Hello friends, grab
your Bible and a friend
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and sit back as we
explore God's word together
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on this edition
of "House Calls."
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Well, friends, welcome
to another pattern show.
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Yes, this is a pattern
the squares and the lines.
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Actually this is House Calls.
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Thank you for tuning in.
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We just got into
this pattern mode today.
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I don't know I
just got contemporary
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for whatever reason.
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I told him, I said
welcome to the pattern world.
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I think we're in patterns
and filled colors and...
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Yeah, I think really, so
I decided to join the show
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and, but today the pattern
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that we're gonna
talk about is Christ.
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He's the real
pattern that each one of us
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must have on and put on.
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And we've been talking
about that wonderful topic
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what it means to be in Christ.
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So get your
Bibles, get your pens,
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invite your
family, and your friends,
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and sit down with us for
the next hour to enjoy a topic
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that we promise is going
to be from the word of God.
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But before we do anything
we're gonna have prayer.
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So, John, take us
to the Lord in prayer.
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Let's do that.
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Gracious Father,
we come again to you
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before Your presence
here to seek Your face.
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We want to know Your will.
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We want to know more about You,
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more about Jesus.
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What it means to be in Christ.
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And so during this program
we pray that You'd manifest
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Yourself through Your
Spirit, through Your word,
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through the blessing that
comes from Your hand of knowing
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who this Jesus is that we love
and serve in Jesus name, amen.
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Amen. You know, the
first part of the program
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is always about
your Bible questions.
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And we thank you for
sending those questions.
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Was so nice today
we have things like PDF
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and we don't
have to print paper,
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we have gone green.
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We have laptops, we
don't print paper out.
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We're trying to contribute
to the wellbeing of humanity,
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but we thank you for
sending short questions.
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Those of you that have
caught on to the short question
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will get your questions read.
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And by the way if
you have any questions
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you want to send to us something
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we may awaken
your mind you can send
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those to the following
address, housecalls@3abn.org.
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That's housecalls@3abn.org.
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And John will be the
one that downloads them
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and he kind of
filters through them.
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And have you had any spam issues
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with questions being rejected
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or have you had
books being sent?
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You know, for about
every page that comes up
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on our mail
system there're about
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two questions in it out of 50.
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So we're
really--its not so much spam,
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it's we're added to
links and automatic emails
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and prolusion,
all kinds of thing.
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So I'm trying to get
some filtering in place
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to get that out of the way,
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so we can get to the
real heart of the issues,
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the questions
that matter to us most
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which is the
questions that you sent.
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So we've got one
here that is from A.P
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and a real good question he says
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"I know I've read that
God does not tempt anyone."
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And that is true it's a
specific statement in the Bible.
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"But yet Matthew 4:1 says,
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that Jesus was led by the
Spirit into the wilderness
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to be tempted by the devil.
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Explain this to me.
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Also why would Jesus allow
Satan to carry Him anywhere?
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Why would He
let Satan touch Him?
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Okay, so let's dive into this,
let's go to Matthew Chapter 4.
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Just to kind of give
it some context here.
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Matthew Chapter 3 is
about the baptism of Jesus
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and clearly we understand
that through this baptism,
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the Holy Spirit
descending like a devil upon Him
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as He came out of the water was
this anointing Him for ministry.
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It was the beginning of
His work to save mankind
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and workout our redemption,
our salvation or of all mankind.
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And I love it that Chapter
4, He doesn't waste anytime.
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He allows God
to take Him exactly
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where He will
meet the devil head on.
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So I don't see this as
letting the devil touch Him
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or carrying Him somewhere.
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I see this is an issue
where Jesus is like now
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it's time to get
down to business.
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I'm anointed for ministry.
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Here is where we need to go.
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And He deals with temptation.
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But you know the other
thing that makes it really
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significant, I'm glad
you've brought that up,
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because lot of
time we read a question
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and just fly to the answer.
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But let's analyze the question.
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When the Bible says, He
was tempted in all points
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just as we are doesn't
the devil touch us. Yeah.
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Exactly. So the very things
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that we will have
to be confronted by
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were the very same things
that Jesus was confronted by.
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Yes. And wanted to
confront in our behalf.
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There you go.
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And so that's why it
says, that He was led
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by the Spirit
into the wilderness.
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That was God Himself
through His Spirit leading Him
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to this place
where He will be tempted,
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because they knew that
this was the main source,
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the battlefield against sin.
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This is what
had to be conquered.
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Man as he came in the
lightness of sinful flesh,
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mankind would have to
overcome sin and only Christ,
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the Redeemer, the sinless
One could conquer in our behalf.
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And that's why it says
that God led Him by the Spirit
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into the wilderness to
be tempted by the devil.
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The devil himself
said to his angels,
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I'm gonna take this one on.
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I'm gonna go after Jesus.
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And so Jesus our
great Redeemer met the devil
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the greatest tempter head
to head in the wilderness.
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This is where
the battle took place
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and it took place right after
He's anointed for ministry.
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And so it's a powerful
text and the passage here
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that we read
about these temptations
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that Christ went
through and I know
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that we're not-- we
don't have time to get into
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all the different temptations,
but Christ allowed Himself
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to be led there to
fight the main battle
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that He knew all
of us fight everyday.
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That's right,
that's right. Very good.
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So would you--would you
gonna give answer to that one?
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Well, the answer is why is
it if God doesn't tempt anyone
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that it says that He
was led in to the Spirit
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by the Spirit to
be tempted. Okay.
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Well, God wasn't tempting Jesus,
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but He was
leading Jesus to a place
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where the battle would
take place from the enemy,
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the devil who was tempting Him.
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So the devil is
tempting Him here.
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We've explained that.
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Why would Jesus
allow Satan to carry Him?
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Well, sometimes
when we're tempted
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we're touched by the devil too.
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You answered it very well.
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So this is the battle
that all of us have to fight.
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Jesus has fought it for us.
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Thank you, John. I
appreciate that 'cause we--
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it was such a good question,
I didn't realize we answered it,
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but we sure did
in discussing it.
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Thank you for that.
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Another one, my
daughter is age 16,
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questioning various
ideas of our culture
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and our faith these days.
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The other day she said, if
God has a plan for our lives
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then are we predestined to
be believers or nonbelievers?
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I'm not just sure
how to answer this.
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I'd appreciate your thoughts
on how I can answer this.
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Well, let's go
ahead and start with
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the very
significant word predestined.
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We have choices to make
and I believe every one of us
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makes choices
every moment of everyday.
