:31:42.99\00:31:45.39
So, there's
some relevance there.
00:31:45.42\00:31:47.49
The truth is not
always comfortable.
00:31:47.52\00:31:52.18
You know--
00:31:52.21\00:31:53.58
I think I first heard
it from Pastor Murray,
00:31:53.61\00:31:56.36
he says I came to
comfort the afflicted
00:31:56.39\00:31:59.50
but afflict the comfortable.
00:31:59.53\00:32:02.55
And in many respects that's
exactly what the truth does.
00:32:02.58\00:32:04.81
When you find the truth, it
doesn't make you comfortable,
00:32:04.84\00:32:06.85
it makes you uncomfortable,
00:32:06.88\00:32:08.80
because you're out of
harmony with God's word
00:32:08.83\00:32:12.02
and you are
unreconciled with God,
00:32:12.05\00:32:14.11
but then He brings
comfort through the truth,
00:32:14.14\00:32:16.33
because we begin
to change our lives
00:32:16.36\00:32:18.13
and live according to the truth.
00:32:18.16\00:32:20.30
And so when we are talking about
00:32:20.33\00:32:21.51
a lot of these issues and
there's someone's reluctance
00:32:21.54\00:32:24.03
or a desire to
find another truth,
00:32:24.06\00:32:26.20
or another way
of seeing the truth.
00:32:26.23\00:32:28.44
And pluralism, you know,
00:32:28.47\00:32:29.54
the different
truths that are out there,
00:32:29.57\00:32:32.33
you know, we are saying that
00:32:32.36\00:32:33.39
people don't
like this discomfort,
00:32:33.42\00:32:35.67
but they're not
willing to push through it.
00:32:35.70\00:32:37.86
They would rather just
stay and be comfortable.
00:32:37.89\00:32:39.92
I can't tell you how many
times that I've done a series,
00:32:39.95\00:32:43.62
or we've done,
I've done Bible studies,
00:32:43.65\00:32:47.20
where at the final, at
the end of that it comes
00:32:47.23\00:32:49.67
to where they are
going to make a decision.
00:32:49.70\00:32:51.84
And a lot of them have said
00:32:51.87\00:32:53.87
and I hear this over
ago, over and over again
00:32:53.90\00:32:56.04
this is good information.
00:32:56.07\00:32:58.48
Now this is, I
see the truth in this,
00:32:58.51\00:33:01.68
but they don't want to
change. Isn't that ridiculous.
00:33:01.71\00:33:03.89
You ask them, so you see
the truth of the Sabbath,
00:33:03.92\00:33:07.54
or you see the
truth of what happens
00:33:07.57\00:33:09.89
when you die or you see
the truth about God's church
00:33:09.92\00:33:13.09
and how God is using His church
00:33:13.12\00:33:14.90
to finish the
work in the last days
00:33:14.93\00:33:16.59
and the prophecies and,
00:33:16.62\00:33:18.18
and you don't want
to follow it? Right.
00:33:18.21\00:33:20.54
Or I have to say, I don't know,
00:33:20.57\00:33:23.82
I just feel like, you
know, my whole church,
00:33:23.85\00:33:25.88
you know we love the Lord,
00:33:25.91\00:33:27.21
and excuse, I can't tell you,
00:33:27.24\00:33:30.08
how many
different excuses I've heard
00:33:30.11\00:33:32.34
to resist
following the truth. Right.
00:33:32.37\00:33:35.64
And it's almost like
John, there is we've taken away
00:33:35.67\00:33:39.28
"Christianity itself at large"
00:33:39.31\00:33:42.75
we have taken away
an accountability. Yes.
00:33:42.78\00:33:45.90
For living for God.
00:33:45.93\00:33:47.37
But somehow we can
say that we live for Jesus
00:33:47.40\00:33:50.88
but not live for
Jesus, or follow His truth.
00:33:50.91\00:33:54.62
And we talked
last, in the last program
00:33:54.65\00:33:56.52
about being a
slave to righteousness.
00:33:56.55\00:33:58.51
So what does a slave does, do?
00:33:58.54\00:34:00.40
He serves, we serve Christ.
00:34:00.43\00:34:02.70
We've become a slave to Christ.
00:34:02.73\00:34:03.81
We're obligated now
00:34:03.84\00:34:05.51
to follow His
ways and His teachings.
00:34:05.54\00:34:08.07
You know, we
want to be a disciple
00:34:08.10\00:34:09.96
but not listen to Him,
or follow His examples.
00:34:09.99\00:34:12.72
You know the
meaning of disciple is
00:34:12.75\00:34:16.16
that I follow my
master's teachings.
00:34:16.19\00:34:18.29
I will learn from my master.
00:34:18.32\00:34:19.63
I will follow him and obey
him that is what a disciple is.
00:34:19.66\00:34:23.43
But we want be a disciple
and then do what we want to do,
00:34:23.46\00:34:27.36
rather than
following the word of God.
00:34:27.39\00:34:29.31
And it just,
it's an amazing thing,
00:34:29.34\00:34:31.82
I believe that the
Bible clearly says that
00:34:31.85\00:34:34.03
in the last days, this
kind of thing will happen?
00:34:34.06\00:34:36.41
Oh, yeah.
00:34:36.44\00:34:37.62
And we are seeing it
happen, which is another reason
00:34:37.65\00:34:39.43
why I believe we are so
close to the end of time.
00:34:39.46\00:34:42.54
John, I struggle and I
know you struggle with this,
00:34:42.57\00:34:44.80
why aren't we seeing the
numbers in North America?
00:34:44.83\00:34:48.59
Why aren't we
seeing the conversions?
00:34:48.62\00:34:50.66
That may be we had once
seen it at one point of time,
00:34:50.69\00:34:52.89
why are we seeing so
few come to the truth?
