Hello, friends grab
your Bible and a friend
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and sit back as
we explore God's word
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together on this
edition of House Calls.
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It's so good to have you here
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as part of our living
room here at House Calls.
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We just wanna welcome you
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and thank you for
joining us once again.
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My name is Pastor John Stanton
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and with me in the studio
today is Pastor C.A Murray.
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Brother, it's
good to have you again.
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Good to be here always.
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Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
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And we're looking forward
to sharing God's word with you,
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opening up his word and
studying and we just pray
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that you will be blessed
once again as we do that today.
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We got a great topic for you.
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So you wanna stay tuned
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as we go through
our questions first,
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but then get to
our topic of the day.
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Pastor Murray, would
you open with prayer?
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Be glad to do so.
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Father God, again we
thank you and praise you
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for this another opportunity
to lift up the name of Jesus.
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We thank you for the word
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and for the power of
resident in that word
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and for what that
word can do for our lives,
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to bring us to
life in Christ Jesus.
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We ask this now for your spirit,
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as we go into
your word for we want
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spiritual eye sight to
be able to see the things
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that you have there for us
and more then just see them
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to be able to put
them into practice
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to make them part of our lives.
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So that we can be more
each day like Christ Jesus.
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We surrender ourselves
to you to this broadcast
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and thank you in
Jesus name, amen.
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Amen, well as you know,
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your questions are a
key part of this program.
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We wouldn't have
half of the program
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if it weren't for
you and so we just want
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to express our sincere
thanks for continuing to email
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or to send in those questions
to House Calls here at 3ABN.
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We want to give you that
email address at this time,
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it is housecalls@3abn.org,
housecalls@3abn.org.
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Send us your questions
and if you could kind of
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note it down to what the
essence of the question is
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because some times
we get really long ones
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or even long papers,
don't have the time to read it
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and those are often the ones
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we just go ahead and pass over.
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Because it just doesn't allow us
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to cover
everything in one sitting.
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So share sincerely
your questions if you could
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or if you write those
in make sure you send those
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in with a real legible clear
writing and we'll make sure
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we do our best to cover
them when they get here.
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So thank you again so much,
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it is time for those questions
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and so pastor I
want to start us off
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with them here today.
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All right, I have a
question, don't have it...
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oh, Kenneth sends in a question.
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He wants a little discussion,
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a little explanation of
Matthew chapter 10 verse 28
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and I'll read
that, the Bible says,
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and do not fear
those who kill the body
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but cannot kill the soul.
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But rather fear him
that is able to destroy
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both body and soul in hell.
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He just asked
for an explanation,
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so I wasn't really
sure when I got this, John,
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exactly what he was
needing an explanation on.
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So, I'm, I'm gonna try
to step inside his mind
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a little bit and maybe guess.
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Just back up a
little bit in verse 24
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of this same Matthew Chapter 10,
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we get a little of
the context for this,
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in fact in verse 23, Christ
is preparing his disciples
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for persecution and rejection
and he says that in verse 23.
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When they
persecute you in this city,
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flee to another,
for surely I say to you,
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you will not have gone
through the cities of Israel
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before the Son of Man comes.
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A disciple is
not above his master,
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no servant above his master.
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So, he is letting them
know I'm gonna be persecuted,
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I'm receiving
rejection, prepare yourselves
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for this because this is
going to happen also to you.
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And so it says, when
you meet that rejection,
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when you meet that persecution,
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don't fear those
who can attack the body,
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don't fear those
who can kill you,
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who can hurt
you, who can harm you.
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Those are not the
ones you can really fear,
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you need to really fear
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because they cannot destroy
your relationship with me.
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I don't know if, if
the writer is asking about
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the immortality of the soul,
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I will take him to
Ezekiel chapter 18 verse 20
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the soul that's
in it, it shall die.
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If he is thinking about that,
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but Christ is really
telling them don't fear those
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who can hurt you bodily
because your relationship,
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your soul, your,
your standing with me,
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they can not
enter, they can not touch.
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There's a beautiful
text, Hebrews chapter 13
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verses 5 and 6 where Paul says,
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be content
wherever you find yourself,
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and it's a sort
of dovetails on this,
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where ever you find
yourself beck content,
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even if you're in a trial
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or a tough
situation, stay with it. Why?
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Because God has
said, Christ has said,
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I'll never leave
you nor forsake you.
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Then he says in verse
6, you can boldly say,
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"God is my helper,
what can man do to me."
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In other words,
man cannot hurt you,
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man cannot destroy
you in an eternal sense
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because God is your
helper, God is on your side.
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And so Christ is preparing
his disciples for a rough time,
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everybody is not
gonna receive you,
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everybody is not gonna love you,
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everybody is not gonna
take the gospel you have.
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But don't worry about
those who can hurt you
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or reject you because
they will never change
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or destroy your relationship,
your standing with me.
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You know spring
boarding off that,
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there is another text, in Peter,
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First Peter chapter one,
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that is providing
this kind of assurance.
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And especially if we're
talking about, you know,
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the context of this
whole passage is persecution.
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You know
persecution and those that
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come to try and
take your life. Yes.
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Don't be worried
about that because
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they can take your life,
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let them even
have your life but I,
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your life will be
preserved or reserved with me
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for a future resurrection. Yes.
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And the Bible is
very clear on that that
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we receive our inheritance
on resurrection day, not before.
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Never do I find
anywhere pastor and I don't know
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you probably looked
for many years as well.
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Anywhere where
it says upon death
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we receive our
reward or, or inheritance.
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It happens on resurrection day.
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And Peter affirms that in
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First Peter
chapter 1 verse 3 and 4.
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Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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who according to His
abundant mercy has begotten us
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again to a living hope through
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the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead.
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Context here, Christ
was raised from the dead,
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which gives us hope
for us to then be one day
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in the future raised.
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He was the first
fruit of the resurrection,
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we're the fruit
of the resurrection.
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Verse 4 to an
inheritance incorruptible,
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undefiled, that
does not fade away,
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reserved in Heaven for you.
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Like it, yes.
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No matter what
happens to your body,
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no matter what someone tries
to do to take away your life,
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you know, that your
inheritance does not fade away,
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it's reserved in heaven with me.
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Yes, yes, yeah.
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And so he simply saying
with regard to the soul there
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of the meaning seems
to be more of the soul
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which is your eternal
connection with me, yes,
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even if you go back
to the Garden of Eden,
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where God created
mankind, it says he breathed
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into his nostrils
the breath of life
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and he became a living soul.
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That life does not
end and tell the judgment,
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every person,
every being is preserved,
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they may lose
their life, they may die
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but they are
preserved in God, yes,
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for the resurrection.
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Whether it be the
righteous unto life
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or the wicked
unto eternal judgment,
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either way it's still reserved.
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There is still some,
there is a preservation
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for the people of
the future to experience
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one of those two things.
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And so what he is saying
to believers in Christ is,
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your life is hidden
with Jesus. Yes, yeah.
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So as long as you keep
your faith and trust in him,
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your soul, that that
essence that you are,
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reserved with him
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and he will raise you
up on resurrection day.
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We're thinking of
soul almost in terms
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of an eternal connection.
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As it forwards to
some disembodied spirit.
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And I don't know, if
the writer was asking also,
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but I want to go
to, to Revelation 22,
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a text you well
know, John, in 22:12.
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And behold, I come quickly
and My reward is with Me,
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to give to everyone
according to his work.
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And so again this,
this holding of the reward
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till final determination,
if I can speak it that way.
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It's made by Christ.
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Don't worry about it,
your, your reward will not be
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snatched from
you or taken from you
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or lost in the shuffle,
the reckons will not be lost
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or stolen or in fire, you know,
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it's gonna be taken care of.
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And when I come,
this text has two things,
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one, your
reward is sure you got,
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you know,
depending on your works,
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your award is sure.
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And the second one is,
you will get it when I come.
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Yeah. So it is sure that
I'm bringing it when I come.
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Do you know
anything about that passage
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that you just read is
we often miss the context.
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Context, if you back up
one verse is judgment? Yes.
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Because it says
there, "He who is unjust,
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let him be unjust still,
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he who is filthy,
let him be filthy still,
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he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still,
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he was holy, let
him be holy still.
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In other words, I'm
making a pronouncement right now
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that you'll
eternally be what you are
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from beyond this
point. Right, right.
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And that's why you'll hear
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sometimes in some of
the programs here on 3ABN
00:09:57.73\00:10:00.56
we refer to probation.
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And that it closes at
one point in the future.
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Probation for
mankind is open now,
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we have the ability
to be saved even though
00:10:07.92\00:10:11.54
maybe we are lost presently.
00:10:11.55\00:10:14.18
And that will
remain an opportunity
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for the inhabitants
of the world until a time
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when this pronouncement
is made and probation
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so to speak
closes for humankind.
00:10:21.16\00:10:24.50
And then in
that context he says,
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behold, I'm coming quickly,
my reward is with me. Yes.
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Reward doesn't come until, what?
00:10:29.64\00:10:31.78
The close of probation,
the judgment of mankind.
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Yes, yes, yes.
00:10:34.47\00:10:35.74
The determination is made who,
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for want of a better
term who's in, who's out?
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Then the rewards
will be dolled out,
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for good or for evil.
00:10:42.25\00:10:43.75
And that time within the future.
00:10:43.76\00:10:45.17
And so do not worry your
good works will not get lost,
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your life in
Christ will not be lost,
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that's being held,
that connection is there.
00:10:50.97\00:10:53.27
Don't worry about
those who, who can beat up
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your body or imprison your body
00:10:56.34\00:10:57.81
or torture your
body because they cannot,
00:10:57.82\00:10:59.62
they cannot kill
that relationship
00:10:59.63\00:11:01.60
that you've with Jesus Christ.
00:11:01.61\00:11:02.71
And the record of that
relationship is hid in heaven,
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as you just stated in that text.
00:11:05.58\00:11:07.21
A good assurance for us
00:11:07.22\00:11:09.10
because that Bible points
to a time of trouble ahead.
00:11:09.11\00:11:13.03
We don't know, we
maybe that generation
00:11:13.04\00:11:14.80
that goes through
that, having that assurance
00:11:14.81\00:11:17.17
we know that, doesn't
matter what happens to us,
00:11:17.18\00:11:19.89
what can man do to us?
00:11:19.90\00:11:20.92
Yes. We're hidden in Christ.
00:11:20.93\00:11:23.33
You know along these
lines and specifically
00:11:23.34\00:11:25.95
the issue of the soul.
00:11:25.96\00:11:29.58
There is this
question that comes from Daniel
00:11:29.59\00:11:32.82
and he says I know this
verse is often misinterpreted,
00:11:32.83\00:11:37.30
absent from the
body present with Lord,
00:11:37.31\00:11:39.16
would you please shed
light on its true meaning?
00:11:39.17\00:11:42.76
And so we're
gonna go to that passage
00:11:42.77\00:11:44.54
which is found in
Second Corinthians chapter 5,
00:11:44.55\00:11:49.21
and I won't spend
a lot of time on it,
00:11:49.22\00:11:50.43
we've actually covered
this a couple other times
00:11:50.44\00:11:52.52
here before
previously in House Calls.
00:11:52.53\00:11:56.02
But I will at least shed
00:11:56.03\00:11:57.99
some light here
on that phrase there,
00:11:58.00\00:12:00.16
absent from the body
present with the Lord.