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These choices
can be monumental--
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let me just not say
minor, because every choice
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we make don't appear to be
minor when it's first made.
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But if you follow
that thought all the way
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through you can see wow,
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I'm so glad I decided
to make that phone call.
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That's singular thought and it's
not that you are predestined
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to make that phone call,
but the opportunity was there.
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And I have this
phrase that I've adopted
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this one really is not mine.
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But I forgot who said it,
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but maybe you can
look up the reference.
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"It is better to be
ready for an opportunity
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and not have it present itself
then have to present itself
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and not be ready for it."
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That's not
predestined to get a job,
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that's not predestined to
get a position in the company,
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that's not predestined to be
on that flight or predestined
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to miss that flight, you see.
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But we have to keep in mind
that we have choices to make.
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Now where does the
word predestined come in
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when it comes to whether or not
some are going to be believers
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and others are not
going to be believers?
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The Lord doesn't predestine
anyone to be not a believer,
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because if you think
of the fires of hell,
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they were not
prepared for nonbelievers.
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Matthew 25:41 it says
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"That hell was prepared
for the devil and his angels."
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So the hell was not
prepared for any nonbelievers.
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That's right, for
no one else but them.
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Everybody--the Lord has
prepared salvation for everyone.
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He is not willing
that any should perish,
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so no one was
predestined to be lost.
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That's right.
Here I'm not willing
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that anybody should perish.
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So let's read
the couple of text.
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John, go to Ephesians 1
and there is verse 5 and 11.
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I may have you read that,
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but I'm gonna
start with Romans 29.
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And let me look
this up in the context.
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I praise God for this
computer programs nowadays.
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He mentioned context.
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Okay, let's go
ahead and read Romans,
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I want to read verse 28,
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because this is the
most familiar passage
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at least one of the
most familiar passage
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often repeated, but
you need the context of it.
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All right, here
it is in verse 28,
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"And we know that all
things work together for good
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to those who
love God, and to those
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who are the called
according to His purpose."
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Okay, the called
according to His purpose.
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Now when you
think about the called,
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the Bible says many are called.
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But why not everybody--
why is everybody not chosen?
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Because in the
parable of the wedding feast.
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John does a wonderful
sermon on the marriage feast.
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There is one who
response to the call,
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but he is not chosen,
because he doesn't have
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on the wedding garment.
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It's a good segue to
the in Christ Bible study.
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The Lord predestined everyone
who responded to be saved.
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That predestining simply
means it's a predetermining,
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I'm setting the situation.
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In other words,
I've written the will
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and now that I've
died the will is enforce
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that whoever believes
in Me should not perish
00:10:02.83\00:10:05.89
but have everlasting life.
00:10:05.92\00:10:07.29
That's the
predestining statement there.
00:10:07.32\00:10:09.52
That whosoever
believeth in Him--well, who,
00:10:09.55\00:10:12.39
for God so love the world.
00:10:12.42\00:10:14.73
He's predestined the
whole world to be saved,
00:10:14.76\00:10:17.38
but the conditions must be met.
00:10:17.41\00:10:20.91
So there is no
predetermining there.
00:10:20.94\00:10:22.31
So here's verse 29 and
this continues the called
00:10:22.34\00:10:26.29
"For whom He foreknew
00:10:26.32\00:10:30.83
he also
predestined to be conformed
00:10:30.86\00:10:33.99
to the image of his Son,
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that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren."
00:10:36.15\00:10:41.60
Moreover verse 30.
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"Whom he predestined,
these he also called,
00:10:43.48\00:10:48.14
whom he called,
these he also justified,
00:10:48.17\00:10:52.35
whom he justified,
these he also glorified."
00:10:52.38\00:10:56.49
Notice the process as you
go from one stage to the next,
00:10:56.52\00:11:00.16
you'll discover the word
predestined similarly means
00:11:00.19\00:11:02.46
I've made provision for
you to go from not even know
00:11:02.49\00:11:05.17
who I am all the
way to be glorified.
00:11:05.20\00:11:07.58
That's what the
predestination is.
00:11:07.61\00:11:09.56
And so the plan that God
has for our lives and, John,
00:11:09.59\00:11:12.20
lot of people
struggle with that phrase
00:11:12.23\00:11:14.24
what is God's plan for my life.
00:11:14.27\00:11:16.42
Well, His plan is wonderfully
illustrated in John 10:10.
00:11:16.45\00:11:22.47
The thief comes but to
steal, kill, and destroy.
00:11:22.50\00:11:25.58
What is God's plan?
00:11:25.61\00:11:27.03
But Jesus has come
that we might have life
00:11:27.06\00:11:29.38
and have it more abundantly.
00:11:29.41\00:11:32.20
So that abundant life is
there whether that abundant life
00:11:32.23\00:11:34.99
is singing in the
Lord, preaching for the Lord,
00:11:35.02\00:11:37.51
living as an accountant,
but living a life of a witness
00:11:37.54\00:11:40.71
as an accountant that
life is to be an abundant life.
00:11:40.74\00:11:44.06
The Lord doesn't
decide ahead a time
00:11:44.09\00:11:47.21
whether you can make one
choice and not make a choice,
00:11:47.24\00:11:49.56
He's put before you, choice
00:11:49.59\00:11:51.04
is that you must
decide for or against.
00:11:51.07\00:11:53.64
I'm gonna let you
register that and I'll comeback
00:11:53.67\00:11:55.36
with some more thoughts on it.
00:11:55.39\00:11:56.76
Predestined does not
mean predetermined. Right.
00:11:56.79\00:12:01.94
This, we need to get
pass this. This is a really--
00:12:01.97\00:12:03.34
It doesn't mean
we're programmed?
00:12:03.37\00:12:04.88
No, it doesn't
mean predetermined,
00:12:04.91\00:12:06.74
it doesn't mean the
determination has been made.
00:12:06.77\00:12:08.77
Predestined means and I like
the word you use provision for.
00:12:08.80\00:12:11.79
Right. Prepare the way for.
00:12:11.82\00:12:14.66
God has made the way,
00:12:14.69\00:12:16.06
He is predestined the
way for all to come to Him.
00:12:16.09\00:12:19.60
And so you mentioned Ephesians,
I'm gonna read that passage
00:12:19.63\00:12:22.88
that's where I would go.
00:12:22.91\00:12:24.30
Ephesians 1:4 "Just
as He chose us in Him
00:12:24.33\00:12:29.80
before the
foundation of the world."
00:12:29.83\00:12:31.82
Now the import of that verse.