00:34:52.92\00:34:55.31
Why don't we
even have to have a--
00:34:55.34\00:34:59.20
what do you call it,
some kind of a program
00:34:59.23\00:35:02.31
or drive to have
more baptisms this year,
00:35:02.34\00:35:05.53
or more conversions through
the preaching of the truth.
00:35:05.56\00:35:08.91
And without actually
seeing this kind of thing
00:35:08.94\00:35:12.01
that is happening in
India, it's happening in Africa.
00:35:12.04\00:35:15.81
It's happening in so many
parts of the undeveloped world,
00:35:15.84\00:35:19.15
thousands coming to
the knowledge of the truth,
00:35:19.18\00:35:21.32
so finding such a wonderful
precious gem of God's truth
00:35:21.35\00:35:26.28
and following and
being baptized into it,
00:35:26.31\00:35:28.84
we're just not seeing it here.
00:35:28.87\00:35:30.04
You know I
believe that in America,
00:35:30.07\00:35:31.46
we have to get to where
they are already are in India,
00:35:31.49\00:35:33.99
rather than them getting
to where we are in America.
00:35:34.02\00:35:36.52
When they get to where we are,
00:35:36.55\00:35:37.58
they begin to not
treasure the truth,
00:35:37.61\00:35:40.15
but when we get
to where they are,
00:35:40.18\00:35:41.52
we begin to see
that the only thing
00:35:41.55\00:35:42.67
that really does
matter is the truth. Yeah.
00:35:42.70\00:35:44.47
It does really matter.
00:35:44.50\00:35:45.89
Jesus made a point
very clear in Luke 6:46.
00:35:45.92\00:35:49.63
And I've talked
about Mathew 7:21-23,
00:35:49.66\00:35:51.91
many saying Lord, Lord.
00:35:51.94\00:35:53.37
Even Jesus say,
I never knew you.
00:35:53.40\00:35:54.96
Well, here's the reason why.
00:35:54.99\00:35:56.62
Luke 6:46, "But why do
you call me Lord, Lord.
00:35:56.65\00:36:01.26
And do not do the
things which I say."
00:36:01.29\00:36:05.30
Talk about the word Lord.
00:36:05.33\00:36:07.05
Because I mean,
that's what we study.
00:36:07.08\00:36:08.83
We got to talk about that
00:36:08.86\00:36:09.89
because we call
Jesus our Savior. Right.
00:36:09.92\00:36:12.57
There are very few who
call Him, or they call Him Lord,
00:36:12.60\00:36:14.83
but they don't
make Him their Lord.
00:36:14.86\00:36:16.25
Right, Lord is in the
same context of landlord.
00:36:16.28\00:36:19.25
He is in
charge, he is the owner.
00:36:19.28\00:36:21.93
He is not in the passenger
seat, he is the driver.
00:36:21.96\00:36:25.10
He's calling the shots
00:36:25.13\00:36:26.63
and people want Jesus
for the salvation part,
00:36:26.66\00:36:29.14
you know they want,
they like the Jesus part.
00:36:29.17\00:36:31.31
He saves us from our
sins, He is our savior.
00:36:31.34\00:36:33.46
But He is our Lord also.
00:36:33.49\00:36:35.47
And that means, He
tells you what to do
00:36:35.50\00:36:37.54
and those who have
a problem with that
00:36:37.57\00:36:39.38
are in the pluralistic
society nowadays, always saying,
00:36:39.41\00:36:43.76
well it doesn't, you know,
00:36:43.79\00:36:45.35
that's good enough for
you, this is good enough for me.
00:36:45.38\00:36:47.62
That's why John,
we begin to see people
00:36:47.65\00:36:49.95
that are falling
away and saying, well,
00:36:49.98\00:36:53.62
if that's what your
denomination teaches,
00:36:53.65\00:36:55.64
that's not what my
denomination teaches.
00:36:55.67\00:36:57.69
And we have this
denominationalism
00:36:57.72\00:37:00.58
and there's even the inference
of non-denominationalism,
00:37:00.61\00:37:05.98
which is another cloak,
of throwing out doctrines,
00:37:06.01\00:37:10.23
which infact if you're teaching
from the Bible, it is doctrines.
00:37:10.26\00:37:13.95
Because the word doctrine
00:37:13.98\00:37:15.01
simply is another
word for teachings.
00:37:15.04\00:37:17.38
Right. You see.
00:37:17.41\00:37:18.44
So you can't
really get around that.
00:37:18.47\00:37:20.45
And non-denominational
that word it's almost like
00:37:20.48\00:37:22.89
there is a pride
element there with casting off
00:37:22.92\00:37:25.94
the baggage that holds
denominational churches.
00:37:25.97\00:37:28.94
They say it's a real
baggage or something,
00:37:28.97\00:37:31.03
but anyway it's almost like,
what we're non-denominational
00:37:31.06\00:37:34.27
so, you know what
that tells me sometimes
00:37:34.30\00:37:36.62
is more things are acceptable
here in our church than
00:37:36.65\00:37:40.02
may be are acceptable
in some other churches
00:37:40.05\00:37:41.69
and I find that sad.
That's exactly what the case is.
00:37:41.72\00:37:44.85
They say well, if you
couldn't do it in your church,
00:37:44.88\00:37:46.92
it's fine here.
00:37:46.95\00:37:48.63
And the other thing of this,
00:37:48.66\00:37:50.34
we have brought the
world upto the church,
00:37:50.37\00:37:53.42
sorry, the church,
00:37:53.45\00:37:54.88
the world has brought
the church down to the world.
00:37:54.91\00:37:58.09
Not the other way around.
00:37:58.12\00:37:59.15
Because the church is
supposed to bring the world up,
00:37:59.18\00:38:01.96
meaning giving it new direction,
00:38:01.99\00:38:04.44
but you begin to see
that it's not doing that.