00:12:00.17\00:12:02.68
Just kind of in context,
if you back up to verse 1,
00:12:02.69\00:12:05.76
it begins with for we
know that if our earthly house,
00:12:05.77\00:12:10.14
this tent is destroyed,
we've a building from God,
00:12:10.15\00:12:13.12
a house not made with
hands eternal in the heavens.
00:12:13.13\00:12:16.65
For in this we
groan earnestly desiring
00:12:16.66\00:12:18.96
to be clothed
with our habitation
00:12:18.97\00:12:20.73
which is from heaven, if
indeed having been clothed,
00:12:20.74\00:12:24.01
we shall not be found naked.
00:12:24.02\00:12:26.40
For we are in this tent groan,
00:12:26.41\00:12:30.50
we who are in this
tent groan being burdened,
00:12:30.51\00:12:32.75
not because we
want to be unclothed,
00:12:32.76\00:12:34.92
but further clothed,
00:12:34.93\00:12:35.91
that mortality maybe
swallowed up by life.
00:12:35.92\00:12:38.23
And I'm gonna
pause there for a minute.
00:12:38.24\00:12:39.41
So, in essence what
Paul is saying here is
00:12:39.42\00:12:42.53
that right now we
are living in this tent,
00:12:42.54\00:12:44.78
this body, this
flesh, which is corrupted.
00:12:44.79\00:12:47.67
And we're groan,
everyday we groan.
00:12:47.68\00:12:50.14
Oh, in fact Paul
explained in Romans,
00:12:50.15\00:12:53.24
the beginning of, or was it
the end of Romans chapter 7,
00:12:53.25\00:12:57.62
who delivered me
from this body of death,
00:12:57.63\00:13:00.32
you know, it's just it's,
it's, it's constantly pulling
00:13:00.33\00:13:02.81
and tugging at me to
do what's wrong. Yes.
00:13:02.82\00:13:05.81
Well, we groan
in that way, but we,
00:13:05.82\00:13:08.56
we groan not desiring to
be unclothed or to be naked.
00:13:08.57\00:13:13.56
Because that
state would be what?
00:13:13.57\00:13:16.27
Death, when your body dies
and when it returns to dust,
00:13:16.28\00:13:19.86
you're basically,
you don't exist anymore.
00:13:19.87\00:13:23.48
But we desire to
be, verse 4 says,
00:13:23.49\00:13:25.59
further clothed that mortality
maybe swallowed up by life.
00:13:25.60\00:13:29.22
Now, notice here the connection,
00:13:29.23\00:13:31.78
being further
clothed is equated to
00:13:31.79\00:13:34.83
when mortality is
swallowed up by life.
00:13:34.84\00:13:37.42
Yes, yeah.
00:13:37.43\00:13:38.73
In other words, the unclothed,
00:13:38.74\00:13:40.18
the naked state is
prior to being further clothed
00:13:40.19\00:13:43.54
which means you cannot receive
00:13:43.55\00:13:45.42
immortality until
you're further clothed.
00:13:45.43\00:13:50.36
Right, so the
argument that being unclothed
00:13:50.37\00:13:54.16
is the state of the
soul, the immortal soul
00:13:54.17\00:13:56.62
existing in heaven just
00:13:56.63\00:13:58.02
doesn't work
with this scripture.
00:13:58.03\00:13:59.45
No, no, no, no it
doesn't harmonize with that,
00:13:59.46\00:14:01.62
that, that text
doesn't prove that point.
00:14:01.63\00:14:03.55
Yeah, and not only
that, you have the problem
00:14:03.56\00:14:05.73
with First Corinthians 15,
00:14:05.74\00:14:07.15
where it says when
the resurrection occurs,
00:14:07.16\00:14:09.22
when the
trumpet of God is blown,
00:14:09.23\00:14:10.53
then this corruptible will
be swallowed up incorruption.
00:14:10.54\00:14:14.48
We'll read that here in
just a minute but notice here,
00:14:14.49\00:14:17.37
as it goes on it talks
about being confident that
00:14:17.38\00:14:20.40
we've a guarantee that
one day we will receive
00:14:20.41\00:14:23.01
a body that is incorruptible.
00:14:23.02\00:14:27.16
And it says though in verse 6,
00:14:27.17\00:14:30.25
we're we start
introducing or seeing
00:14:30.26\00:14:31.78
this issue of in the body
and absent from the Lord or,
00:14:31.79\00:14:35.62
or with the Lord
absent from the body
00:14:35.63\00:14:37.67
it says so we're
always confident knowing that
00:14:37.68\00:14:40.66
while we're at home in the body,
00:14:40.67\00:14:43.03
we're absent from the Lord.
00:14:43.04\00:14:44.05
In other words, while we're,
00:14:44.06\00:14:45.11
while we're now living in this
00:14:45.12\00:14:47.09
earthly mortal
fleshly tent so to speak.
00:14:47.10\00:14:51.90
We are absent from
dwelling in the presence of God.
00:14:51.91\00:14:55.77
For we walk by
faith not by sight,
00:14:55.78\00:14:57.76
we don't see
God, we don't see Him
00:14:57.77\00:14:59.68
and all His acts but we
know that He exists by faith.
00:14:59.69\00:15:02.85
And we know that He is
working in us by faith.
00:15:02.86\00:15:05.31
Then the text that is
often misinterpreted verse 8.
00:15:05.32\00:15:09.01
We are confident,
yes, well pleased,
00:15:09.02\00:15:11.21
rather to be
absent from the body.
00:15:11.22\00:15:13.23
In other words, to
get rid of this mortal,
00:15:13.24\00:15:15.58
corruptible flesh, we
are well pleased to be absent
00:15:15.59\00:15:21.34
from the body and to
be present with the Lord.
00:15:21.35\00:15:24.55
Now, there is no
qualifier about time there,
00:15:24.56\00:15:26.82
yeah, this body, this
text really isn't about death.
00:15:26.83\00:15:30.52
This text is about the
body that we grapple with
00:15:30.53\00:15:33.33
and we struggle with,
that one day we won't have to,
00:15:33.34\00:15:36.97
you know, live with but
live with an incorruptible one.
00:15:36.98\00:15:39.44
Yeah. It's not about death.
00:15:39.45\00:15:40.67
So when it says
absent from the body
00:15:40.68\00:15:42.77
and be present with the Lord,
00:15:42.78\00:15:43.90
people insert
there when you die.
00:15:43.91\00:15:46.38
Yes, yeah.
00:15:46.39\00:15:47.50
And it's just not there,
there's no qualifier time.
00:15:47.51\00:15:50.32
In fact, if you go
to other scriptures
00:15:50.33\00:15:52.76
about these very
things in Paul's writings,
00:15:52.77\00:15:55.55
he always talks
about the resurrection.
00:15:55.56\00:15:58.68
And it's weird
'cause today, you know,
00:15:58.69\00:16:00.27
we almost buy this
doctrine of the immortal soul
00:16:00.28\00:16:04.37
and people dying
and going to heaven
00:16:04.38\00:16:06.08
and receiving
their reward right away,
00:16:06.09\00:16:07.75
we've almost eliminated the
need to have a resurrection.
00:16:07.76\00:16:12.02
Precisely, yeah, yeah.
00:16:12.03\00:16:13.53
And people are
often confused I've had,
00:16:13.54\00:16:15.29
let me say
pastor, I don't get it.
00:16:15.30\00:16:17.31
So I die I go to heaven,
but he has to put me back
00:16:17.32\00:16:22.40
in the body in the
grave to be raised up,
00:16:22.41\00:16:24.65
to get a new body,
to go to heaven again.
00:16:24.66\00:16:27.52
Why does he need to do that?
00:16:27.53\00:16:29.21
And my, my point is
or the answer is exactly
00:16:29.22\00:16:32.56
he doesn't need to do that.
00:16:32.57\00:16:34.15
So he doesn't do it. Yeah.
00:16:34.16\00:16:35.36
The Bible does say
some very different
00:16:35.37\00:16:36.99
I think you have
text about that too?
00:16:37.00\00:16:38.69
Yeah, well it pops in my
mind just while you're making
00:16:38.70\00:16:41.82
that last explanation as a text
00:16:41.83\00:16:43.11
we've just referred
to in Revelation 22:12.
00:16:43.12\00:16:45.21
If the reward is
with, Christ is bringing
00:16:45.22\00:16:48.01
the reward with him,
you got your reward already,
00:16:48.02\00:16:50.91
you're in heaven, that's it.
00:16:50.92\00:16:52.91
You know, there's no need...
there is no other reward.
00:16:52.92\00:16:56.66
So to pair those texts? Yeah.
00:16:56.67\00:16:58.04
You go to heaven and
you don't get your reward
00:16:58.05\00:16:59.47
he goes ah, he
can't have it yet.
00:16:59.48\00:17:01.07
Right, yeah. It
doesn't make sense either?
00:17:01.08\00:17:02.47
It doesn't make sense,
it doesn't make sense. Yeah.
00:17:02.48\00:17:05.55
A bunch of things
that we're passing through,
00:17:05.56\00:17:07.65
through,
through, through my mind
00:17:07.66\00:17:09.35
and I was in
First Corinthians 15,
00:17:09.36\00:17:10.92
just, just sort of
reading this whole a little bit
00:17:10.93\00:17:18.28
and the Christ says,
the last enemy that shall be
00:17:18.29\00:17:20.26
destroyed is
death and he is gonna
00:17:20.27\00:17:22.26
put all things under his feet.
00:17:22.27\00:17:23.61
So there's a sequence
there and I think this the,
00:17:23.62\00:17:26.35
I've heard people say,
absent from the body means
00:17:26.36\00:17:29.38
present with the Lord.
00:17:29.39\00:17:30.36
Well,, that's an
insertion again that the text
00:17:30.37\00:17:32.22
just doesn't support,
you cannot add these things,
00:17:32.23\00:17:36.09
there is a time interval,
surely we would like to be
00:17:36.10\00:17:39.12
out of this body and in heaven
00:17:39.13\00:17:40.96
and that's going to
happen but it doesn't happen
00:17:40.97\00:17:42.84
sequentially, it
happens in God's good time.
00:17:42.85\00:17:44.86
Yeah. Yeah.
00:17:44.87\00:17:45.84
Amen. Very good point.
00:17:45.85\00:17:47.25
Well, I hope that
helped a little bit here with
00:17:47.26\00:17:50.33
the misinterpretation that
is often given on that text,
00:17:50.34\00:17:53.17
which actually, you
know, some would say,
00:17:53.18\00:17:55.78
you know, this
is our major text,
00:17:55.79\00:17:57.22
there are other
texts, a few things
00:17:57.23\00:17:59.21
that they might bring,
00:17:59.22\00:18:00.21
I think one of
them that comes up.
00:18:00.22\00:18:01.72
Pastor, you've
probably have heard this
00:18:01.73\00:18:03.18
several times about Lazarus,
00:18:03.19\00:18:05.35
the rich man in Lazarus
with is a parable of Christ.
00:18:05.36\00:18:08.16
Yes. Friends, that's a parable.
00:18:08.17\00:18:09.92
You can't, that isn't
intended to teach that,
00:18:09.93\00:18:12.85
when you die you
go straight to heaven
00:18:12.86\00:18:14.62
or you go
straight to hell. Yeah.