00:12:31.85\00:12:33.71
Before the
foundation of the world,
00:12:33.74\00:12:35.21
He choose us in Christ.
00:12:35.24\00:12:37.86
So who is he
selecting? Everyone. Right.
00:12:37.89\00:12:40.54
From the foundation of the
world before even we were born,
00:12:40.57\00:12:43.09
He chose us for redemption.
00:12:43.12\00:12:46.69
Well, and it says
that let's read on.
00:12:46.72\00:12:48.73
"That we should be holy
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.13
and without blame
before Him in love,
00:12:50.16\00:12:51.84
having predestined
us to adoption as sons
00:12:51.87\00:12:55.90
by Jesus Christ to Himself
00:12:55.93\00:12:57.37
according to the good
pleasure of His will."
00:12:57.40\00:13:00.88
So this predestined,
00:13:00.91\00:13:03.53
this pre-destiny
is a preparedness,
00:13:03.56\00:13:06.17
it's a provision made
00:13:06.20\00:13:07.57
prior to the
foundation of the world
00:13:07.60\00:13:10.15
that when sin were to occur,
when sin did occur as it has
00:13:10.18\00:13:14.40
that we would have the ability
to through Christ be redeemed
00:13:14.43\00:13:18.73
and be adopted as sons
and daughters of God again.
00:13:18.76\00:13:22.58
Everyone is
predestined to that adoption,
00:13:22.61\00:13:28.68
but we're not predetermined
00:13:28.71\00:13:30.78
that it's going
to happen. Right.
00:13:30.81\00:13:33.45
Nor are we predetermine
that being lost will happen.
00:13:33.48\00:13:37.14
That's right. Predestination
is not predetermination.
00:13:37.17\00:13:40.16
Predestination is
simply a way has been prepared
00:13:40.19\00:13:44.02
and made available for all.
00:13:44.05\00:13:45.75
Jesus died for the
sins of the whole world.
00:13:45.78\00:13:50.52
So He is already
died for every sin
00:13:50.55\00:13:53.71
that will ever be committed.
00:13:53.74\00:13:55.11
The issue is whether or not
we will accept His invitation
00:13:55.14\00:13:58.16
and then His
destiny that He set for us
00:13:58.19\00:14:01.38
as sons and daughters in God.
00:14:01.41\00:14:03.33
Right, John,
thank you very much.
00:14:03.36\00:14:05.55
I'm going to
John-- we're in the John,
00:14:05.58\00:14:08.00
we're in the John
motive John, John,
00:14:08.03\00:14:10.43
but we're in the Book
of John. Go to John 1.
00:14:10.46\00:14:14.86
This is not 1 John,
but the Book of John.
00:14:14.89\00:14:18.83
Talking about this
whole predetermine thing.
00:14:18.86\00:14:20.75
Now no one could have
been more predetermined
00:14:20.78\00:14:23.73
if you want to use
the phrase predestined
00:14:23.76\00:14:26.15
than the people He chose.
00:14:26.18\00:14:28.37
But its one thing
for Christ to choose us,
00:14:28.40\00:14:32.57
its something altogether
different for us to choose Him,
00:14:32.60\00:14:36.32
because it says in
John 1:10 down to verse 12
00:14:36.35\00:14:43.81
"He was in the world
00:14:43.84\00:14:45.82
and the world was
made through him or by him
00:14:45.85\00:14:49.57
and the world did not know him.
00:14:49.60\00:14:52.44
He came to his own
00:14:52.47\00:14:54.55
and his own did
not receive him."
00:14:54.58\00:14:58.00
Now what so big about--
now I want you to get this,
00:14:58.03\00:15:00.92
His own that
means He claims them,
00:15:00.95\00:15:03.94
but they don't
claim Him, you see.
00:15:03.97\00:15:06.91
And then verse 12 "But
as many as received him,
00:15:06.94\00:15:13.14
to them he gave
the right or power
00:15:13.17\00:15:16.19
to become the children of God
00:15:16.22\00:15:19.31
to those who
believe in his name."
00:15:19.34\00:15:20.95
Notice what they become.
00:15:20.98\00:15:23.12
That means they
were not that before.
00:15:23.15\00:15:26.83
He chose them as far
as I love all humanity
00:15:26.86\00:15:29.34
that's the choosing.
00:15:29.37\00:15:30.74
But what do they
become by choosing Him.
00:15:30.77\00:15:34.80
They become something
that they were not before.
00:15:34.83\00:15:37.49
They become children of God.
00:15:37.52\00:15:39.68
Sure, they were not programmed
to be children of God.
00:15:39.71\00:15:44.45
The provision was made
00:15:44.48\00:15:45.85
and once they
receive the provision
00:15:45.88\00:15:47.56
they became the children of God.
00:15:47.59\00:15:48.96
Once they made the decision
00:15:48.99\00:15:50.45
to accept Christ
and that's the thing.
00:15:50.48\00:15:52.62
He doesn't decide who's
lost and who's saved. Right.
00:15:52.65\00:15:55.36
We decide whether or not
we will be lost or saved.
00:15:55.39\00:15:58.66
He's already made the
provision for salvation.
00:15:58.69\00:16:00.59
We must make that
choice is to whether or not
00:16:00.62\00:16:02.79
we will accept that
or we will reject Him.
00:16:02.82\00:16:06.59
Joshua 24:15, here it is.
00:16:06.62\00:16:10.63
"And if it seems evil
to you to serve the Lord,
00:16:15.47\00:16:19.19
choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve,"
00:16:19.22\00:16:22.98
There it is, you
got to make the choice.
00:16:23.01\00:16:25.58
"Whether the gods
which your fathers served
00:16:25.61\00:16:27.38
that were on the
other side of the river,
00:16:27.41\00:16:29.18
or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell.
00:16:29.21\00:16:32.69
But as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord."
00:16:32.72\00:16:37.82
See so that's a
choice you have to make,
00:16:37.85\00:16:39.89
choose you today.
00:16:39.92\00:16:41.62
So the young lady
who is 16-years-old--
00:16:41.65\00:16:44.17
let me just tell
you, 'cause hey were you,
00:16:44.20\00:16:46.63
were you ever 16, John?
00:16:46.66\00:16:48.72
I think I skip that
one. You skip that one.
00:16:48.75\00:16:51.09
I'm not sure if I skip the
one, but I think I may have,
00:16:51.12\00:16:53.90
I think I may have bumped
into 16 somewhere along the way.