00:38:04.47\00:38:07.36
Let me dive into
some Bible text here.
00:38:07.39\00:38:09.38
Look at, we wrote down a little,
00:38:09.41\00:38:11.62
just to keep
ourselves fluid here.
00:38:11.65\00:38:15.15
I want to show you one here
00:38:15.18\00:38:17.19
in number 37
here, text number 37.
00:38:17.22\00:38:22.67
And by the way 1 Timothy 2:4,
00:38:22.70\00:38:25.71
Jesus says who desires,
who desires all men to be saved
00:38:25.74\00:38:29.84
and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. And.
00:38:29.87\00:38:33.89
Right, and to come to
the knowledge of the truth.
00:38:33.92\00:38:37.41
But look at 2 Timothy 3:7,
00:38:37.44\00:38:40.17
"Always learning
but never able to come
00:38:40.20\00:38:43.11
to the knowledge of
the truth." You see.
00:38:43.14\00:38:45.37
People are always learning,
they are always studying
00:38:45.40\00:38:47.53
but they never
actually come to the truth.
00:38:47.56\00:38:49.35
Let's go and illustrate.
00:38:49.38\00:38:50.75
I'm saved, sanctified,
00:38:50.78\00:38:54.09
but I don't these truth
things are not really relevant.
00:38:54.12\00:38:56.45
He doesn't only
want men to be saved
00:38:56.48\00:38:58.59
and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.
00:38:58.62\00:39:01.42
But men are always learning
00:39:01.45\00:39:02.83
and John look at
the bookstores nowadays.
00:39:02.86\00:39:04.66
Christian bookstores are places
00:39:04.69\00:39:06.58
where people go to
better their lives,
00:39:06.61\00:39:08.68
a very good thing.
00:39:08.71\00:39:12.90
But you can go to any stores,
you go to Barnes and Nobles
00:39:12.93\00:39:15.89
or Blue Dolphins or
you know, you name it.
00:39:15.92\00:39:20.25
You can just go to any
bookstore and get the same books
00:39:20.28\00:39:22.31
that you find in
the Christian book store
00:39:22.34\00:39:23.45
because all of that is pointing
nowadays to temporary stuff,
00:39:23.48\00:39:28.76
they are ever learning.
00:39:28.79\00:39:31.41
But they are never able to
come to the knowledge of truth,
00:39:31.44\00:39:33.46
that the truth
is not acceptable.
00:39:33.49\00:39:36.38
I have to share
this story. Go ahead.
00:39:36.41\00:39:38.74
We have, I have a
member in our church
00:39:38.77\00:39:41.35
who is in charge
of our Bible program,
00:39:41.38\00:39:44.19
correspondence Bible studies
00:39:44.22\00:39:45.93
or assigning somebody to
do personal Bible studies
00:39:45.96\00:39:48.84
for somebody who's asked.
00:39:48.87\00:39:50.56
Anyway they said,
they came to me one day
00:39:50.59\00:39:52.81
and they said, I have this lady
00:39:52.84\00:39:55.04
and she has taken Amazing
Facts Bible study courses
00:39:55.07\00:39:58.83
and Discovery
Bible study courses,
00:39:58.86\00:40:00.42
both the
beginning and the advanced,
00:40:00.45\00:40:02.20
and she just will
not make a decision.
00:40:02.23\00:40:06.40
And I said, you need
to set an appointment
00:40:06.43\00:40:08.32
and I will go with you.
00:40:08.35\00:40:09.48
Let's go see
her, let's go see her.
00:40:09.51\00:40:12.32
I didn't know who she was,
I didn't know what to expect.
00:40:12.35\00:40:14.75
So she made this appointment
00:40:14.78\00:40:15.88
and we both went
over to visit this lady
00:40:15.91\00:40:19.05
and a dear lady,
very nice, very kind,
00:40:19.08\00:40:21.48
her husband was
not a Christian at all.
00:40:21.51\00:40:24.34
He was in the next
room, had the TV going
00:40:24.37\00:40:26.70
but we sat in her
kitchen and I just talked to her
00:40:26.73\00:40:29.91
just, I know just
let her the first time,
00:40:29.94\00:40:32.03
just to find a little about
her, and she talked, and talked,
00:40:32.06\00:40:35.43
and talked, and talked
00:40:35.46\00:40:37.11
and then she told the story
of a God convicted her once
00:40:37.14\00:40:40.44
that she talks too much.
00:40:40.47\00:40:43.37
And that she needs to
listen to the Lord more
00:40:43.40\00:40:46.60
and to really hear what
He is saying and follow that.
00:40:46.63\00:40:50.58
And then she continued to
talk and to talk and to talk.
00:40:50.61\00:40:54.43
And of course, you
know, what I was starting
00:40:54.46\00:40:55.71
to conclude myself there, I
couldn't even get a word in,
00:40:55.74\00:40:58.13
I mean, she just
constantly talked.
00:40:58.16\00:41:01.04
And I said, I have to stop you,
00:41:01.07\00:41:02.81
let me just ask
you a few questions
00:41:02.84\00:41:04.86
and I pressed her a little bit
00:41:04.89\00:41:06.04
on the some of the
stuff that she has learned.
00:41:06.07\00:41:08.04
I said, what do
you gather from this.
00:41:08.07\00:41:10.24
And, you know, she
talked and she talked some more
00:41:10.27\00:41:12.52
and talked around the subject
00:41:12.55\00:41:14.15
and I just got,
I got tired, John.
00:41:14.18\00:41:16.45
I got tired, I was exhausted,
00:41:16.48\00:41:19.68
after talking and sitting
with this lady for an hour.