00:18:14.63\00:18:16.32
That parable's intended to teach
00:18:16.33\00:18:18.18
the principles of the
kingdom of God on earth
00:18:18.19\00:18:21.44
to those who were still alive,
00:18:21.45\00:18:23.31
so that they
would in their right,
00:18:23.32\00:18:24.78
in their heart would
allow themselves to be
00:18:24.79\00:18:27.32
transformed by Christ
and give and to be liberal
00:18:27.33\00:18:30.72
with their sharing
rather than holding.
00:18:30.73\00:18:33.13
And based on, on
sort of urban legend
00:18:33.14\00:18:35.53
that people knew
about that they referred to
00:18:35.54\00:18:37.52
and one thing that
that Bible students
00:18:37.53\00:18:39.91
pretty much universally agree,
00:18:39.92\00:18:41.46
you do not develop doctrinal
premises from parables. Yeah.
00:18:41.47\00:18:44.93
You don't want to
develop a doctrine based on
00:18:44.94\00:18:46.90
a parable because a
parable was a point in time
00:18:46.91\00:18:49.98
a story introduced to,
00:18:49.99\00:18:52.00
to bring light to
a specific point...
00:18:52.01\00:18:55.26
Highly influenced by culture.
00:18:55.27\00:18:56.37
Precise, very
much so, very much so.
00:18:56.38\00:18:58.04
So you don't to
develop a doctrinal premise
00:18:58.05\00:19:00.50
on something that
was really localized.
00:19:00.51\00:19:02.67
And if we took,
sometimes you're preaching
00:19:02.68\00:19:05.35
you make a
metaphor to a boxing match,
00:19:05.36\00:19:07.68
you know, the
battle between Christ
00:19:07.69\00:19:09.83
and Satan like a boxing match.
00:19:09.84\00:19:11.24
Well, that makes sense to us.
00:19:11.25\00:19:12.70
but if you're not
familiar with western culture
00:19:12.71\00:19:15.43
or whatever, a prizefight is,
00:19:15.44\00:19:16.75
that will make no sense to you.
00:19:16.76\00:19:17.73
So it's very
localized, it makes sense
00:19:17.74\00:19:20.04
to those people who had it,
00:19:20.05\00:19:21.51
who it was spoken to but
you don't want to sort of
00:19:21.52\00:19:23.98
extrapolate that and draw
a doctrinal premise from that
00:19:23.99\00:19:26.31
because it just doesn't fit.
00:19:26.32\00:19:27.34
Yeah, yeah, very, very good.
00:19:27.35\00:19:30.20
Here's another question
or did you have a question?
00:19:30.21\00:19:33.23
I think you had
the other one there.
00:19:33.24\00:19:34.25
This is a cute question, Jordan
wants to know, can God die?
00:19:34.26\00:19:37.98
And you can kind
of have fun with this
00:19:37.99\00:19:39.50
because you can say,
yes and no. You're right.
00:19:39.51\00:19:43.34
You know because even
from everlasting to everlasting
00:19:43.35\00:19:46.33
thou art God, or the
God alone has immortality
00:19:46.34\00:19:49.78
so he cannot die.
00:19:49.79\00:19:50.83
But then you run
into a Philippians 2:5
00:19:50.84\00:19:54.78
and being found in appearance
as a man he humbled himself,
00:19:54.79\00:19:57.69
became obedient to
the point of death,
00:19:57.70\00:19:59.72
even the death of the cross.
00:19:59.73\00:20:00.97
So God did die.
He, he chose to die.
00:20:00.98\00:20:04.94
God so loved the
world that he gave
00:20:04.95\00:20:06.34
His only begotten
son, Christ chose to die.
00:20:06.35\00:20:09.73
So, can God die?
If he chooses to.
00:20:09.74\00:20:13.85
And he chose to because he
loved us so very, very much.
00:20:13.86\00:20:16.50
But he laid down his life,
00:20:16.51\00:20:19.28
his life was not taken from him.
00:20:19.29\00:20:20.95
So the answer is
yes and no. Yeah.
00:20:20.96\00:20:23.46
He cannot die
but He can choose to,
00:20:23.47\00:20:25.47
in fact, he chose to
00:20:25.48\00:20:26.81
because he loved
us so very, very much.
00:20:26.82\00:20:28.60
You know, and he
say, I think the,
00:20:28.61\00:20:30.13
the comment you made there,
00:20:30.14\00:20:31.11
He laid down his life,
Jesus says I can lay it down,
00:20:31.12\00:20:33.20
I can take it
back again. Precisely.
00:20:33.21\00:20:35.64
So that's an
interesting, it's kind of,
00:20:35.65\00:20:37.63
we can't comprehend that.
00:20:37.64\00:20:40.30
Yeah. But we do
know that He did it.
00:20:40.31\00:20:42.40
Yes, He did it because
he saw us of such worth
00:20:42.41\00:20:47.56
that he made that
sacrifice for you and for me.
00:20:47.57\00:20:50.20
So the one time he did,
he didn't do it on his own,
00:20:50.21\00:20:53.05
he did it, he did it
on his own but he did it,
00:20:53.06\00:20:55.26
the motivation was our life.
00:20:55.27\00:20:57.47
He wanted us to have
the right for eternal life
00:20:57.48\00:21:00.58
and so the cause
was the life of God,
00:21:00.59\00:21:03.72
Christ laid down his
life and then praise God,
00:21:03.73\00:21:05.98
He took it back up again.
00:21:05.99\00:21:07.12
Amen, amen. One last
question here from Vicky.
00:21:07.13\00:21:11.36
Hi, I just wanted to
know about this scripture
00:21:11.37\00:21:13.47
Matthew 7 verse
6, what does it mean?
00:21:13.48\00:21:16.73
Does it mean not to waste
your time and effort on people
00:21:16.74\00:21:19.04
who don't listen or
who ridicule the Bible,
00:21:19.05\00:21:22.69
I can't seem to get the
straight answer on this?
00:21:22.70\00:21:24.92
Thank you, and may God bless you
00:21:24.93\00:21:26.66
and your wonderful program.
00:21:26.67\00:21:27.64
Thank you, Vicky.
00:21:27.65\00:21:28.85
So let's turn to Matthew
chapter 7 and look at verse 6
00:21:28.86\00:21:34.17
and see if we can
cover this fairly quickly.
00:21:34.18\00:21:41.43
Do not give what
is holy to the dogs,
00:21:41.44\00:21:43.93
nor cast your
pearls before the swine,
00:21:43.94\00:21:46.72
lest they trample
them under their feet,
00:21:46.73\00:21:48.92
and turn and tear you in pieces.
00:21:48.93\00:21:52.11
Now, you know, you can read that
00:21:52.12\00:21:53.57
and if you do it especially
if you read it out of context
00:21:53.58\00:21:57.03
you can give any number
of meanings to that passage.
00:21:57.04\00:21:59.85
But in context what we
find is that the chapter begins
00:21:59.86\00:22:04.54
with a statement
judge not that you not
00:22:04.55\00:22:08.05
that you be not judged
and then it goes through
00:22:08.06\00:22:10.80
talking about
judgment and other things,
00:22:10.81\00:22:12.93
especially about ones
who see a speck in their
00:22:12.94\00:22:17.64
brother's eye but they have
this plank in their own eye.
00:22:17.65\00:22:20.12
They don't see it and
they just continue to judge
00:22:20.13\00:22:23.01
and ascribe standards
or at least things upon
00:22:23.02\00:22:26.71
others that they
themselves don't even adhere to.
00:22:26.72\00:22:29.16
Which was in essence
what the Pharisees were doing?
00:22:29.17\00:22:32.06
I mean this is, this
is what Jesus was teaching
00:22:32.07\00:22:36.30
to people in regard
to many of the pious acts
00:22:36.31\00:22:39.91
that were
basically done for show.
00:22:39.92\00:22:42.09
Show. Amongst the Pharisees.
00:22:42.10\00:22:43.72
And what the Pharisees
were doing is they were abusing
00:22:43.73\00:22:46.39
the Holy oracles of God.
00:22:46.40\00:22:48.68
The blessing that they
had been given to hopefully
00:22:48.69\00:22:51.60
understand the
scriptures and they were abusing
00:22:51.61\00:22:53.82
that in a way
that brought judgment,
00:22:53.83\00:22:55.69
condemnation that, that,
00:22:55.70\00:22:59.84
seriously
corrupted the scriptures.
00:22:59.85\00:23:02.48
Where God intended them
to be for people to be able
00:23:02.49\00:23:05.08
to be restored and
to find everlasting life
00:23:05.09\00:23:08.34
and to have the
joy of a relationship
00:23:08.35\00:23:10.41
with Jesus and with God?
00:23:10.42\00:23:12.10
So in many respects
what it's saying here is that
00:23:12.11\00:23:14.84
the Pharisees were corrupting,
00:23:14.85\00:23:18.31
they were
misusing the scriptures
00:23:18.32\00:23:19.55
that were
sacred, that were holy.
00:23:19.56\00:23:21.31
And they were as
they worth as it was,
00:23:21.32\00:23:23.55
throw them before the
dogs, they were throwing them
00:23:23.56\00:23:25.87
before the swine,
the issue here is not
00:23:25.88\00:23:27.58
that the people
were swine or dogs,
00:23:27.59\00:23:29.46
or that the people
were these things at all.
00:23:29.47\00:23:31.63
Is how the word
was being handled,
00:23:31.64\00:23:33.53
how they were doing these things
00:23:33.54\00:23:35.88
and it ended up as
if it was the holy,
00:23:35.89\00:23:39.54
you know, uncorrupted,
undefiled things of God
00:23:39.55\00:23:42.14
being thrown before swine.
00:23:42.15\00:23:44.14
So that's the essence
here because the issue
00:23:44.15\00:23:47.26
is the teaching here
and how it was being misused
00:23:47.27\00:23:50.90
and corrupted by the Pharisees.
00:23:50.91\00:23:52.99
And he wanted the
people to understand
00:23:53.00\00:23:55.74
what in fact God's
plan was for their life
00:23:55.75\00:23:59.49
and to allow the word
to have an impact on them
00:23:59.50\00:24:02.79
that they could not see
what was used in that way.
00:24:02.80\00:24:05.70
Very good, there
may be some other...
00:24:05.71\00:24:07.49
There maybe some
other things in there
00:24:07.50\00:24:08.74
and I'm not suggesting
that this by any means
00:24:08.75\00:24:10.29
makes up all the
interpretation of that.
00:24:10.30\00:24:12.62
But that's, that's
what I see in context.
00:24:12.63\00:24:14.46
Yes, and I, and
I agree very much,
00:24:14.47\00:24:16.74
when you look at it
sort of out of context,
00:24:16.75\00:24:18.39
and we just like to, just
if someone doesn't take it
00:24:18.40\00:24:20.85
and their dog
doesn't bother with him.
00:24:20.86\00:24:22.82
But he's talking about
the handling of the world,
00:24:22.83\00:24:25.00
the world, and the, the
exalted nature of the world,
00:24:25.01\00:24:28.59
don't, don't treat it as
something common or profane.
00:24:28.60\00:24:33.24
Exactly, yeah, exactly, amen.
00:24:33.25\00:24:35.20
Well, thank you very
much and we're through
00:24:35.21\00:24:37.15
another half
hour of your questions
00:24:37.16\00:24:38.63
and we thank you so
much for your contribution
00:24:38.64\00:24:40.38
to those and for all
those who send the questions in.
00:24:40.39\00:24:43.07
And again, I'll give
you our email address
00:24:43.08\00:24:45.73
it's housecalls@3abn.org,
housecalls@3abn.org
00:24:45.74\00:24:51.81
and please send
us your questions
00:24:51.82\00:24:53.55
and continue to do that
we love to receive them,
00:24:53.56\00:24:56.00
they are a lot of
fun to, to handle.