00:16:53.93\00:16:56.89
But if I have
forgotten I know I was 15
00:16:56.92\00:17:00.12
and I know I was 17
chances I was 16 also.
00:17:00.15\00:17:03.95
You see that's a very ripe
age for confusion to sit in.
00:17:03.98\00:17:07.80
Who am I, what am
I, where am I headed?
00:17:07.83\00:17:11.05
And she is hearing
from all her friends,
00:17:11.09\00:17:12.74
she is hearing from friends,
00:17:12.77\00:17:14.14
she is probably
hearing from maybe,
00:17:14.17\00:17:16.30
depending on
where she's in school,
00:17:16.33\00:17:17.70
she is hearing from
teachers or other things, so.
00:17:17.73\00:17:19.10
Twittering,
texting, peer pressure,
00:17:19.13\00:17:21.58
societies
pressures, fads, fashions,
00:17:21.61\00:17:26.04
the music, the entertainment,
you are being bombarded,
00:17:26.07\00:17:29.65
you are under
attack at 16 years old.
00:17:29.68\00:17:33.90
Whether to be wearing
black, not to wear black.
00:17:33.93\00:17:37.32
Whether to wear
jewelry, not to wear jewelry.
00:17:37.35\00:17:40.42
How should I
live, what should I do?
00:17:40.45\00:17:43.49
Do people love me,
do my friends hate me.
00:17:43.52\00:17:46.32
I mean that's
just the turbulence
00:17:46.35\00:17:47.98
of the blender of 16 years old.
00:17:48.01\00:17:49.84
And we're not minimizing
that you're going to this.
00:17:49.87\00:17:51.85
We're saying
that we've been there
00:17:51.88\00:17:54.15
and it's not like
adults just don't know
00:17:54.18\00:17:56.18
what's going on.
Oh, we've been there.
00:17:56.21\00:17:57.77
We've been there, but
we've gotten through that
00:17:57.80\00:18:00.60
praise the Lord
we've passed that.
00:18:00.63\00:18:03.17
So we actually
sympathize with teenagers.
00:18:03.20\00:18:06.62
Somebody asked me
the other day, he said
00:18:06.65\00:18:08.80
if you could do
it all over again,
00:18:08.83\00:18:10.20
would you do it all over
again? I said, no. No way.
00:18:10.23\00:18:12.56
I'm not going through--
that's why there was a show
00:18:12.59\00:18:15.45
many years ago
called "The Wonder Years"
00:18:15.48\00:18:16.89
and truly we wonder--
we look at our children
00:18:16.92\00:18:19.17
sometimes this kids shows up
at the breakfast table you say
00:18:19.20\00:18:23.76
"hey, honey who is that?
00:18:23.79\00:18:26.69
What happened to our daughter?"
00:18:26.72\00:18:28.15
They kind of
look like us, but...
00:18:28.18\00:18:30.24
Do you-- my daughter was it,
00:18:30.27\00:18:31.81
do you know what happen
could you go in her room
00:18:31.84\00:18:33.39
and tell my daughter
come out. Dad it is me.
00:18:33.42\00:18:36.16
My parents used to say
00:18:36.19\00:18:38.05
"Go in you room and
comeback out again."
00:18:38.08\00:18:41.96
And we're not minimizing,
00:18:41.99\00:18:43.36
but this is the
world we're living in.
00:18:43.39\00:18:44.93
So for this young
girl at 16 years old
00:18:44.96\00:18:47.01
to be questioning various
ideas our culture and our faith,
00:18:47.04\00:18:51.78
hey, thank God that she
is actually questioning that.
00:18:51.81\00:18:55.00
But what we want
to give you the--
00:18:55.03\00:18:56.41
is the ammunition to say,
00:18:56.44\00:18:58.34
say to her "God's
got a plan for your life,
00:18:58.37\00:19:00.27
but here's where
the plan gets unfolded.
00:19:00.30\00:19:02.33
Mom here's where the plan--
here's the ammunition you need."
00:19:02.36\00:19:06.31
Say to your daughter.
00:19:06.34\00:19:09.03
If you want that
power that is available
00:19:09.06\00:19:11.22
you have to
receive Christ in your life
00:19:11.25\00:19:12.84
as many as received Him,
00:19:12.87\00:19:15.18
to them He gave the
power the right to become.
00:19:15.21\00:19:19.42
So if she wants to
find out what she can become
00:19:19.45\00:19:21.48
just accept Christ.
00:19:21.51\00:19:22.94
And I tell you,
John didn't know it
00:19:22.97\00:19:25.16
and neither did I,
this fast driven teenager,
00:19:25.19\00:19:30.37
this drug experimental
kid, this--he didn't know
00:19:30.40\00:19:34.68
where God's plan
was gonna lead him
00:19:34.71\00:19:36.58
neither did I this
gambling, pool hustling,
00:19:36.61\00:19:39.89
partier from the
streets of New York City
00:19:39.92\00:19:41.99
I don't know where
that was all gonna lead us.
00:19:42.02\00:19:44.07
But what happened.
00:19:44.10\00:19:45.47
We submitted and simply
say, Lord, okay, take us
00:19:45.50\00:19:47.88
we don't know
what we're gonna do
00:19:47.91\00:19:49.62
and here we are today.
00:19:49.65\00:19:51.02
Yeah, but we
were on borrowed time
00:19:51.05\00:19:54.13
that whole time and really I
can say I wish in looking back
00:19:54.16\00:19:59.02
that I had made the
decision earlier. Yes.
00:19:59.05\00:20:03.22
Rather than had gone
through those things.
00:20:03.25\00:20:04.62
Lot's of kids today
will say, you know what,
00:20:04.65\00:20:06.80
I just want to
experience the pleasures of life
00:20:06.83\00:20:08.30
and then at some point
give my life to the Lord
00:20:08.33\00:20:11.46
everything will be
okay. Let me tell you.
00:20:11.49\00:20:13.37
The devil everyday
wants to take you out
00:20:13.40\00:20:16.81
and it's better to make the
decision today not tomorrow,
00:20:16.84\00:20:20.48
because you need
Christ on your side.
00:20:20.51\00:20:23.73
You need to be aligned
with Him. That's right.
00:20:23.76\00:20:26.00
I like just one last
text on this John 3:16-18,
00:20:26.03\00:20:30.46
let's now start with 16.
00:20:30.49\00:20:31.86
Go for it. That's right.
00:20:31.89\00:20:33.26
"For God so loved the world,
00:20:33.29\00:20:34.66
that he gave his
only begotten Son,
00:20:34.69\00:20:36.06
that whosoever believes
in him should not perish,
00:20:36.09\00:20:38.06
but have everlasting life.