00:41:19.71\00:41:22.96
I could not get her anywhere
close to making a decision
00:41:22.99\00:41:26.47
on any of these
things that she had learned.
00:41:26.50\00:41:28.52
Do it with the
other word, shut up.
00:41:28.55\00:41:31.72
Anyway I've looked,
finally I looked over the girl,
00:41:31.75\00:41:34.40
that the lady in our
church who set up the meeting
00:41:34.43\00:41:39.72
and I talked to
this girl as well,
00:41:39.75\00:41:42.06
I said to her very specifically
00:41:42.09\00:41:43.37
and I said, you
have been learning
00:41:43.40\00:41:45.38
and studying many things
00:41:45.41\00:41:46.63
and am I take it
with me from your studies
00:41:46.66\00:41:50.99
that you don't
want to change the way
00:41:51.02\00:41:53.97
that you are following the Lord.
00:41:54.00\00:41:57.51
The Lord has
taught you some new things
00:41:57.54\00:41:59.15
that you're not going
to follow those things.
00:41:59.18\00:42:02.16
She said, well, I
just, and she talked,
00:42:02.19\00:42:04.40
and she talked
and she kept talking.
00:42:04.43\00:42:07.55
And finally I said, you know,
what I really got to get going.
00:42:07.58\00:42:11.13
I said we've been here in
hour, a pleasure to meet you.
00:42:11.16\00:42:14.64
I prayed with her there.
00:42:14.67\00:42:15.73
We had some good prayer
time there to close and we left.
00:42:15.76\00:42:19.15
And my counsel to the girl
who set up the meeting was,
00:42:19.18\00:42:23.43
you're done, you're done.
00:42:23.46\00:42:26.48
It's time that this lady
will take more of your time
00:42:26.51\00:42:30.91
and she will never come to
the knowledge of the truth.
00:42:30.94\00:42:33.10
She will take more of your time
00:42:33.13\00:42:34.76
away from those who
are opened to the truth.
00:42:34.79\00:42:37.32
You need to be seeking out
00:42:37.35\00:42:38.38
those who are
opened to the truth.
00:42:38.41\00:42:40.00
And so these texts are
very relevant in the story
00:42:40.03\00:42:43.85
and that is there are some
who study and study and study,
00:42:43.88\00:42:46.52
but they never come to
the knowledge of the truth.
00:42:46.55\00:42:48.88
God is looking for those
who will make Him their Savior
00:42:48.91\00:42:52.38
but also would
make Him their Lord,
00:42:52.41\00:42:56.13
and they will
follow Him in His teaching
00:42:56.16\00:42:58.56
and put it into the practice
00:42:58.59\00:43:00.58
as John, 1 John, we
looked to this before.
00:43:00.61\00:43:03.39
Those don't let
someone deceive you,
00:43:03.42\00:43:05.41
John it says, he who
practices righteousness
00:43:05.44\00:43:08.64
is righteous. Right.
00:43:08.67\00:43:10.00
Not just someone who talks
00:43:10.03\00:43:11.66
about
righteousness. That's right.
00:43:11.69\00:43:12.91
You got to practice,
00:43:12.94\00:43:13.97
you got to put God's
teaching into practice,
00:43:14.00\00:43:15.90
then you are His disciple.
00:43:15.93\00:43:17.68
And I am sorry
there are some today
00:43:17.71\00:43:19.04
who will never get there.
00:43:19.07\00:43:20.44
And I feel
sorrow for them, John.
00:43:20.47\00:43:22.79
It's not like, don't
think I'm just casting them off.
00:43:22.82\00:43:26.39
Even Jesus Himself said,
00:43:26.42\00:43:27.67
that if His disciples
if you go into the town
00:43:27.70\00:43:29.82
and they don't receive you,
00:43:29.85\00:43:31.46
a symbolically, shake
the dust off your feet
00:43:31.49\00:43:33.63
and keep moving, get
to someone who will hear
00:43:33.66\00:43:35.97
and who will understand
00:43:36.00\00:43:37.49
and I have to sometimes
reluctantly take that advice.
00:43:37.52\00:43:41.68
And it is true,
when you have done
00:43:41.71\00:43:43.56
all that you
can, all that you can
00:43:43.59\00:43:47.17
and although you have
been impressed to do by God,
00:43:47.20\00:43:49.75
then you really
can't do anymore.
00:43:49.78\00:43:51.46
Sometimes we have to allow,
00:43:51.49\00:43:53.09
and this is the
only encouragement
00:43:53.12\00:43:54.52
I get from what
you've said to me.
00:43:54.55\00:43:56.44
One plants, one waters,
but God gives the increase.
00:43:56.47\00:44:01.06
So that the
seeds have been planted
00:44:01.09\00:44:03.34
but they have been watered
00:44:03.37\00:44:04.67
but somebody's got
to come along one day,
00:44:04.70\00:44:07.28
let me give you a story.
It has to be somebody else.
00:44:07.31\00:44:08.52
Somebody's got to
somebody else. Yeah.
00:44:08.55\00:44:10.35
Your work like you
said, your work is done.
00:44:10.38\00:44:12.72
I was invited to a country to do
a one-week evangelistic series
00:44:12.75\00:44:17.95
and I was there and the pastor,
00:44:17.98\00:44:19.79
well, pastor who, is
there anybody here particularly,
00:44:19.82\00:44:21.97
we are talking
about baptism this week,
00:44:22.00\00:44:23.21
anybody here particular--
00:44:23.24\00:44:24.82
and we mentioned a brother,
whose wife attended the church
00:44:24.85\00:44:29.00
and, he had been
coming with her for years.
00:44:29.03\00:44:33.10
He said but this man just
would not make up his mind.
00:44:33.13\00:44:35.96
I've done everything I could,
may be we could visit him.