00:24:56.01\00:24:57.98
When we do handle I say handle,
00:24:57.99\00:24:59.78
but we do take them with
reference and much prayer
00:24:59.79\00:25:03.71
because we don't lightly
handle the word of God at all.
00:25:03.72\00:25:06.86
We do that with lot
of prayer and asking
00:25:06.87\00:25:08.55
the Holy Spirit to lead.
00:25:08.56\00:25:09.53
So we hope that
come out in our message.
00:25:09.54\00:25:13.21
It is time for
our topic for the day
00:25:13.22\00:25:16.26
and you know this
topic, Pastor Murray,
00:25:16.27\00:25:19.88
I thought I would,
I would throw out here
00:25:19.89\00:25:22.12
because it's one
that keeps coming up
00:25:22.13\00:25:24.64
amongst
Christians circles today.
00:25:24.65\00:25:27.27
You know I think it's
very good that even Christians
00:25:27.28\00:25:31.61
across
denominations, across believing,
00:25:31.62\00:25:34.35
belief structures
that we dialogue. Yes.
00:25:34.36\00:25:37.03
As to what we
believe this is important
00:25:37.04\00:25:38.54
because this is how the
everlasting gospel gets out.
00:25:38.55\00:25:42.30
But as we
dialogue, it seems inevitably
00:25:42.31\00:25:44.86
this is one of the
topics that comes out.
00:25:44.87\00:25:47.82
And you know,
there's been a lot of debate
00:25:47.83\00:25:50.09
throughout history on
what constitutes obedience
00:25:50.10\00:25:53.98
and what
constitutes legalism? Yes.
00:25:53.99\00:25:56.66
Because the Bible is very clear,
00:25:56.67\00:25:58.13
we need to be careful
that we are not doing things
00:25:58.14\00:26:01.87
to be you know, in
order to make ourselves
00:26:01.88\00:26:04.85
appealing to God, for
God to accept us, yes,
00:26:04.86\00:26:07.57
we don't do things to,
to work to obtain salvation,
00:26:07.58\00:26:11.40
we're, we follow God.
00:26:11.41\00:26:14.11
And we, we order our life in
harmony with God's principles
00:26:14.12\00:26:16.93
because he loves us
and because of our desire
00:26:16.94\00:26:20.33
to follow him and our
desire to please him. Right.
00:26:20.34\00:26:23.05
Not to appease,
you know close words,
00:26:23.06\00:26:25.31
but entirely different meanings.
00:26:25.32\00:26:27.08
Appease is one,
please is the other. Yeah.
00:26:27.09\00:26:29.63
But I wanted to
share with you kind of
00:26:29.64\00:26:31.48
a springboard
passage that kind of gets us
00:26:31.49\00:26:33.36
into this topic today.
00:26:33.37\00:26:35.30
And again,
obedience vs legalism.
00:26:35.31\00:26:37.99
How do we know what the
difference is in our life?
00:26:38.00\00:26:40.84
And then, you know,
I think in some cases
00:26:40.85\00:26:43.23
some people throw
out, you know, someone's
00:26:43.24\00:26:47.63
obedient lifestyle as legalism
00:26:47.64\00:26:50.59
so they don't want to
or have to abide by it.
00:26:50.60\00:26:53.36
I mean, it can be a
cope out so to speak.
00:26:53.37\00:26:56.21
And so we need to
find out is there something
00:26:56.22\00:26:58.10
that we need to cope
out of that we shouldn't do,
00:26:58.11\00:27:00.29
or is it may be
something God is doing
00:27:00.30\00:27:03.14
if there is a testimony
to lead us to understand
00:27:03.15\00:27:05.71
the deeper appreciation
for what it means to follow God
00:27:05.72\00:27:08.57
and order our life
in harmony with him.
00:27:08.58\00:27:10.59
So let's go to
Ephesians chapter 2
00:27:10.60\00:27:13.62
and we'll begin
with verses 8 and 9,
00:27:13.63\00:27:16.93
and Pastor Murray,
maybe you could start us out
00:27:16.94\00:27:20.76
just by reading Ephesians 2:8-9.
00:27:20.77\00:27:23.52
For by grace you have
been saved through faith,
00:27:23.53\00:27:27.30
and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God,
00:27:27.31\00:27:32.60
Not of works, lest
anyone should boast.
00:27:32.61\00:27:37.02
All right, pretty
clear scripture here.
00:27:37.03\00:27:40.72
Salvation is a gift, it's
a gift that God gives to us.
00:27:40.73\00:27:45.07
We cannot earn it,
we cannot work for it,
00:27:45.08\00:27:49.10
we cannot obtain it
through anything that we do,
00:27:49.11\00:27:51.34
it is all because of God.
00:27:51.35\00:27:53.97
That is undeniable, that
theme is carried throughout
00:27:53.98\00:27:58.78
the scriptures
that salvation comes
00:27:58.79\00:28:00.90
by the Grace of God
it's by something He gives,
00:28:00.91\00:28:03.28
He does for us that we
cannot do for ourselves.
00:28:03.29\00:28:07.72
I think, John, you
know, the tension we,
00:28:07.73\00:28:10.69
we're called to be righteous,
00:28:10.70\00:28:12.33
we're called to be like Christ.
00:28:12.34\00:28:15.03
That does entail
some, some doing.
00:28:15.04\00:28:18.72
Legalism when I
define it in my mind it's,
00:28:18.73\00:28:21.48
it's an attempt by me
through my own efforts
00:28:21.49\00:28:25.64
and labor to be
acceptable to Jesus.
00:28:25.65\00:28:29.88
And of course, as you well know,
00:28:29.89\00:28:32.05
being the student of the word,
00:28:32.06\00:28:34.19
you're kind of defeated
before you even, even begin.
00:28:34.20\00:28:37.64
The Bible does
call for obedience,
00:28:37.65\00:28:41.09
but the
question, the tension is,
00:28:41.10\00:28:43.65
where does that come
from, why is that done,
00:28:43.66\00:28:47.23
what is the result
of that and if I can,
00:28:47.24\00:28:49.91
can I work hard enough to
make myself acceptable to Jesus.
00:28:49.92\00:28:53.56
Legalism says, if I just,
00:28:53.57\00:28:55.54
if I pull myself
above my boot straps,
00:28:55.55\00:28:57.54
if I struggle really hard
I can get this thing right.
00:28:57.55\00:29:00.21
I can do this, I can
be acceptable to God.
00:29:00.22\00:29:03.55
And the burden of
Bible is, no, you can't.
00:29:03.56\00:29:06.81
You know, just, you can't do it.
00:29:06.82\00:29:09.34
And that's why many people say
00:29:09.35\00:29:10.67
when they see me
trying to obey the law,
00:29:10.68\00:29:13.08
trying to walk with
God, are you being legalist,
00:29:13.09\00:29:14.93
you're trying,
you're trying to do
00:29:14.94\00:29:16.08
your own thing to make
yourself acceptable to God.
00:29:16.09\00:29:18.70
So there is the tension,
I know I got to be right
00:29:18.71\00:29:21.84
the question is
how do I get right,
00:29:21.85\00:29:23.49
yeah, and how do I stay right.
00:29:23.50\00:29:24.77
Yeah, yeah, you know,
one of the things too is that
00:29:24.78\00:29:26.62
they are some in the
church and it goes across
00:29:26.63\00:29:31.18
the board for,
for anyone that are,
00:29:31.19\00:29:34.31
they have more
will power than others.
00:29:34.32\00:29:36.25
There are some that
can pull themselves up
00:29:36.26\00:29:38.75
by the boot
straps and just do it.
00:29:38.76\00:29:41.43
And in a church
setting, we often elevate them,
00:29:41.44\00:29:44.63
yeah, to the level of
being the most spiritual,
00:29:44.64\00:29:47.56
they're the most
connected to God,
00:29:47.57\00:29:48.93
God has worked and changed them
00:29:48.94\00:29:51.01
to a higher degree
than the rest of us.
00:29:51.02\00:29:53.05
I'm always
struggling, I'm always battling.
00:29:53.06\00:29:55.75
But you know that is
not necessary the case,
00:29:55.76\00:29:59.46
I felt I think to a
degree that when we're,
00:29:59.47\00:30:02.16
when we have more will power
that it can work against us,
00:30:02.17\00:30:05.88
yes, because we tend to
default to our will power
00:30:05.89\00:30:09.43
rather than surrender and
defer to God's power. Yes, yes.
00:30:09.44\00:30:12.81
So when you talk
about, you know, working to,
00:30:12.82\00:30:16.38
to please God or appeal to God
00:30:16.39\00:30:18.77
rather than to, to please God.
00:30:18.78\00:30:21.53
Then I think
there you have within
00:30:21.54\00:30:23.79
that the
difference between, you know,
00:30:23.80\00:30:25.99
works that constitute legalism,
00:30:26.00\00:30:28.74
which is trying
to appeal to the God.
00:30:28.75\00:30:30.35
And works that constitute
obedience that is an effort to
00:30:30.36\00:30:34.57
please God because of
what He has done for us.
00:30:34.58\00:30:38.53
And, and if you look
at the next text here
00:30:38.54\00:30:40.58
and notice we flow from 8
verses 8 to 9 right into 10.
00:30:40.59\00:30:46.04
Yes, for we are his workmanship,
00:30:46.05\00:30:49.07
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
00:30:49.08\00:30:53.62
which God has
prepared beforehand,
00:30:53.63\00:30:57.20
which God
prepared rather beforehand
00:30:57.21\00:30:59.69
that we should walk in them.
00:30:59.70\00:31:02.39
So we find here, in this
passage that has probably
00:31:02.40\00:31:06.15
the strongest wording
there is in the Bible,
00:31:06.16\00:31:09.24
for where salvation
comes from that it's
00:31:09.25\00:31:11.30
by grace the grace
of God, it's a gift,
00:31:11.31\00:31:13.24
it happens through
faith, right into works.
00:31:13.25\00:31:16.25
It's almost like if you
don't quite get this right,
00:31:16.26\00:31:19.64
God is being, what do you say,
00:31:19.65\00:31:23.95
he is opposing himself,
he is being contradictory.
00:31:23.96\00:31:26.80
I want you by faith to trust me,
00:31:26.81\00:31:28.58
and receive the
free gift of salvation
00:31:28.59\00:31:30.89
oh, and I want you to work.
00:31:30.90\00:31:32.04
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:31:32.05\00:31:33.64
But he told us in first
don't work but then work. Yeah.
00:31:33.65\00:31:37.20
So, so they patted
the whole program today,
00:31:37.21\00:31:39.93
the last few minutes
here the last 20 minutes
00:31:39.94\00:31:42.15
we're gonna spend, is how
we harmonize these two things,
00:31:42.16\00:31:45.42
because I think if we get
it right in our spiritual walk.
00:31:45.43\00:31:50.06
Then we won't stop ascribing
certain things to legalism
00:31:50.07\00:31:54.29
and other things to obedience
we will understand that
00:31:54.30\00:31:56.40
what's importance
is to examine ourselves
00:31:56.41\00:31:58.57
and see where we're
coming from to be able
00:31:58.58\00:32:00.93
to make sure our relationship
with Christ is right.
00:32:00.94\00:32:03.17
You know, there's a little
thing that that slips in here
00:32:03.18\00:32:05.89
that these works were
prepared for beforehand.