00:20:38.09\00:20:39.79
For God did not sent his
Son into the world" to do what?
00:20:39.82\00:20:42.61
Condemn it. "To
condemn the world."
00:20:42.64\00:20:44.67
So that means and
it's the world here,
00:20:44.70\00:20:47.17
is He condemning anybody?
00:20:47.20\00:20:49.69
Well, you know, I didn't.
00:20:49.72\00:20:51.09
If people say predestination
is some are condemned,
00:20:51.12\00:20:53.50
some are lost
and some are saved.
00:20:53.53\00:20:55.16
He have to be
condemning those that were lost.
00:20:55.19\00:20:58.54
But He did not condemn the world
00:20:58.57\00:21:00.93
"But that the world
through Him might be saved."
00:21:00.96\00:21:04.26
He who believes, and
here is the factor right here.
00:21:04.29\00:21:07.42
Here is what makes
that salvation possible.
00:21:07.45\00:21:10.71
"He who believes in
Him is not condemned;
00:21:10.74\00:21:14.06
but he who does not believe
is condemned already," why?
00:21:14.09\00:21:19.01
"Because he has not
believed in the name
00:21:19.04\00:21:20.91
of the only begotten Son of God.
00:21:20.94\00:21:23.04
And this is the condemnation,
00:21:23.07\00:21:24.83
that the light has
come into the world,
00:21:24.86\00:21:26.23
and men loved
darkness rather than light,
00:21:26.26\00:21:27.82
because their deeds were evil."
00:21:27.85\00:21:30.05
Fact is we love sin.
00:21:30.08\00:21:32.40
It's what our
bodies are drawn to.
00:21:32.43\00:21:33.95
We love the
pleasures of this world.
00:21:33.98\00:21:35.62
We have to choose not to
engage in those pleasures
00:21:35.65\00:21:38.74
when we choose
Christ. That's right.
00:21:38.77\00:21:40.14
And that can be a
very difficult choice
00:21:40.17\00:21:41.54
especially for
these early years,
00:21:41.57\00:21:43.75
these teenage years through
up through college years.
00:21:43.78\00:21:46.80
It is a challenge but
you'll never regret later
00:21:46.83\00:21:50.02
making the decision not to
follow the way of the world.
00:21:50.05\00:21:52.48
That's right, that's why it's
important to make a decision
00:21:52.51\00:21:54.99
'cause lot of friends we've
had and I keep this young lady,
00:21:55.02\00:21:58.63
we need to keep
her in our prayers,
00:21:58.66\00:22:01.22
but all young people whether
they're in the church or not
00:22:01.25\00:22:04.08
need to be kept in our prayers
because it's a pivotal age.
00:22:04.11\00:22:07.41
To make it out of the teenage
years is a blessing nowadays.
00:22:07.44\00:22:11.87
It's a blessing in any age.
00:22:11.90\00:22:14.07
I lost a lot of
friends growing up
00:22:14.10\00:22:16.05
because they
were making decisions.
00:22:16.08\00:22:17.46
Some of them
thought they had more time.
00:22:17.49\00:22:18.96
I even had friends
that went to school with me,
00:22:18.99\00:22:20.62
went to church school
with me and some of them got
00:22:20.65\00:22:23.59
experimental after
they left church school
00:22:23.62\00:22:25.38
and now they're, they're dead.
00:22:25.41\00:22:27.64
So we're not
trying to frighten you,
00:22:27.67\00:22:29.40
what we're simply saying
00:22:29.43\00:22:30.80
life is such a gift
that as a 16-year-old,
00:22:30.83\00:22:34.15
one of the best
things you can do to your--
00:22:34.18\00:22:36.01
for your daughter say, Honey,
let me just sit you down and say
00:22:36.04\00:22:39.26
there's so many things
you can choose to be in life.
00:22:39.29\00:22:41.51
But whatever you
choose to be in life,
00:22:41.54\00:22:44.34
let it be
according to the will of God.
00:22:44.37\00:22:46.90
And then when it's
according to the will of God,
00:22:46.93\00:22:49.51
He'll bless
your life abundantly.
00:22:49.54\00:22:51.96
John, do you have
one more question?
00:22:51.99\00:22:53.36
I have one more
question here. Okay.
00:22:53.39\00:22:54.76
This question is
from Millamoe from Zambia.
00:22:54.79\00:23:02.71
Oh, man. Wow, praise God.
00:23:02.74\00:23:04.66
And it comes from the other,
the other side of the world.
00:23:04.69\00:23:08.07
How can one draw a line between
a genuine drive for enterprise
00:23:08.10\00:23:13.47
and the pure love for money?
00:23:13.50\00:23:16.51
Is there room for Christians
to become notable entrepreneurs
00:23:16.54\00:23:19.89
without putting money
as the prime motivation?
00:23:19.92\00:23:23.32
Quick answer,
absolutely yes. Of course.
00:23:23.35\00:23:25.44
So let's go to 1 Timothy 6.
00:23:25.47\00:23:27.71
I think it provides a
real good balance here.
00:23:27.74\00:23:29.11
Okay, very good,
all right. 1 Timothy 6.
00:23:29.14\00:23:31.72
And we'll begin with verse 6.
00:23:31.75\00:23:34.84
"Now godliness with
contentment is great gain.
00:23:34.87\00:23:40.75
For we brought
nothing into this world,
00:23:40.78\00:23:42.93
and it is certain we
can carry nothing out."
00:23:42.96\00:23:47.90
So accumulating goods
here in this world for somehow
00:23:47.93\00:23:51.62
a benefit to us for later
life is absolutely not true.
00:23:51.65\00:23:55.98
In fact, the Egyptians
used to bury their kings
00:23:56.01\00:23:58.53
with all kinds of
provisions and goods
00:23:58.56\00:24:00.45
just to carry them to
the afterlife with a benefit
00:24:00.48\00:24:02.48
with a zip up, which
is absolutely unbiblical.
00:24:02.51\00:24:05.97
We can carry nothing out
because we brought nothing in.
00:24:06.00\00:24:09.18
But now look it
goes on here verse 8,
00:24:09.21\00:24:11.62
"And having food and clothing,
with these we shall be content.
00:24:11.65\00:24:16.02
But those who
desire" here's the key
00:24:16.05\00:24:18.16
"those who desire to be rich
00:24:18.19\00:24:21.45
fall into
temptation and a snare."