00:44:35.99\00:44:39.41
I went to visit him and
asked him a few questions
00:44:39.44\00:44:42.16
and I says, what would change
00:44:42.19\00:44:44.25
if you gave your
life to the Lord.
00:44:44.28\00:44:45.31
Well, do you still
party and dance anywhere? No.
00:44:45.34\00:44:48.25
Do you still drink? No.
00:44:48.28\00:44:50.37
Do you go to
church with your wife?
00:44:50.40\00:44:51.46
Yeah,
periodically I go with her.
00:44:51.49\00:44:53.39
Any smoking anything? No.
00:44:53.42\00:44:55.29
Any running around? No.
00:44:55.32\00:44:57.93
Are you, do you have
an honest relationship
00:44:57.96\00:44:59.57
in your marriage. Yes.
00:44:59.60\00:45:02.42
So what would
change? Well, really nothing.
00:45:02.45\00:45:05.08
Nothing, much would change.
00:45:05.11\00:45:06.70
I said, yes.
Something will change.
00:45:06.73\00:45:08.03
You know what will change.
00:45:08.06\00:45:09.66
You as the head of this
household will open the door
00:45:09.69\00:45:11.90
for God to bring
blessings into this family.
00:45:11.93\00:45:15.26
Right now it's partial,
00:45:15.29\00:45:16.85
because you haven't made up
your mind to serve the Lord.
00:45:16.88\00:45:18.98
But if you open the door
to allow the Lord to come in,
00:45:19.01\00:45:22.05
He sat and scratched his head
00:45:22.08\00:45:23.66
and I am thinking if I
scratched my head that long
00:45:23.69\00:45:25.21
I'd be pulling my hair out.
00:45:25.24\00:45:27.21
Finally, I said I tell you what,
00:45:27.24\00:45:29.69
and here's what
I would encourage
00:45:29.72\00:45:31.63
those of you who are
in the tough situations,
00:45:31.66\00:45:33.60
say to people that are
tottering on the fence.
00:45:33.63\00:45:35.88
You know, since
you've been studying,
00:45:35.91\00:45:38.25
let me pray with you
and claim you for the Lord.
00:45:38.28\00:45:41.08
And we're going to
prepare for your baptism
00:45:41.11\00:45:42.48
next week, is that okay.
00:45:42.51\00:45:44.82
And I said, now, we want
you to be in the kingdom,
00:45:44.85\00:45:46.69
the Lord does too. Next
let's do that next week.
00:45:46.72\00:45:49.32
You already
know everything else.
00:45:49.35\00:45:50.99
The next step is
completing the process,
00:45:51.02\00:45:53.09
are you ready for
that, and you know what,
00:45:53.12\00:45:54.59
he got baptized
the very next day.
00:45:54.62\00:45:56.72
It was so exciting,
00:45:56.75\00:45:58.28
and we have a picture of him
there getting baptized together,
00:45:58.31\00:46:02.44
and it was a wonderful
thing, wonderful occasion.
00:46:02.47\00:46:05.57
And the Lord was praised by that
00:46:05.60\00:46:07.90
but here's what I
want to encourage you.
00:46:07.93\00:46:09.74
You have done all
that you could do,
00:46:09.77\00:46:11.72
but God's got to send somebody
00:46:11.75\00:46:12.92
with of totally
different approach,
00:46:12.95\00:46:14.56
may be on the day when
this lady is done talking. Yeah.
00:46:14.59\00:46:20.27
So just get into
the kingdom. Yeah.
00:46:20.30\00:46:21.88
But let's dive back
into the topic here, John.
00:46:21.91\00:46:24.21
Friends look with us to
2 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 4.
00:46:24.24\00:46:28.96
Here's what we are up against,
here's what we are up against.
00:46:28.99\00:46:31.40
And we've talked
about some of the topics.
00:46:31.43\00:46:32.63
I think we
mentioned the Sabbath,
00:46:32.66\00:46:34.53
on the endangered species
list, didn't we John? Yes.
00:46:34.56\00:46:37.99
We talked about
the commandments.
00:46:38.02\00:46:39.15
What's the another topic that's
on the endangered species list?
00:46:39.18\00:46:44.17
Well, we're talking
about the gifted prophecies,
00:46:44.20\00:46:46.69
another one of them,
00:46:46.72\00:46:47.85
that somehow may be that
gift isn't going to be relevant
00:46:47.88\00:46:50.96
in the last days, or
relevant even during our times.
00:46:50.99\00:46:54.45
And I think there
are many who again,
00:46:54.48\00:46:57.72
they get very uncomfortable
00:46:57.75\00:46:58.78
when you are talking
about the gift of prophecy.
00:46:58.81\00:47:00.13
In fact I find that one
of the most difficult things
00:47:00.16\00:47:02.00
for Adventist in
particularly talk about,
00:47:02.03\00:47:04.96
as they are giving
maybe studies for baptism,
00:47:04.99\00:47:06.95
or talking about getting someone
00:47:06.98\00:47:09.03
to commit to
following the truth.
00:47:09.06\00:47:11.60
Is the gift of prophecy,
00:47:11.63\00:47:12.76
it's just is a difficult topic
for some people to understand
00:47:12.79\00:47:15.70
and instead of
going forward to explain
00:47:15.73\00:47:17.36
that we back off. Right.
00:47:17.39\00:47:18.69
And we compromise, or
even in our own lives.
00:47:18.72\00:47:22.17
Somehow that gift can be used
in a way to convict us of wrong
00:47:22.20\00:47:25.94
as it was used in
David's day. That's right.
00:47:25.97\00:47:28.71
You know and King
David, he was doing wrong
00:47:28.74\00:47:31.39
but somehow he hadn't awakened
00:47:31.42\00:47:33.50
in his mind to how
much wrong he was doing.