00:32:05.90\00:32:08.66
So basely God had said
there is a way to go about this,
00:32:08.67\00:32:11.63
it's not your labors, it's not,
00:32:11.64\00:32:13.63
okay, I got to do
that, I got to do that.
00:32:13.64\00:32:15.14
But there's a,
he's got a pattern,
00:32:15.15\00:32:18.15
he's got
something prepared for you,
00:32:18.16\00:32:20.08
it's already there, you
just have to walk in that way.
00:32:20.09\00:32:22.48
So it's like you inventing
it as you go along. Yeah.
00:32:22.49\00:32:25.14
There's some,
there's a rule book,
00:32:25.15\00:32:27.17
there's a what the
word I'm looking for?
00:32:27.18\00:32:28.88
There's, there's a pattern,
that's sort of laid down
00:32:28.89\00:32:31.90
that you got to walk into.
00:32:31.91\00:32:34.25
And as you do that,
as you walk with Christ,
00:32:34.26\00:32:36.61
as he leads you
along, the good works per say
00:32:36.62\00:32:40.01
flow out of walking
in that pattern. Yeah.
00:32:40.02\00:32:42.19
It's laid down
beforehand, it's there,
00:32:42.20\00:32:43.93
just find it and follow
it and you will be fine.
00:32:43.94\00:32:46.53
Yeah, and you really
pulled out of that text exactly
00:32:46.54\00:32:49.73
what it's, it's saying there
and I really appreciate that,
00:32:49.74\00:32:52.06
especially the fact
that it's beforehand
00:32:52.07\00:32:54.85
and notice before it
says God prepared beforehand
00:32:54.86\00:32:56.92
and it says that
you're created in whom?
00:32:56.93\00:32:58.89
Christ Jesus, so as
conversion happened. Yes.
00:32:58.90\00:33:01.85
So conversion is
happened before he says
00:33:01.86\00:33:03.90
you need to do these works.
00:33:03.91\00:33:05.04
Right, right.
00:33:05.05\00:33:06.11
And here is the key
part is that number one,
00:33:06.12\00:33:09.60
our works are nothing,
God's works are everything.
00:33:09.61\00:33:13.77
Are everything, true.
00:33:13.78\00:33:15.63
Prior to conversion
we have nothing to offer
00:33:15.64\00:33:18.02
because God is not in us
to work in us or through us.
00:33:18.03\00:33:21.80
But upon conversion with
the Holy Spirit residing in us,
00:33:21.81\00:33:24.50
yeah, he is already
packaged so to speak.
00:33:24.51\00:33:27.68
I like that...
00:33:27.69\00:33:28.66
The works that He gives us
to do now that we are converted.
00:33:28.67\00:33:32.92
We could not do them
before, now we can do them.
00:33:32.93\00:33:35.96
So really it's,
it's on which side of
00:33:35.97\00:33:38.25
the salvation
equation fence are you on?
00:33:38.26\00:33:42.22
Yes, you're so right, yes.
00:33:42.23\00:33:43.33
If you're working
prior to being saved,
00:33:43.34\00:33:46.28
then you're,
it's legalism. Right.
00:33:46.29\00:33:48.64
If you're working
because God is giving you a work
00:33:48.65\00:33:51.07
to do as a result of your
conversion then its obedience.
00:33:51.08\00:33:54.98
That is right on
because if, if you're working
00:33:54.99\00:33:57.04
prior to being saved,
you're working to be saved
00:33:57.05\00:34:00.19
and you cannot work hard enough.
00:34:00.20\00:34:02.05
There is no
amount of what you can do
00:34:02.06\00:34:04.01
to get yourself saved.
00:34:04.02\00:34:05.05
Because that has been
done through Jesus Christ.
00:34:05.06\00:34:07.15
Once you accept him
now on the other side
00:34:07.16\00:34:10.00
and that's so key, John,
00:34:10.01\00:34:11.39
it's on what side of the
conversion coin are you on.
00:34:11.40\00:34:15.80
Because if
you're post conversion
00:34:15.81\00:34:17.52
then your works are
done in Christ Jesus
00:34:17.53\00:34:19.83
and through Christ Jesus.
00:34:19.84\00:34:21.67
Before then,
that's just you and you,
00:34:21.68\00:34:24.78
you forgive my
pertuative English,
00:34:24.79\00:34:26.10
ain't enough to
get the job done.
00:34:26.11\00:34:28.03
How does Paul say in Romans 7,
00:34:28.04\00:34:30.77
the carnal man, the carnal mind
00:34:30.78\00:34:33.80
isn't subject
to the laws of God.
00:34:33.81\00:34:36.84
It cannot be. It
cannot be, we can't do it.
00:34:36.85\00:34:40.08
So that, that's very
much prior to conversion.
00:34:40.09\00:34:43.85
You cannot in your own power
be subject to the law of God
00:34:43.86\00:34:47.05
and you can't live
in harmony with it.
00:34:47.06\00:34:49.26
But afterward you are in
harmony with the law of God.
00:34:49.27\00:34:52.18
and notice other scriptures
now that jump out at us.
00:34:52.19\00:34:54.45
Precisely, the law
put, written on our hearts
00:34:54.46\00:34:56.78
and in our mind,
the spirit of God,
00:34:56.79\00:34:58.37
who is the
spirit of truth comes in
00:34:58.38\00:35:00.22
and works from that angle.
00:35:00.23\00:35:01.54
You know, John, you selected
a powerful and deep text,
00:35:01.55\00:35:05.62
you could spend a lot
of time in Ephesians 2:10
00:35:05.63\00:35:09.48
because it gives you sequence,
00:35:09.49\00:35:11.23
it gives you understanding,
it gives you context,
00:35:11.24\00:35:14.78
it gives you a
justification for,
00:35:14.79\00:35:17.31
for the work that
is seen by others.
00:35:17.32\00:35:19.44
Because prior to that
it's really cosmetology,
00:35:19.45\00:35:22.04
you know,
cosmetology it's, it's basically
00:35:22.05\00:35:24.85
the signs of making
the outside look good.
00:35:24.86\00:35:27.26
Right. And that's
basically what it is.
00:35:27.27\00:35:29.01
But once you, you
give your life to Christ
00:35:29.02\00:35:31.97
it turns from
cosmetology to something
00:35:31.98\00:35:33.98
that's happening
from within and working
00:35:33.99\00:35:36.29
it's way out as
opposed to some thing
00:35:36.30\00:35:37.87
that looks got on the outside,
00:35:37.88\00:35:38.91
but nothing's going the inside.
00:35:38.92\00:35:43.07
I think, I think it might
have been you that said this,
00:35:43.08\00:35:45.12
I was watching
3ABN not too long ago.
00:35:45.13\00:35:47.68
And you, I think
because you were preaching
00:35:47.69\00:35:49.03
and you made this
comment, and you can tell,
00:35:49.04\00:35:50.13
you can fess up to
it or whether it came
00:35:50.14\00:35:51.86
from someone else, I don't know
00:35:51.87\00:35:52.84
but the comment was that
you're gonna be surprised
00:35:52.85\00:35:59.00
by a lot of
people that are in heaven
00:35:59.01\00:36:02.12
and there gonna be surprised
that you're there. Yeah.
00:36:02.13\00:36:07.82
And reason why is
that none of us knows
00:36:07.83\00:36:10.58
the heart and the
motivation for these works.
00:36:10.59\00:36:13.52
Right, yeah.
Because in a church setting.
00:36:13.53\00:36:16.27
Let's use that example again,
00:36:16.28\00:36:17.38
there can be a lot of
people performing very well.
00:36:17.39\00:36:19.97
Yes, yes.
00:36:19.98\00:36:21.55
But there is no
conversion of the heart,
00:36:21.56\00:36:23.35
the spirit of God is
dwelling or residing within them
00:36:23.36\00:36:26.32
and they look the part,
00:36:26.33\00:36:28.29
but there is no
conversion from within.
00:36:28.30\00:36:32.25
And so that's why
the Bible calls us
00:36:32.26\00:36:34.12
to then come to
Christ and be in Christ. Yes.
00:36:34.13\00:36:37.11
I really like the promise
that Jesus gave His disciples
00:36:37.12\00:36:39.83
when he talked about
the Holy Spirit coming,
00:36:39.84\00:36:41.25
He says I'll send
the Holy Spirit to you.
00:36:41.26\00:36:43.70
Talking about the
comforter, the helper.
00:36:43.71\00:36:46.08
And then at the end He
says I'll send him to you
00:36:46.09\00:36:48.81
and then He shifts gears,
00:36:48.82\00:36:50.23
He says, I will come to you.
00:36:50.24\00:36:52.24
Yes, yes, yes.
00:36:52.25\00:36:53.81
I mean, out of nowhere
Jesus says I will come to you.
00:36:53.82\00:36:56.46
I will come to you.
00:36:56.47\00:36:57.44
And I said my, o my think,
00:36:57.45\00:36:59.80
about that when
the Holy Spirit comes
00:36:59.81\00:37:02.00
into your heart upon conversion
00:37:02.01\00:37:03.55
when He is given to you.
00:37:03.56\00:37:05.74
When the helper
comes in, he brings Jesus.
00:37:05.75\00:37:10.15
And then all the works
that Christ did beforehand
00:37:10.16\00:37:13.26
then become part
of your life, yes,
00:37:13.27\00:37:15.40
through the Holy
Spirit that becomes,
00:37:15.41\00:37:16.70
that begins to work.
00:37:16.71\00:37:17.81
Yeah, that's a powerful...
00:37:17.82\00:37:19.12
But there is no conversion. Yes.
00:37:19.13\00:37:21.23
There is no conversion
the Holy Spirits not in there,
00:37:21.24\00:37:24.25
Jesus cannot work from in there
00:37:24.26\00:37:26.56
and everything you
do becomes legalism.
00:37:26.57\00:37:29.68
So lot of people
that performed very well
00:37:29.69\00:37:32.23
that are legalistic to
the core in their works.
00:37:32.24\00:37:35.25
Powerful, yeah, yeah.
You have something there?
00:37:35.26\00:37:37.56
No, I was just thinking
that, that were, you know,
00:37:37.57\00:37:39.73
I'm looking about
the two men temple
00:37:39.74\00:37:41.57
and look here,
you know, two people
00:37:41.58\00:37:45.01
put a hundred dollars
in the offering plate,
00:37:45.02\00:37:46.49
one could be
legalism, the other could be
00:37:46.50\00:37:48.23
the outworking of the
spirit of the God in their life.
00:37:48.24\00:37:49.95
Yeah, it's
what's motivating that
00:37:49.96\00:37:51.95
putting down of the money,
00:37:51.96\00:37:53.00
if you're trying to
curry favor with God
00:37:53.01\00:37:54.75
by giving 100 dollars, well
you failed, that's legalism.
00:37:54.76\00:37:57.26
But if you're so
thankful to the Lord
00:37:57.27\00:38:00.24
and the
relationship with the Lord
00:38:00.25\00:38:02.13
constrains you to
give money for to his cause
00:38:02.14\00:38:04.19
and that's the outworking
of Christ in your life,
00:38:04.20\00:38:06.48
same 100 dollar coming from
two totally different hearts.
00:38:06.49\00:38:09.49
Yeah. Yeah.
00:38:09.50\00:38:10.48
And the interesting thing
is when the one is connected
00:38:10.49\00:38:12.40
by faith, we'll talk about this
00:38:12.41\00:38:13.64
in a minute, the faith element.