00:24:21.48\00:24:24.08
Not those who are wealthy
but those who desire to be rich.
00:24:24.11\00:24:29.20
What is their goal?
00:24:29.23\00:24:30.79
Their goal is riches.
00:24:30.82\00:24:32.19
Right. They want money.
00:24:32.22\00:24:33.67
They want to make money
for the sake of being rich.
00:24:33.70\00:24:36.76
"And into many
foolish and harmful lusts
00:24:36.79\00:24:39.05
which drown men in
destruction and perdition.
00:24:39.08\00:24:42.99
For the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil,
00:24:43.02\00:24:47.70
for which some have strayed
00:24:47.73\00:24:49.10
from the faith
in their greediness,
00:24:49.13\00:24:50.86
and pierced themselves
through many sorrows."
00:24:50.89\00:24:53.39
This world has
become a greedy place.
00:24:53.42\00:24:57.89
We see frequent
manifestations of that
00:24:57.92\00:25:00.58
through our
recent financial crises,
00:25:00.61\00:25:03.58
the greediness and the
different kinds of things
00:25:03.61\00:25:05.82
they were using being inventive
for a temporary quick buck,
00:25:05.85\00:25:11.28
risky
investments things like that,
00:25:11.31\00:25:12.76
putting at risk our entire
economy for their pleasure.
00:25:12.79\00:25:17.31
They desire to be rich.
00:25:17.34\00:25:19.34
They were greedy in that respect
00:25:19.37\00:25:21.30
and God will
judge them for that.
00:25:21.33\00:25:23.30
I'm not gonna judge
them, that's, that's God.
00:25:23.33\00:25:24.89
But God clearly is saying
00:25:24.92\00:25:26.29
the desire for
riches is not good.
00:25:26.32\00:25:29.04
But now God, we find evidence,
00:25:29.07\00:25:31.34
the scripture that God over
and over blessed his people,
00:25:31.37\00:25:34.59
many of His people
with wealth. That's right.
00:25:34.62\00:25:38.35
But here's what I would say.
00:25:38.38\00:25:39.75
He blesses those with wealth
00:25:39.78\00:25:41.68
those are His people
with wealth who can handle it.
00:25:41.71\00:25:45.10
And I know that there
are some who have abused that
00:25:45.13\00:25:47.22
and have not handled it so well.
00:25:47.25\00:25:49.49
But to some
degree I thank the Lord
00:25:49.52\00:25:52.12
for not making me a millionaire
because I be in trouble I think.
00:25:52.15\00:25:57.83
I like to think I
wouldn't... Right.
00:25:57.86\00:25:59.56
But I just know
that God knows best
00:25:59.59\00:26:03.15
and if I had a lot of
wealth the tendency is that we--
00:26:03.18\00:26:07.11
our minds get drawn
away for caring and worrying
00:26:07.14\00:26:09.44
about those things we posses
rather than for the gospel
00:26:09.47\00:26:13.61
and making sure that
we are doing the work
00:26:13.64\00:26:15.17
that God has given
us to do. That's right.
00:26:15.20\00:26:16.82
I'll tell you one of the
most difficult things, John,
00:26:16.85\00:26:18.68
to do was to make that decision.
00:26:18.71\00:26:21.27
Rochelle and I had
a battle over this.
00:26:21.30\00:26:22.67
I don't know how, you
know, how furious this was
00:26:22.70\00:26:24.21
but we had a battle
over leaving the job I had
00:26:24.24\00:26:28.34
for $2000 a month stipend
and Rochelle having no job.
00:26:28.37\00:26:33.68
She had a job, I had a
very well paying career.
00:26:33.71\00:26:38.25
We left both... That's
right, I remember that.
00:26:38.28\00:26:40.10
To be come an
associate pastor/Bible worker
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.73
on 2000 a month
stipend. I remember that.
00:26:42.76\00:26:46.18
And I... That was huge.
00:26:46.21\00:26:48.85
How does this gonna work?
00:26:48.88\00:26:50.25
We did not know how
this was gonna work.
00:26:50.28\00:26:53.21
And I think if I
had stayed in that--
00:26:53.24\00:26:55.74
I'm not saying my salvation
would have been on stake,
00:26:55.77\00:26:57.57
I'm just saying that I would
not have done the Lord's will.
00:26:57.60\00:26:59.13
He clearly made it
known that He wanted me
00:26:59.16\00:27:00.66
to get into the ministry
but, but that issue that battle
00:27:00.69\00:27:05.90
I think if I had
chosen the riches
00:27:05.93\00:27:08.77
that maybe it would
have been pursuing wealth
00:27:08.80\00:27:10.64
rather than pursuing God's will.
00:27:10.67\00:27:12.80
And so we all have that battle,
00:27:12.83\00:27:15.07
but we do all
need to make a living
00:27:15.10\00:27:16.96
and He doesn't call everyone
into ministry so to speak.
00:27:16.99\00:27:20.16
We all have
ministries we do but,
00:27:20.19\00:27:22.33
but we have to make a
living as Paul made a living
00:27:22.36\00:27:25.37
making tents and
other things that he did.
00:27:25.40\00:27:28.45
But we have to be careful
to not to cross that line
00:27:28.48\00:27:31.02
of just desiring
riches. That's right.
00:27:31.05\00:27:33.47
Just, let's make
enough to sustain me
00:27:33.50\00:27:35.34
so God can
provide for what I need
00:27:35.37\00:27:36.95
and then let's get to
the work of the gospel.
00:27:36.98\00:27:38.90
You know one of the
things that's so beautiful
00:27:38.93\00:27:40.30
about the decision
you and Rochelle made
00:27:40.33\00:27:41.70
and we were
friends there in California
00:27:41.73\00:27:44.79
before we moved to the Midwest
00:27:44.82\00:27:46.49
and invited you guys
to come out and join.
00:27:46.52\00:27:48.97
It was through your
work that, that we ended up
00:27:49.00\00:27:50.98
getting that call in
ministry. So God used you.
00:27:51.01\00:27:53.08
Well, not even that,
I'm, praise God for that.
00:27:53.11\00:27:56.01
I mean, He used Pastor
Batchelor to get me in.
00:27:56.04\00:27:57.92
We all are in God's work
and He calls us in various ways
00:27:57.95\00:28:01.20
that's not what I'm
pointing out though.
00:28:01.23\00:28:02.88
I knew that, I remember you guys
00:28:02.91\00:28:04.48
had just brought a
beautiful new home and every now
00:28:04.51\00:28:07.53
and then we go back to
Fairfield and look at it.