00:47:33.53\00:47:37.33
God sent Nathan, the
prophet. That's right.
00:47:37.36\00:47:39.76
And under inspiration,
00:47:39.79\00:47:40.86
Nathan told him a story
which was very convicting.
00:47:40.89\00:47:43.81
And I believe today we
still can find that prophecy
00:47:43.84\00:47:47.26
and that gift can
be used in the church
00:47:47.29\00:47:50.10
to help us follow the
truth, or it isn't the truth,
00:47:50.13\00:47:54.31
the essence of the
truth itself, the prophet
00:47:54.34\00:47:57.16
but it points us to
the truth of God's word,
00:47:57.19\00:47:59.60
that's the tried, the
right world of gift of prophecy
00:47:59.63\00:48:01.84
and I believe it
is still alive today.
00:48:01.87\00:48:03.49
That's right and in
some Seventh-day Christians
00:48:03.52\00:48:06.35
who are looking for--
00:48:06.38\00:48:08.77
I would say meandering
and amazed of mediocrity,
00:48:08.80\00:48:12.16
they kind of
want to be in the mix,
00:48:12.19\00:48:13.29
that's the word I've
used or the phrase I've used.
00:48:13.32\00:48:16.18
They sometimes
minimized the fact that
00:48:16.21\00:48:18.14
God has gifted this
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:48:18.17\00:48:21.19
with the gift of prophecy
00:48:21.22\00:48:22.91
through not only the
work of the Holy Spirit
00:48:22.94\00:48:25.26
but specifically
through the life of Ellen White,
00:48:25.29\00:48:27.70
which for many people
that are in this modern,
00:48:27.73\00:48:30.10
postmodern society they say,
00:48:30.13\00:48:31.35
well, is she
relevant any longer?
00:48:31.38\00:48:33.43
Well, if you ask
commentators nowadays somebody,
00:48:33.46\00:48:37.70
I don't want to
mention names here
00:48:37.73\00:48:38.97
but one of the world
renowned motivational speakers.
00:48:39.00\00:48:42.73
Somebody talked about going
to spend hundreds of dollars
00:48:42.76\00:48:44.99
if I will listen to this
person, very, very well known.
00:48:45.02\00:48:48.29
And they said, and the things
00:48:48.32\00:48:50.06
that this person is
saying about health,
00:48:50.09\00:48:52.94
sounds like we believe
00:48:52.97\00:48:54.26
and after one of
the presentations
00:48:54.29\00:48:55.57
they went to this gentleman
00:48:55.60\00:48:56.63
and asked could I
ask you some questions
00:48:56.66\00:48:59.73
and he showed them
his notes and John,
00:48:59.76\00:49:02.75
references from
Counsels on Diets and Foods,
00:49:02.78\00:49:06.14
Ministry of Healing.
00:49:06.17\00:49:08.11
This motivational heavily,
very expensive gentleman
00:49:08.14\00:49:12.08
that pays you
know, they pay thousands
00:49:12.11\00:49:14.70
to hear him speak to crowd
00:49:14.73\00:49:16.10
and change their minds
of corporate executives.
00:49:16.13\00:49:18.18
He had just packaged
what was already there.
00:49:18.21\00:49:20.21
He's taken it from
Ellen White's book,
00:49:20.24\00:49:22.41
Counsels on Diet and
Food, Ministry of Healing.
00:49:22.44\00:49:25.74
There's another Dr. Chow,
00:49:25.77\00:49:27.06
years ago the
story was told about him
00:49:27.09\00:49:28.85
in the late to
early '90s late 80s
00:49:28.88\00:49:33.70
when his church had
50,000 members at a time
00:49:33.73\00:49:35.85
and he told two
Adventist pastors.
00:49:35.88\00:49:37.70
If you'd simply follow
00:49:37.73\00:49:39.68
the book evangelism in
gospel work is your church
00:49:39.71\00:49:41.98
would grow as wide as
this church is growing.
00:49:42.01\00:49:44.56
What's happening nowadays
in this pluralistic world,
00:49:44.59\00:49:46.87
we're beginning to throw
out the distinctive messages,
00:49:46.90\00:49:50.11
and accept things
that are not really
00:49:50.14\00:49:53.74
"relevant" to
salvation any longer.
00:49:53.77\00:49:55.83
You know, the
question also begs,
00:49:55.86\00:49:57.48
you know, we
know we are told that
00:49:57.51\00:50:01.15
in the very last days that
God would call men servants
00:50:01.18\00:50:05.44
and maid servants, His
prophets again to service.
00:50:05.47\00:50:09.30
That's right. That's right.
00:50:09.33\00:50:10.93
And if we can't
listen to a prophet
00:50:10.96\00:50:13.02
already that has given us
many words of good counsel,
00:50:13.05\00:50:16.40
how we are going to
listen at the very end
00:50:16.43\00:50:17.80
when it's a
matter of life or death.
00:50:17.83\00:50:20.39
We are not, as a matter
of fact we are not. We won't.
00:50:20.42\00:50:23.16
And in fact, how many times
do you find in the Old Testament
00:50:23.19\00:50:25.38
where a prophet
was well received?
00:50:25.41\00:50:27.59
Oh, what did Jesus,
what did Steven say,
00:50:27.62\00:50:30.55
how many times has the
Lord sent prophets to you
00:50:30.58\00:50:32.56
that you have not stoned.
00:50:32.59\00:50:34.19
Correct. You see.
00:50:34.22\00:50:36.57
That's a good sermon
title, 'the stone age.'
00:50:36.60\00:50:38.49
They've stoned the prophets
over and over and over again.
00:50:38.52\00:50:42.06
And that's what happening today.