00:38:13.65\00:38:16.12
That's the one that is blessed
that begins to really work.
00:38:16.13\00:38:19.36
True. And grow
and so really as we,
00:38:19.37\00:38:22.35
as we then
begin to try to define
00:38:22.36\00:38:24.99
what's legalism,
what's obedience.
00:38:25.00\00:38:26.34
And I think we're
doing that, that fairly well,
00:38:26.35\00:38:28.12
the Lord is blessing here.
00:38:28.13\00:38:29.87
Then we know that they're
two works that are evident,
00:38:29.88\00:38:31.90
there are two kinds
of works and you normally
00:38:31.91\00:38:33.67
distinguish and you
can't really distinguish
00:38:33.68\00:38:36.17
where they come from because
00:38:36.18\00:38:37.37
you don't know the heart.
00:38:37.38\00:38:38.59
You don't know the heart.
00:38:38.60\00:38:39.68
And when we in church
begin to assign favor to those
00:38:39.69\00:38:45.04
who are working
well, we really do that
00:38:45.05\00:38:48.57
without any knowledge or
true sincere understanding
00:38:48.58\00:38:51.50
of where those
things are coming from.
00:38:51.51\00:38:53.76
So we have to be very
careful within our churches,
00:38:53.77\00:38:58.47
to bestow accolades
because of performance. Yes.
00:38:58.48\00:39:03.54
Because the heart that
is legalistic will take that
00:39:03.55\00:39:06.45
and becomes swelled and
think I'm right with God
00:39:06.46\00:39:10.31
and we can actually
make them secure in a way
00:39:10.32\00:39:13.39
that they really shouldn't be.
00:39:13.40\00:39:15.11
Oh, yes, yeah.
00:39:15.12\00:39:16.76
But Jesus says, you will
know them by their fruits. Yes.
00:39:16.77\00:39:20.79
And what I find most of
the time is that conversion is,
00:39:20.80\00:39:25.45
is most evident in the fruit.
00:39:25.46\00:39:28.65
Not necessarily
just the way that we work
00:39:28.66\00:39:30.92
and there's a little, there's
a subtle difference here.
00:39:30.93\00:39:32.33
Yes, I understand.
00:39:32.34\00:39:33.31
Because the
fruit comes from heart
00:39:33.32\00:39:37.46
and of course the fruit
of the spirit we know love,
00:39:37.47\00:39:39.19
joy, peace, these aren't
necessarily doctoral things,
00:39:39.20\00:39:43.17
they are manifestations of
00:39:43.18\00:39:45.28
the spirit of God in the heart.
00:39:45.29\00:39:46.61
In the heart, yes.
00:39:46.62\00:39:47.59
But we can be very
knowledgeable about scripture,
00:39:47.60\00:39:49.75
we can know our Bible.
00:39:49.76\00:39:51.66
But we can become so judgmental
00:39:51.67\00:39:53.34
and exacting in the way we
apply that in the lives of,
00:39:53.35\00:39:56.08
in our lives and
the lives of others,
00:39:56.09\00:39:58.42
that it can hurt
and destroy hearts.
00:39:58.43\00:40:02.55
And so we got to make
sure that we ourselves,
00:40:02.56\00:40:04.39
even though we think
we in the right side of
00:40:04.40\00:40:05.64
the equation as Adventist,
00:40:05.65\00:40:07.89
on this legalism vs obedience,
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.47
that we're being obedient.
00:40:09.48\00:40:10.49
We need to check ourselves,
00:40:10.50\00:40:11.65
we need to examine ourselves
00:40:11.66\00:40:12.80
and see where are
these works coming from.
00:40:12.81\00:40:14.13
Yeah, yeah, disobedience
you sort of can't get into
00:40:14.14\00:40:17.88
the kingdom disobeying God.
00:40:17.89\00:40:19.77
But your, your, your obedience,
00:40:19.78\00:40:21.81
your works who
prevent must be motivated
00:40:21.82\00:40:25.64
by the right thing,
by the indwelling Christ.
00:40:25.65\00:40:28.11
And, and you know, we as humans,
00:40:28.12\00:40:29.91
we, we, are, our
vision is so limited.
00:40:29.92\00:40:32.32
All I can see, I
look at John Stanton,
00:40:32.33\00:40:34.83
I see what you do and
life look pretty good to me,
00:40:34.84\00:40:37.75
you know, you're doing okay.
00:40:37.76\00:40:39.86
So I assume a lot
because what I see
00:40:39.87\00:40:42.48
but you got to be
very, very careful,
00:40:42.49\00:40:45.16
particularly as you
said a moment ago with,
00:40:45.17\00:40:46.62
with accolades
because I don't know really
00:40:46.63\00:40:49.27
why you do what
you do, God does,
00:40:49.28\00:40:52.27
you put an 100
dollars I put an 100 dollars
00:40:52.28\00:40:53.98
but our hearts may be
totally, totally different.
00:40:53.99\00:40:56.31
So we need to be very
careful and, and, and,
00:40:56.32\00:40:58.68
and ask the Lord for
discernment certainly
00:40:58.69\00:41:02.36
in our dealing with that...
00:41:02.37\00:41:03.48
And we're not really called
to judge that part. Precisely.
00:41:03.49\00:41:05.74
You know, what we're
called is just, you know,
00:41:05.75\00:41:07.00
the tree has apples
on it call an apple tree.
00:41:07.01\00:41:09.48
I mean, you know, if we
see someone doing good works,
00:41:09.49\00:41:12.32
you trust him and you kind of,
00:41:12.33\00:41:14.41
you work in
harmony with them, yeah,
00:41:14.42\00:41:15.99
and you let God
work all that stuff out.
00:41:16.00\00:41:17.85
We're not called
to judge the motives
00:41:17.86\00:41:19.14
and so be careful about
that kind of judging. Yes.
00:41:19.15\00:41:21.91
If we see sin though
manifested so in the church
00:41:21.92\00:41:25.32
and or in someone's life
then especially if it rises
00:41:25.33\00:41:28.82
to the level of,
of being a practice.
00:41:28.83\00:41:32.26
Then, you know,
there comes a time
00:41:32.27\00:41:33.93
where we pull our
brother aside and we say,
00:41:33.94\00:41:35.56
you know, this,
this, this is not healthy.
00:41:35.57\00:41:38.11
And you try to
help bring them back
00:41:38.12\00:41:39.73
and bring them back into Christ.
00:41:39.74\00:41:41.05
But without those
evidences, you don't know.
00:41:41.06\00:41:44.60
Yeah, you've got a
great text here that seems to,
00:41:44.61\00:41:46.73
to, to highlight
that tension Philippians.
00:41:46.74\00:41:50.90
Oh, exactly where I was going...
00:41:50.91\00:41:52.18
Philippians 2:12.
Therefore, my beloved.
00:41:52.19\00:41:54.97
as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only
00:41:54.98\00:41:58.65
but now much more my absence,
00:41:58.66\00:42:01.28
workout your salvation with fear
00:42:01.29\00:42:03.83
and trembling, work it. Yes.
00:42:03.84\00:42:06.48
Then for it is
God who works in you,
00:42:06.49\00:42:09.74
both to will and to
do for His good pleasure.
00:42:09.75\00:42:12.88
So it tells you what
to do but he also tells
00:42:12.89\00:42:14.89
you how it's done. Yeah.
00:42:14.90\00:42:16.14
How it's done successfully
and the correct way.
00:42:16.15\00:42:17.86
Yeah. Yeah.
00:42:17.87\00:42:18.94
You know, I preached a sermon
00:42:18.95\00:42:21.97
it's has been a
while that I've done it.
00:42:21.98\00:42:23.22
But maybe I should do it again
00:42:23.23\00:42:25.56
and I'm
thinking about the topic,
00:42:25.57\00:42:26.68
but he uses this text
00:42:26.69\00:42:29.14
and I gave a couple
of different angles.
00:42:29.15\00:42:32.24
First of all is the one
that you gave, you know,
00:42:32.25\00:42:34.06
which is we need to be working
00:42:34.07\00:42:35.32
and may God workout the
power and strength in us
00:42:35.33\00:42:38.76
to make sure that
we are, are living
00:42:38.77\00:42:41.59
a life of obedience
rather than legalism. Yes.
00:42:41.60\00:42:43.98
But he other part is here
the text also can be taken
00:42:43.99\00:42:47.51
as we need to get
rid or our own works
00:42:47.52\00:42:51.47
and defer to the works of God.
00:42:51.48\00:42:54.74
And this is the
angle I'm coming at kind of
00:42:54.75\00:42:56.87
with this passage
here in the context of
00:42:56.88\00:42:59.09
what we're talking about today
00:42:59.10\00:43:00.07
because we need to get rid of,
00:43:00.08\00:43:03.14
we need to work out
of our life the legalism
00:43:03.15\00:43:06.84
approach to
following God and let Him
00:43:06.85\00:43:09.49
bring into our hearts His works.
00:43:09.50\00:43:12.66
And so when you springboard then
00:43:12.67\00:43:14.31
from Ephesians 2
verse 10 into this text
00:43:14.32\00:43:19.22
what it can be
read to say is that
00:43:19.23\00:43:21.35
we need to get rid
of the way that we work.
00:43:21.36\00:43:24.33
Yes, yes.
00:43:24.34\00:43:25.59
And defer to God who works in us
00:43:25.60\00:43:28.61
because those are the
works that we really need
00:43:28.62\00:43:30.87
to have that are
obedient oriented.
00:43:30.88\00:43:32.54
Yes, yes, yes,
I liked that idea.
00:43:32.55\00:43:35.41
You're working
out your salvation
00:43:35.42\00:43:38.88
but God is doing the work.
00:43:38.89\00:43:41.24
It is your salvation
that is being worked out
00:43:41.25\00:43:45.18
by God through you.
00:43:45.19\00:43:46.95
Right. Yeah.
00:43:46.96\00:43:47.98
Right, exactly, so
now with that in mind,
00:43:47.99\00:43:51.40
let's read a few texts
here that really tell us
00:43:51.41\00:43:54.22
the importance of works
00:43:54.23\00:43:55.24
because you can't read the Bible
00:43:55.25\00:43:56.71
with out concluding
God wants me to work.
00:43:56.72\00:43:59.82
I mean, I can give you probably
00:43:59.83\00:44:01.41
a 100, 200, 300
texts God is calling me
00:44:01.42\00:44:04.70
to work for Him and
so you can't just label
00:44:04.71\00:44:07.93
all works legalism,
it just doesn't work.
00:44:07.94\00:44:11.29
So let's read a few
of those do you have
00:44:11.30\00:44:12.66
the first one there, Titus 3:8.
00:44:12.67\00:44:14.05
Titus 3:8, this
is a faithful saying,
00:44:14.06\00:44:16.88
and these things I want
you to affirm constantly,
00:44:16.89\00:44:21.08
that those who
have believed in God
00:44:21.09\00:44:23.76
should be careful
to maintain good works.
00:44:23.77\00:44:28.93
These things are good
and profitable to men.
00:44:28.94\00:44:32.73
Interesting. Yeah.
00:44:32.74\00:44:33.83
So we should be
careful to maintain good works
00:44:33.84\00:44:37.11
because they are
profitable to men.
00:44:37.12\00:44:39.16
Notice that He also
says, the scripture also says
00:44:39.17\00:44:42.26
that we should not try
to workout our own salvation
00:44:42.27\00:44:44.91
because that is unprofitable.