00:28:07.56\00:28:09.37
This is just kind of,
this is personal stuff here.
00:28:09.40\00:28:11.70
And we realize how
many people would have loved
00:28:11.73\00:28:14.98
to have been in the
position you were in,
00:28:15.01\00:28:17.01
but the text I just
read a moment it says,
00:28:17.04\00:28:19.90
godliness with
contentment is great gain.
00:28:19.93\00:28:25.73
It didn't say great gain
with contentment is godliness.
00:28:25.76\00:28:30.11
It didn't say contentment
with great gain is godliness.
00:28:30.14\00:28:33.72
It says, godliness
first with contentment.
00:28:33.75\00:28:36.26
So God had you guys
wrapped in a beautiful,
00:28:36.29\00:28:39.35
you guys were
wrapped in a beautiful set,
00:28:39.38\00:28:40.99
both of you very well
employed, making good money,
00:28:41.02\00:28:43.75
living in the bay
area, nice new home,
00:28:43.78\00:28:46.59
a home that just
par none you built it,
00:28:46.62\00:28:49.33
you guys built it yourself
00:28:49.36\00:28:51.21
but your heart was
desiring and this is the key.
00:28:51.24\00:28:54.73
Your heart was
desiring the godliness
00:28:54.76\00:28:58.60
to get away from the great gain.
00:28:58.63\00:29:00.83
And thus kind of
answering the question
00:29:00.86\00:29:02.89
of the 16-year-old girl
we'll never know anybody,
00:29:02.92\00:29:05.82
we'll never know how
much God can do for us
00:29:05.85\00:29:08.38
until we take that faith walk.
00:29:08.41\00:29:10.18
And it was-- I know
it was kind of tough
00:29:10.21\00:29:12.12
because there was
not very much to offer
00:29:12.15\00:29:14.05
but just a sliver of wealth.
00:29:14.08\00:29:16.30
I don't know what's on
the other side of the story
00:29:16.33\00:29:17.70
but so far this is
all that can come out.
00:29:17.73\00:29:19.70
And look at your life today,
look at your wife's life today,
00:29:19.73\00:29:21.82
look at our lives today. And...
00:29:21.85\00:29:24.35
God has done more
than we could ask or think.
00:29:24.38\00:29:27.39
And what's most important
is, for those if you don't know
00:29:27.42\00:29:30.38
what this show is
an answering to what,
00:29:30.41\00:29:33.48
is an answer to
our desire years ago.
00:29:33.51\00:29:35.82
It was birth in
1998 roughly. Yeah.
00:29:35.85\00:29:38.77
Yeah, we talked about it
sitting in our living room.
00:29:38.80\00:29:40.97
We said, wouldn't it be
wonderful one day if God,
00:29:41.00\00:29:44.19
if we could just kind
of have a Bible program
00:29:44.22\00:29:46.84
where we could sit down
and share this with the world?
00:29:46.87\00:29:50.05
And we were thinking
about selling everything
00:29:50.08\00:29:51.66
and getting a bus and driving
00:29:51.69\00:29:53.06
around the
evangelists all over the world.
00:29:53.09\00:29:54.86
And God said, wait,
wait guys, wait, wait, wait.
00:29:54.89\00:29:57.02
I got it. I got it.
00:29:57.05\00:29:58.42
I know where you need to be
00:29:58.45\00:29:59.82
but I got to
work this thing out.
00:29:59.85\00:30:01.22
Now you leave, I get
John out there eventually
00:30:01.25\00:30:03.72
don't worry about it.
00:30:03.75\00:30:05.12
We'll work it out. I
know where you need to be.
00:30:05.15\00:30:06.52
That's what the
predestinating is all about.
00:30:06.55\00:30:08.60
God sees the
desires of our heart
00:30:08.63\00:30:11.28
and when we commit
our ways to the Lord
00:30:11.31\00:30:13.25
what does He do?
00:30:13.28\00:30:14.65
He gives us the desires
of our heart. That's right.
00:30:14.68\00:30:17.58
So we hope that
today we've encouraged you.
00:30:17.61\00:30:19.72
We don't always just want
to answer Bible questions.
00:30:19.75\00:30:21.49
We want to take the
time sometimes to encourage
00:30:21.52\00:30:23.31
those of you who are
listening to the program,
00:30:23.34\00:30:25.40
we don't want to be
sta--well, Bible answer,
00:30:25.43\00:30:27.91
question answer but
there are those of us
00:30:27.94\00:30:30.15
who are wanting to encourage
you to just trust the Lord.
00:30:30.18\00:30:34.09
Put Him to the test
and He will truly open
00:30:34.12\00:30:36.49
the windows of
heaven always to bless you.
00:30:36.52\00:30:38.97
If you have anymore
questions you like to send to us
00:30:39.00\00:30:40.63
or any comments
you can send those
00:30:40.66\00:30:42.43
to housecalls@3abn.org
that's housecalls@3abn.org
00:30:42.46\00:30:48.10
and we'll try our best
to get to those questions
00:30:48.13\00:30:50.48
and God bless you
for all that you do.
00:30:50.51\00:30:53.03
Now, John, take us to the second
half of the--of our study today.
00:30:53.06\00:30:56.79
We begin the in Christ
motive and I just tell you
00:30:56.82\00:30:59.64
this is one of the
best ones in the Bible.
00:30:59.67\00:31:01.41
Yeah, yeah. Salvation in
Christ, what does that mean?
00:31:01.44\00:31:04.49
And I think we began
to really unwrap that
00:31:04.52\00:31:06.39
here this last program.
00:31:06.42\00:31:08.01
And talk about that
being in Christ is everything.
00:31:08.04\00:31:11.63
But we must
choose to be in Christ,
00:31:11.66\00:31:14.02
to put on Christ, to cast off
00:31:14.05\00:31:16.22
the works of
darkness and to as Paul said
00:31:16.25\00:31:19.22
to die daily allowing
Christ to be our all in all
00:31:19.25\00:31:22.19
each and every day that we live.
00:31:22.22\00:31:24.80
And we read a
text, we kind of segue
00:31:24.83\00:31:26.83
to abiding in Christ
talking about abiding
00:31:26.86\00:31:28.94
and residing close and
keeping Him on. That's right.
00:31:28.97\00:31:33.44
As we read that passage
there's some wording at there
00:31:33.47\00:31:36.37
that I think bothers some
00:31:36.40\00:31:38.19
but we need to kind of
unpack what that means.