00:50:42.09\00:50:43.64
The word of God and
those who are delivering it
00:50:43.67\00:50:45.63
are being put on the pedestal
00:50:45.66\00:50:46.88
to be stoned not
to be directed to.
00:50:46.91\00:50:50.04
About the text I asked
you to turn to a moment ago,
00:50:50.07\00:50:52.06
2 Timothy 4:3, 4.
00:50:52.09\00:50:55.92
and that's under the
reference number 38 there.
00:50:55.95\00:50:59.30
Notice, read that for
us, John, if you have it?
00:50:59.33\00:51:01.64
2 Timothy 4:3,
"For the time will come
00:51:01.67\00:51:05.49
when they will not
endure sound doctrine,
00:51:05.52\00:51:08.27
but according to
their own desires,
00:51:08.30\00:51:11.09
according to
what, their own desires
00:51:11.12\00:51:14.76
because they have itching ears,
00:51:14.79\00:51:16.41
in other words they
need those ears scratched,
00:51:16.44\00:51:18.57
they need to have to
comforting and tickle,
00:51:18.60\00:51:21.62
they will heap up
for themselves teachers
00:51:21.65\00:51:25.03
and they will turn
their ears away from the truth
00:51:25.06\00:51:28.19
and be turned the
side to fables." Wow.
00:51:28.22\00:51:31.23
So what's happening nowadays,
I know another words for fables
00:51:31.26\00:51:33.80
and some of you who
ought to remember this,
00:51:33.83\00:51:35.74
old lives tales.
00:51:35.77\00:51:38.23
They rather
pleasing, in another word,
00:51:38.26\00:51:40.42
the bible uses
the word sophistries.
00:51:40.45\00:51:42.69
Oh, that's entertaining.
00:51:42.72\00:51:44.63
And you know, it's sad
but a lot of the churches
00:51:44.66\00:51:47.03
nowadays are going towards
the direction of entertainment.
00:51:47.06\00:51:50.17
Lights, camera, action.
00:51:50.20\00:51:52.02
And it's great for
the feel good mentality
00:51:52.05\00:51:56.85
but it's not doing anything
towards the issue of salvation.
00:51:56.88\00:52:00.26
And I did my own
word search here.
00:52:00.29\00:52:02.39
And let me just
share the statistics
00:52:02.42\00:52:03.93
with you very
quickly on the word truth,
00:52:03.96\00:52:06.11
just to show you how relevant
00:52:06.14\00:52:07.59
the Lord
believes the truth to be.
00:52:07.62\00:52:09.76
And I used about seven
different translations here
00:52:09.79\00:52:12.15
to just kind of statistically
look up the word truth,
00:52:12.18\00:52:14.68
just truth, not truth.
00:52:14.71\00:52:17.04
But in the King James Version
00:52:17.07\00:52:18.52
you find the word
truth mentioned 235 times.
00:52:18.55\00:52:23.18
The New
International version 224 times,
00:52:23.21\00:52:27.04
the New King
James Version 223 times,
00:52:27.07\00:52:30.93
the Revised Standard Version,
New Revised Standard 146 times,
00:52:30.96\00:52:36.53
the New American
Standard, 202 times,
00:52:36.56\00:52:39.23
the New Living
Translation 205 times
00:52:39.26\00:52:42.00
and the God's Word
translation 254 times.
00:52:42.03\00:52:46.52
Here's my point, not that
some had more than the others
00:52:46.55\00:52:49.54
but the fact of the matters is
00:52:49.57\00:52:50.81
they all have the
word truth in there.
00:52:50.84\00:52:53.27
Whether it's little as
146 or as much as 254 times,
00:52:53.30\00:52:57.75
the word truth is still there.
00:52:57.78\00:53:00.85
So is truth relevant is the
great question we asked today.
00:53:00.88\00:53:05.21
How important it is
for us accept to truth.
00:53:05.24\00:53:08.49
I mean what do you think?
00:53:08.52\00:53:10.65
It's a matter of
being saved or lost.
00:53:10.68\00:53:13.95
I mean it really
is that important.
00:53:13.98\00:53:16.28
You know, if I were to be stung
00:53:16.31\00:53:21.48
or bitten by a snake,
00:53:21.51\00:53:24.65
or if I already have something
that would happen to me
00:53:24.68\00:53:26.61
medically that
was life or death.
00:53:26.64\00:53:28.54
Would it be important
for me to know the treatment
00:53:28.57\00:53:32.59
for that condition?
00:53:32.62\00:53:35.24
Above most importance.
00:53:35.27\00:53:37.08
And if I didn't
follow the specific designs
00:53:37.11\00:53:39.70
or a specific treatment
00:53:39.73\00:53:40.95
for curing me of
what just happened,
00:53:40.98\00:53:43.33
that condition,
I would either die.
00:53:43.36\00:53:47.72
Well, I would die or be
severely injured for life.
00:53:47.75\00:53:51.86
It is so essential, it would be
00:53:51.89\00:53:53.31
so essential for me to
know what the treatment is
00:53:53.34\00:53:55.46
for what just
happened to me. Yes.
00:53:55.49\00:53:58.13
And so the question is,
00:53:58.16\00:53:59.52
you know, do we
know is the truth
00:53:59.55\00:54:03.27
that God's word tells us
about our condition of sin
00:54:03.30\00:54:07.80
is the truth important
00:54:07.83\00:54:09.66
in getting us out
of that condition.
00:54:09.69\00:54:12.85
Or do we really believe that
we can claim Jesus as our Savior
00:54:12.88\00:54:18.47
that we can talk
about Him as Lord,
00:54:18.50\00:54:20.58
that we can take His
name on upon ourselves,
00:54:20.61\00:54:23.26
calling ourselves Christians
00:54:23.29\00:54:24.93
and not follow His prescription,
00:54:24.96\00:54:27.84
His antidote for
sin. It's not possible.