00:44:44.92\00:44:47.25
So really he is talking about
which side of the equation,
00:44:47.26\00:44:49.99
yes, after
you've been converted,
00:44:50.00\00:44:52.05
after conversion
that's why he uses the word
00:44:52.06\00:44:54.25
maintain good works
that can begin only after
00:44:54.26\00:44:57.32
conversion that
can be maintained only,
00:44:57.33\00:44:59.26
yes, only after
conversion. Matthew 5:16,
00:44:59.27\00:45:03.39
Let your light
so shine before men,
00:45:03.40\00:45:05.89
that they may
see your good works,
00:45:05.90\00:45:08.15
and glorify your
Father in heaven.
00:45:08.16\00:45:10.86
That almost, that
gives us there kind of
00:45:10.87\00:45:12.51
the motive
doesn't it for good works.
00:45:12.52\00:45:15.92
To glorify your father.
00:45:15.93\00:45:17.26
But again they
will see your good work.
00:45:17.27\00:45:20.44
They're gonna see what you do
00:45:20.45\00:45:21.99
and what you do will be
but a reflection of your Father
00:45:22.00\00:45:26.17
in heaven and of
course the glory will then
00:45:26.18\00:45:27.46
go to your father in heaven.
00:45:27.47\00:45:28.75
And it is very important,
00:45:28.76\00:45:30.30
you know, as
we're doing good works,
00:45:30.31\00:45:31.52
we shouldn't be taking
on the credit for it. Right.
00:45:31.53\00:45:34.95
Because it's not
remember we can't do good works
00:45:34.96\00:45:37.09
it's not the good
works we do as the good works
00:45:37.10\00:45:39.14
that Christ did or
prepared beforehand
00:45:39.15\00:45:41.74
that He works through us.
00:45:41.75\00:45:42.72
Yeah, you know, if
something pops in my mind
00:45:42.73\00:45:44.47
if you go back to Micah 6:8,
00:45:44.48\00:45:46.16
he has shown the
old man what is good
00:45:46.17\00:45:48.97
and what does the
Lord require of Him,
00:45:48.98\00:45:50.28
do justly, love mercy,
00:45:50.29\00:45:52.45
walk humbly with
God, with thy God.
00:45:52.46\00:45:54.46
So those are the
kinds of good works
00:45:54.47\00:45:56.60
that we're
talking about, do justly,
00:45:56.61\00:45:58.89
love mercy,
welcome humbly with God.
00:45:58.90\00:46:01.07
When people see those things,
00:46:01.08\00:46:02.83
God will get the glory.
00:46:02.84\00:46:03.83
And He seems to
indicate that they're required.
00:46:03.84\00:46:05.70
Yes. The Lord requires.
00:46:05.71\00:46:07.39
Required, yes. Yeah.
00:46:07.40\00:46:08.77
Yeah. Matthew 16:27.
00:46:08.78\00:46:10.92
For the Son of Man
will come in the glory
00:46:10.93\00:46:13.43
of his Father with his angels
00:46:13.44\00:46:15.03
and then he will reward
each one according to what?
00:46:15.04\00:46:17.50
His works. His works.
00:46:17.51\00:46:18.95
So even our reward is measured
00:46:18.96\00:46:22.12
by the works that
God does through us. Yes.
00:46:22.13\00:46:24.95
Now, there are works,
they appear to be our works.
00:46:24.96\00:46:26.81
But it's God working
again now through us.
00:46:26.82\00:46:29.16
Because their obedience
works that are rewarded
00:46:29.17\00:46:31.59
not legalistic
works that are rewarded.
00:46:31.60\00:46:34.49
So he's, he's
basically judging you
00:46:34.50\00:46:37.91
on your
willingness to open up yourself
00:46:37.92\00:46:40.94
and let him work through you.
00:46:40.95\00:46:42.96
It's like open up the hatch,
00:46:42.97\00:46:44.08
let me pour in and
if I will judge you
00:46:44.09\00:46:47.75
according to your ability.
00:46:47.76\00:46:48.86
Just, just, just
open up and let me come in
00:46:48.87\00:46:51.40
and work through you, yeah.
00:46:51.41\00:46:52.88
You know, you may
have a good point there,
00:46:52.89\00:46:54.17
how does that
change your prayer life?
00:46:54.18\00:46:56.91
Think about that. Yeah, yeah.
00:46:56.92\00:46:58.32
I mean, does it, Lord,
help me to get out there
00:46:58.33\00:47:01.29
and to feed the homeless today.
00:47:01.30\00:47:03.99
Or Lord, change my heart. Yes.
00:47:04.00\00:47:06.40
Give me a burden
for a loving souls
00:47:06.41\00:47:08.89
and for wanting to
touch lives through
00:47:08.90\00:47:10.80
this ministry of
feeding the homeless.
00:47:10.81\00:47:13.05
Work in me and
through me on that.
00:47:13.06\00:47:14.81
I mean, that's the
prayer life not this believe it,
00:47:14.82\00:47:17.97
I got to go
work for the homeless
00:47:17.98\00:47:19.32
and that's a cold
formal working out of,
00:47:19.33\00:47:22.31
of your Christianity.
00:47:22.32\00:47:23.53
Yeah, Lord, come in
and just direct my life
00:47:23.54\00:47:26.23
and it may be homeless,
00:47:26.24\00:47:27.38
it maybe literacy with children
00:47:27.39\00:47:30.25
and it maybe
anything, but just come in
00:47:30.26\00:47:32.02
and then show me
and I'm available
00:47:32.03\00:47:34.65
and available to you and then
00:47:34.66\00:47:36.38
He will work it out through you.
00:47:36.39\00:47:37.88
Amen, now there's a few
texts that Jesus actually
00:47:37.89\00:47:41.45
talks about the
works that He does were
00:47:41.46\00:47:43.56
not His own works.
00:47:43.57\00:47:44.97
That's why I
thought I bring these,
00:47:44.98\00:47:46.17
these texts into play
because even as Jesus worked out
00:47:46.18\00:47:50.65
or prepared the
works beforehand for us,
00:47:50.66\00:47:53.11
His works were
from His Father. Yes.
00:47:53.12\00:47:55.56
Because He was also
our example of how we are
00:47:55.57\00:47:57.58
to depend upon his
Father and Him for good works.
00:47:57.59\00:48:00.85
So these texts
also help confirm that,
00:48:00.86\00:48:03.98
John 5:36, but I have
a greater witness then
00:48:03.99\00:48:06.85
John's for the works
00:48:06.86\00:48:08.14
which the Father
has given me to finish.
00:48:08.15\00:48:10.43
The very works that
I do bare witness of me
00:48:10.44\00:48:13.59
that the Father
has send me. Oh, yes.
00:48:13.60\00:48:15.64
So the works that Jesus
did come from His Father.
00:48:15.65\00:48:19.06
His Father, yes.
00:48:19.07\00:48:21.40
John 10:25, Jesus answered them,
00:48:21.41\00:48:24.02
"I told you, and
you do not believe.
00:48:24.03\00:48:26.87
The works that I
do in my Father's name
00:48:26.88\00:48:29.98
they bear witness of me." Okay.
00:48:29.99\00:48:32.99
So again He is working
in the name of His Father,
00:48:33.00\00:48:35.39
we work in Jesus name.
00:48:35.40\00:48:37.10
And then in verse 38
same chapter John 10,
00:48:37.11\00:48:40.11
But if I do, though
you do not believe Me,
00:48:40.12\00:48:43.27
believe the
works, that you may know
00:48:43.28\00:48:45.87
and believe that the Father
is in Me, and I in the Him.
00:48:45.88\00:48:49.87
You notice that unity that comes
00:48:49.88\00:48:52.00
with a conversion
experience. Yes, yes.
00:48:52.01\00:48:54.38
A oneness that the Father
is working through Christ.
00:48:54.39\00:48:58.12
John 14:10, Do you
not believe that I am
00:48:58.13\00:49:02.27
in the Father
and the Father in me.
00:49:02.28\00:49:04.61
The works that I speak
to you, the words rather,
00:49:04.62\00:49:07.30
that I speak to you,
00:49:07.31\00:49:08.49
I do not speak
on my own authority,
00:49:08.50\00:49:11.04
but the Father who
dwells in me He does the works.
00:49:11.05\00:49:14.89
Now, that's good, yeah.
00:49:14.90\00:49:16.11
He is the one doing the
works but He is doing that
00:49:16.12\00:49:18.68
from the inside
because of course we know
00:49:18.69\00:49:20.46
that Christ was a
sinless human being.
00:49:20.47\00:49:24.02
And allowed His
Father to do that.
00:49:24.03\00:49:26.52
Now, so we get to the
crux of the matter now.
00:49:26.53\00:49:28.43
Not that we kind of have,
we've kind of placed works
00:49:28.44\00:49:30.74
in its proper prospective,
00:49:30.75\00:49:32.41
let's kind of
bring faith into this.
00:49:32.42\00:49:34.56
Because the Book of
James which is known as
00:49:34.57\00:49:37.42
often a faith in
works book, you know,
00:49:37.43\00:49:40.48
how it harmonizes I
think with this understanding
00:49:40.49\00:49:42.84
it helps to better read
that and to maybe understand,
00:49:42.85\00:49:46.11
discern what James is actually
saying in his, his epistle.
00:49:46.12\00:49:52.22
First of all, I wrote
here I just, a thought,
00:49:52.23\00:49:54.65
I came to my mind.
00:49:54.66\00:49:56.04
Faith plus works
equals obedience.
00:49:56.05\00:50:00.71
But if there is
obedience or obedience is faith
00:50:00.72\00:50:05.78
and works together
therefore, therefore
00:50:05.79\00:50:07.93
that means legalism is
works without faith. Faith, yes.
00:50:07.94\00:50:11.95
So, in this
equation you would say
00:50:11.96\00:50:14.10
works minus
faith equals legalism.
00:50:14.11\00:50:17.85
Legalism, yes, yes, yes, yes.
00:50:17.86\00:50:19.84
So faith is really the key
and it's also the conversing,
00:50:19.85\00:50:23.85
you know,
transforming powers we read in,
00:50:23.86\00:50:25.71
in Ephesians 2 verses 8-9.
00:50:25.72\00:50:29.26
That begins that
conversion that changes
00:50:29.27\00:50:31.13
the works from
legalistic then to obedience.
00:50:31.14\00:50:34.51
Obedience, yeah.
00:50:34.52\00:50:35.62
So now let's read
James chapter 2:14-24.
00:50:35.63\00:50:38.95
Maybe you can read a
few and then find a place
00:50:38.96\00:50:40.59
to stop and I'll go
ahead and read the rest.
00:50:40.60\00:50:42.79
What does it
profit, my brethren,
00:50:42.80\00:50:44.21
if someone says he has
faith but does not have works.
00:50:44.22\00:50:49.63
Can faith save him?
00:50:49.64\00:50:53.90
If your brother
or sister is naked
00:50:53.91\00:50:55.39
and just the two to daily food.
00:50:55.40\00:50:57.57
And one of you says
to them, Depart in peace,
00:50:57.58\00:51:00.26
be warmed and filled,
00:51:00.27\00:51:01.73
but you do not give him
the things which are needful,
00:51:01.74\00:51:04.32
needed for the
body, what does it profit?
00:51:04.33\00:51:07.26
Well, let's look
here right there.