00:54:27.87\00:54:30.75
As a matter of fact,
you can't even include
00:54:30.78\00:54:32.87
the Holy Spirit in that scenario
00:54:32.90\00:54:34.30
because some people say well,
00:54:34.33\00:54:36.27
the Spirit is
working in my life,
00:54:36.30\00:54:37.60
well, how could you say
00:54:37.63\00:54:38.66
the Holy Spirit is
working in your life,
00:54:38.69\00:54:41.41
but you
continually reject the truth.
00:54:41.44\00:54:44.72
Well, we have to ask
ourselves the questions.
00:54:44.75\00:54:47.08
Are we submitting to
the work of the Holy Spirit?
00:54:47.11\00:54:49.75
Here's the text that
I want you to remember.
00:54:49.78\00:54:51.77
John 16:13, our
reference number 30 there.
00:54:51.80\00:54:54.22
It says, "However when
he, the Spirit of truth,
00:54:54.25\00:55:00.69
has come, he will
guide you into all truth.'
00:55:00.72\00:55:04.87
Notice he doesn't
guide into some truth?
00:55:04.90\00:55:06.84
So the question is, are there
00:55:06.87\00:55:08.93
relevant truths
or irrelevant truths.
00:55:08.96\00:55:11.02
Well, according to the
work of the Holy Spirit,
00:55:11.05\00:55:12.55
there is no
such division. Right.
00:55:12.58\00:55:14.96
Now, I got to say this here
00:55:14.99\00:55:16.02
because I don't
know the Holy Spirit
00:55:16.05\00:55:17.08
I think is impressing me do it.
00:55:17.11\00:55:18.27
But, you know, many read
these texts about the truth,
00:55:18.30\00:55:22.11
and they interpret
them this way, John.
00:55:22.14\00:55:25.33
Those that are not following
the truth are the heathen.
00:55:25.36\00:55:29.11
And those that are in Christ
that name Jesus as their Savior,
00:55:29.14\00:55:32.64
that have accepted
Christ as their Savior
00:55:32.67\00:55:34.55
are those living in the truth.
00:55:34.58\00:55:36.37
And they boil
down truth as simply,
00:55:36.40\00:55:39.59
have you accepted Jesus
00:55:39.62\00:55:41.30
or are you still a heathen
out in the world or an atheist,
00:55:41.33\00:55:44.39
or someone that is
not accepting Jesus.
00:55:44.42\00:55:46.37
And that's the truth,
that's the clear cut thing,
00:55:46.40\00:55:50.02
that's how they interpret it.
00:55:50.05\00:55:52.22
We read these passages
00:55:52.25\00:55:53.82
because you know
what the context is.
00:55:53.85\00:55:56.95
Here's the context,
00:55:56.98\00:55:58.01
let me read this
to you. Go for it.
00:55:58.04\00:56:00.24
I want to get heated up here,
I don't have time to finish it
00:56:00.27\00:56:02.15
but Jude, turn
with me to Jude. Okay.
00:56:02.18\00:56:05.28
One chapter in Jude. I am
going to read this for you.
00:56:05.31\00:56:08.87
Verse 3 and 4,
00:56:08.90\00:56:11.49
"Beloved, while
I was very diligent
00:56:11.52\00:56:13.10
to write to you
concerning our common salvation,
00:56:13.13\00:56:15.67
I found it
necessary to write to you,
00:56:15.70\00:56:17.18
exhorting to contend
earnestly for the faith
00:56:17.21\00:56:21.01
which was once for all
delivered to the saints."
00:56:21.04\00:56:24.13
So who is he talking to?
The saints. Look at this.
00:56:24.16\00:56:27.69
"For certain men
have crept in unnoticed,
00:56:27.72\00:56:32.25
who long ago were marked
out for this condemnation."
00:56:32.28\00:56:34.82
In other words they were
chosen by the enemies souls
00:56:34.85\00:56:37.11
to come in and
to do some damage.
00:56:37.14\00:56:38.75
That's the good point.
00:56:38.78\00:56:40.78
"Who were marked out
for this condemnation,
00:56:40.81\00:56:42.46
ungodly men, who turn the grace
of our God into lewdness. "
00:56:42.49\00:56:46.69
Or another translation says,
00:56:46.72\00:56:47.85
a license for
immorality. That's right.
00:56:47.88\00:56:50.30
"And deny the Lord God,
and our Lord Jesus Christ."
00:56:50.33\00:56:54.43
In another words,
they're in the church
00:56:54.46\00:56:56.21
they're
preaching the grace of God
00:56:56.24\00:56:58.06
but they're turning it
into the license for sin,
00:56:58.09\00:57:00.20
a license to disobey God's word
00:57:00.23\00:57:02.70
and what's happening they are
denying Jesus in the process.
00:57:02.73\00:57:06.57
That's right, you know, friends,
00:57:06.60\00:57:08.08
I want you to
think about what he said
00:57:08.11\00:57:09.56
and rewind that later on
but 3 John 1:4 Jesus says,
00:57:09.59\00:57:12.65
"I have no greater joy
00:57:12.68\00:57:14.99
than to hear that my
children walk in truth."
00:57:15.02\00:57:18.82
Don't cheap in God's grace
00:57:18.85\00:57:20.59
by saying it does
not include the truth.
00:57:20.62\00:57:22.34
Thank you so much
for that reference, John.
00:57:22.37\00:57:24.34
The grace of God always includes
the truth of Jesus Christ.
00:57:24.37\00:57:27.58
And the only
way you'll know that
00:57:27.61\00:57:28.65
is by giving your life to Him
00:57:28.68\00:57:30.59
and the best time
to start is today.
00:57:30.62\00:57:33.10
May God continue to bless you.
00:57:33.13\00:57:35.06