00:51:07.27\00:51:10.70
Basically James is
laying out his case
00:51:10.71\00:51:12.52
and it's very
linear and very plain.
00:51:12.53\00:51:14.82
What does it profit if
someone says he has faith, okay.
00:51:14.83\00:51:18.19
I have faith, how
is that faith shown,
00:51:18.20\00:51:23.13
what is the emblem,
the insigne of that faith.
00:51:23.14\00:51:26.59
How does that faith work
itself out in your daily life
00:51:26.60\00:51:30.25
if you do nothing,
if you say nothing,
00:51:30.26\00:51:32.21
if you go nowhere, if you
do not exercise that faith?
00:51:32.22\00:51:35.47
Then first, the question is,
00:51:35.48\00:51:37.48
do you really
have faith and two,
00:51:37.49\00:51:38.95
then what good is
your faith? Right.
00:51:38.96\00:51:41.51
It's a static
not even a reality,
00:51:41.52\00:51:44.69
it's an entity that
that has no legs on it,
00:51:44.70\00:51:47.62
you know it's just passive.
00:51:47.63\00:51:48.83
So he is saying, if
you do have faith then
00:51:48.84\00:51:53.96
it will be shown, exemplified
in doing something. Yeah.
00:51:53.97\00:51:59.04
Something's gonna happen...
00:51:59.05\00:52:00.14
If it's never
passive it's always active.
00:52:00.15\00:52:01.77
It's active it's got
to be faith by nature,
00:52:01.78\00:52:04.16
it's not, if you believe,
you believe in something
00:52:04.17\00:52:08.18
right, and if you believe
in something then you act on
00:52:08.19\00:52:11.73
that belief
they go hand in hand.
00:52:11.74\00:52:13.79
You really cannot have one
in its true essence without
00:52:13.80\00:52:16.50
the other and that's the
case that James is laying out.
00:52:16.51\00:52:18.67
And then in verse 17 it says,
00:52:18.68\00:52:20.06
Thus also by faith by itself,
00:52:20.07\00:52:22.13
if it does not have
works is dead, dead.
00:52:22.14\00:52:24.82
But someone will say,
00:52:24.83\00:52:26.45
"You have faith
and I have works."
00:52:26.46\00:52:28.60
Show me your faith
without your works,
00:52:28.61\00:52:30.84
and I will show you
my faith by my works.
00:52:30.85\00:52:34.22
So He is giving the
correct then approached to,
00:52:34.23\00:52:36.47
to works there in faith.
00:52:36.48\00:52:39.16
Verse 19, You believe
that there is one God.
00:52:39.17\00:52:41.48
You do well, even the
demons believe and tremble.
00:52:41.49\00:52:43.98
But you do not
know, do you want to know,
00:52:43.99\00:52:46.37
O foolish man, that
faith without works is dead.
00:52:46.38\00:52:49.37
Was not Abraham
our father justified
00:52:49.38\00:52:51.46
by works when he offered
Isaac his son on the altar?
00:52:51.47\00:52:54.45
Do you see that
faith was working together
00:52:54.46\00:52:57.00
with his works and by
works faith was made perfect?
00:52:57.01\00:53:00.60
And the scripture
was fulfilled which says,
00:53:00.61\00:53:02.89
Abraham believed God,
and it was accounted to him
00:53:02.90\00:53:05.11
for righteousness," and he
was called the friend of God.
00:53:05.12\00:53:08.74
You see then that a
man is justified by works,
00:53:08.75\00:53:11.77
not and not by faith only.
00:53:11.78\00:53:14.69
Now, a lot of
people struggle with that
00:53:14.70\00:53:16.06
and in fact that
passage right there,
00:53:16.07\00:53:17.35
if you go back in
history almost kept
00:53:17.36\00:53:20.43
James out of the cannon.
00:53:20.44\00:53:22.29
They had to
study that before that
00:53:22.30\00:53:24.27
became part of the
cannon, the scripture. Yes.
00:53:24.28\00:53:26.25
But they saw it was
in harmony with the rest
00:53:26.26\00:53:28.36
of what God was saying,
00:53:28.37\00:53:29.40
what Jesus was saying especially
00:53:29.41\00:53:30.85
with regard to our works.
00:53:30.86\00:53:32.61
That they must
be mixed with faith
00:53:32.62\00:53:34.93
and then they are
not only required,
00:53:34.94\00:53:37.20
but they are
necessary to show that
00:53:37.21\00:53:38.62
we have been
transformed by the grace of God.
00:53:38.63\00:53:40.94
We are in fact saved.
00:53:40.95\00:53:42.59
Yes, the plum line
as you eluded to before
00:53:42.60\00:53:44.90
so beautifully is the
conversion experience.
00:53:44.91\00:53:47.59
Once that line is
dropped it's on which side of
00:53:47.60\00:53:51.16
the line do you
fall, on the left side
00:53:51.17\00:53:54.81
or pre-conversion it's legalism,
00:53:54.82\00:53:57.70
it's trying to work
you into conversion.
00:53:57.71\00:54:00.00
On the right side it
is but the out working
00:54:00.01\00:54:02.72
of your conversion experience.
00:54:02.73\00:54:04.55
So now it is motivated by faith
00:54:04.56\00:54:06.62
and
relationship and love to God.
00:54:06.63\00:54:08.00
And I would add to that too,
00:54:08.01\00:54:09.00
that even if we're
on the conversion side
00:54:09.01\00:54:11.63
of the fence we
still must be careful
00:54:11.64\00:54:13.30
to maintain good works,
he says, why? Yes, yeah.
00:54:13.31\00:54:16.38
Because sometimes we
can let our faith go.
00:54:16.39\00:54:20.75
And then we can
find ourselves back
00:54:20.76\00:54:22.32
on the other side of the fence
00:54:22.33\00:54:24.22
and needing
conversion again. Yes.
00:54:24.23\00:54:26.04
That's why Paul
says, I die daily,
00:54:26.05\00:54:28.40
everyday he needed that
fresh conversion experience.
00:54:28.41\00:54:31.71
Now, the last thing that
I wanted to mention here is
00:54:31.72\00:54:34.06
that you find some
of this language also,
00:54:34.07\00:54:37.81
works language in the
chapter, chapter 4 of Hebrews.
00:54:37.82\00:54:43.00
And it is
connected to, interestingly,
00:54:43.01\00:54:45.00
the day of rest
and I bring this up
00:54:45.01\00:54:47.93
because this is
often where people go
00:54:47.94\00:54:49.59
when they hear
about a Sabbath keeper
00:54:49.60\00:54:52.54
because you're a Sabbath
keeper you must be a legalist.
00:54:52.55\00:54:55.74
Yes, and I want to show
00:54:55.75\00:54:57.43
what Sabbath
keeping really is about,
00:54:57.44\00:54:59.09
we just have a couple
of minutes here for this.
00:54:59.10\00:55:01.42
But let me read for
you the beginning of this
00:55:01.43\00:55:03.40
Hebrews 4 verse 4.
00:55:03.41\00:55:05.37
For he has spoke
in a certain place of
00:55:05.38\00:55:07.80
the Seventh day in this way,
00:55:07.81\00:55:10.03
And God rested on the
Seventh day from His works,
00:55:10.04\00:55:13.26
all His works and
again in the same place
00:55:13.27\00:55:16.25
they shall not enter my rest.
00:55:16.26\00:55:18.70
Since therefore it
remains that some must enter it,
00:55:18.71\00:55:21.17
and those to whom it was
first preached did not enter
00:55:21.18\00:55:24.14
because of disobedience.
00:55:24.15\00:55:26.90
Again he
designates a certain day,
00:55:26.91\00:55:28.56
saying to David,
today after such a long time
00:55:28.57\00:55:30.97
as it is been said,
today if you will hear my voice
00:55:30.98\00:55:33.51
do not hearken your hearts.
00:55:33.52\00:55:35.09
For Joshua has given them rest,
00:55:35.10\00:55:37.12
this he would not afterward
have spoken of another day.
00:55:37.13\00:55:40.49
There remains therefore a rest
for the people of God. Yeah.
00:55:40.50\00:55:44.69
And then those who have
entered his rest has himself
00:55:44.70\00:55:48.83
also ceased from his
works as God did from his.
00:55:48.84\00:55:52.89
Now, notice that
upon conversion we seeks
00:55:52.90\00:55:55.84
from our own works. Yes.
00:55:55.85\00:55:57.93
And we enter into a rest
with God which is a picture
00:55:57.94\00:56:01.88
of the redemption
that Christ had offered,
00:56:01.89\00:56:04.28
he offers to us. Yes, yes.
00:56:04.29\00:56:06.26
So, by observing the
Sabbath we're resting
00:56:06.27\00:56:08.56
in the finished work of
Christ and allowing His works
00:56:08.57\00:56:13.00
then to manifest in our life,
00:56:13.01\00:56:15.13
as to show that we
are converted Christians.
00:56:15.14\00:56:17.99
How wonderful that those
who claim that Sabbath keeping
00:56:18.00\00:56:23.11
is legalism
misunderstand the burden.
00:56:23.12\00:56:26.48
Sabbath keeping is really rest,
00:56:26.49\00:56:28.60
it's resting in
the works of the Lord.
00:56:28.61\00:56:30.79
It's, it's just the opposite
of what it appears to... yeah.
00:56:30.80\00:56:34.08
Yes, it's
amazing 'cause, you know,
00:56:34.09\00:56:36.06
we think of it
while you just doing
00:56:36.07\00:56:37.64
or trying to keep
the Sabbath, yeah, no,
00:56:37.65\00:56:39.96
I'm resting in the
Sabbath on that day,
00:56:39.97\00:56:42.96
yes, from my own works,
00:56:42.97\00:56:45.31
symbolized by the
works of earning wages
00:56:45.32\00:56:47.79
and everything we do.
00:56:47.80\00:56:49.28
And then I'm trusting
in the works of Christ
00:56:49.29\00:56:51.35
which He said on
the cross. Oh, yes.
00:56:51.36\00:56:52.72
It is finished
and then allowing him
00:56:52.73\00:56:56.18
then to make me a
worker, a co-worker with him.
00:56:56.19\00:56:59.52
With him...
Powerful very, very...
00:56:59.53\00:57:00.87
Praise the Lord.
00:57:00.88\00:57:01.90
Well, you know, we'll end
with the text, Revelation 14:12.
00:57:01.91\00:57:04.76
Here is the
patience of the saints,
00:57:04.77\00:57:06.45
here are those who keep
the commandments of God,
00:57:06.46\00:57:08.73
and the faith of Jesus. Yes.
00:57:08.74\00:57:11.14
Clearly the Bible says
that there is a harmony
00:57:11.15\00:57:13.75
between keeping
commandments and faith.
00:57:13.76\00:57:15.71
There is a harmony
between faith and works.
00:57:15.72\00:57:17.98
And we want to
make sure that you
00:57:17.99\00:57:19.53
in your own life
are able to examine
00:57:19.54\00:57:21.21
where those works
are coming from. Yeah.
00:57:21.22\00:57:22.68
Let they be of God,
let they be transformed,
00:57:22.69\00:57:25.71
may your life be transformed
00:57:25.72\00:57:27.00
by the works of Christ in you
00:57:27.01\00:57:28.90
and then you will
know without a doubt
00:57:28.91\00:57:30.60
that He has
converted and saved you.
00:57:30.61\00:57:32.59
God bless you, have a great day.
00:57:32.60\00:57:34.23