00:31:38.22\00:31:40.41
Because there's a
teaching out there today, John,
00:31:40.44\00:31:42.39
that says, that
once we had been saved,
00:31:42.42\00:31:45.65
once we've put on Christ
that we cannot take Him off.
00:31:45.68\00:31:50.45
That we will
never be without Christ.
00:31:50.48\00:31:54.78
We will never live
without Christ again
00:31:54.81\00:31:57.87
regardless of
what we would choose.
00:31:57.90\00:32:00.77
And of course the quick
statement of what belief is
00:32:00.80\00:32:04.65
"Once saved,
always saved." Right.
00:32:04.68\00:32:07.69
Is "Once saved, always saved"
00:32:07.72\00:32:10.06
theology is that
doctrine in the Bible.
00:32:10.09\00:32:12.38
Did Christ teach that? No.
00:32:12.41\00:32:13.90
We need to ask
that question. Okay.
00:32:13.93\00:32:15.56
And we'll go
through various text today,
00:32:15.59\00:32:17.27
but I want to read
from John 15 first again,
00:32:17.30\00:32:19.59
it kind of launch us there
because this passage is here,
00:32:19.62\00:32:21.80
John 15:4 and 5.
The abiding text.
00:32:21.83\00:32:24.87
"Abide in me, and I in you.
00:32:24.90\00:32:27.54
As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself,
00:32:27.57\00:32:29.48
unless it abides in the vine,
00:32:29.51\00:32:30.88
neither can you,
unless you abide in me.
00:32:30.91\00:32:33.21
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
00:32:33.24\00:32:35.64
He who abides
in me and I in him,
00:32:35.67\00:32:37.45
bears much fruit, for
without me you can do nothing."
00:32:37.48\00:32:40.08
It is clear that when
you're pruning the branch
00:32:40.11\00:32:42.23
and you cut its branches off,
00:32:42.26\00:32:43.68
what happens to those branches?
00:32:43.71\00:32:45.89
They wither.
They wither and die.
00:32:45.92\00:32:47.73
Now notice this verse 6,
"If anyone does not abide in me
00:32:47.76\00:32:51.93
he is cast out as a
branch and is withered
00:32:51.96\00:32:55.64
and they gathered them
and thrown them into the fire,
00:32:55.67\00:32:57.73
and they are burned."
00:32:57.76\00:32:59.13
Okay, to be cast out, John,
00:32:59.16\00:33:02.54
you must first be attached
as a branch. That's right.
00:33:02.57\00:33:06.95
To be cast out
you've got to be first in.
00:33:06.98\00:33:10.39
So in this respect, as
far as Christ's own teaching
00:33:10.42\00:33:13.21
you must be-- there are people
00:33:13.24\00:33:14.68
who will be abiding
in Him at some point
00:33:14.71\00:33:17.18
but then will
choose not to abide in Him
00:33:17.21\00:33:19.57
and they will be
cast out. That's right.
00:33:19.60\00:33:22.54
And they will be
gathered together
00:33:22.57\00:33:24.64
and thrown into the
fire and they will be burned.
00:33:24.67\00:33:28.04
So there is
clearly a teaching within
00:33:28.07\00:33:31.19
according to the
Christ's own words
00:33:31.22\00:33:33.39
that just because
you've accepted Christ,
00:33:33.42\00:33:36.10
it does not mean
that you will always
00:33:36.13\00:33:38.94
by a predetermined
fact be saved in the end.
00:33:38.97\00:33:44.92
Now I'm not trying to
takeaway assurance here.
00:33:44.95\00:33:46.68
We'll talk about
assurance in little bit.
00:33:46.71\00:33:48.98
But what I'm
saying is that Christ
00:33:49.01\00:33:50.96
wants us to stay
connected by choice everyday,
00:33:50.99\00:33:54.95
allow Him to
trans, transform our lives
00:33:54.98\00:33:57.92
and make us who
He wants us to be,
00:33:57.95\00:33:59.78
but yet any time along that way
00:33:59.81\00:34:01.98
we choose not to go according
to His plan, we can be lost.
00:34:02.01\00:34:07.04
That is what the Bible teaches.
00:34:07.07\00:34:08.44
We're gonna get into some other
text in regard to this as well.
00:34:08.47\00:34:10.78
But that's at
least as our launch
00:34:10.81\00:34:12.89
that's where we're
going today. That's right.
00:34:12.92\00:34:14.83
To get a true
understanding of this
00:34:14.86\00:34:16.82
"Once saved, always
saved." Is it true, is it not,
00:34:16.85\00:34:19.06
what does Christ teach?
00:34:19.09\00:34:20.46
Okay, then I'll
hold off my verse
00:34:20.49\00:34:22.28
because there's a
verse in the Bible.
00:34:22.31\00:34:24.69
There're not a lot of verses
that you find 666 in the Bible.
00:34:24.72\00:34:28.74
But we're not
talking about Revelation,
00:34:28.77\00:34:30.21
there's a verse that's 666
00:34:30.24\00:34:33.37
and it talks about
I won't give it away
00:34:33.40\00:34:36.35
I'm just gonna let you
think about it for right now.
00:34:36.38\00:34:38.16
Well, let's go and
dive back into the incrust
00:34:38.19\00:34:40.24
666 is in the Bible
but not in Revelation
00:34:40.27\00:34:42.61
and I'll let
you figure that out.
00:34:42.64\00:34:44.49
It's just a little riddle but...
00:34:44.52\00:34:47.25
Well, let me, let me
share this text then.
00:34:47.28\00:34:49.18
Let's just do it,
let's share a few texts here
00:34:49.21\00:34:51.16
and then we can, we can
talk a little bit about this.
00:34:51.19\00:34:54.82
Okay, sure. Hebrews 6:4-6.
00:34:54.85\00:34:59.27
Okay, let's go there.
00:34:59.30\00:35:01.99
Hebrews 6:4-6.
00:35:02.02\00:35:07.88
You want to read
that on there or...
00:35:07.91\00:35:09.69
Okay, I have it. Hebrews
6 beginning with verse 4.
00:35:09.72\00:35:15.78
"For it is impossible for
those who were once enlightened,
00:35:15.81\00:35:21.33
and have tasted
the heavenly gift,
00:35:21.36\00:35:25.39
and have become
partakers of the Holy Spirit,
00:35:25.42\00:35:29.90
and have tasted
the good word of God,
00:35:29.93\00:35:33.63
and the powers
of the age to come."
00:35:33.66\00:35:37.25
Now first of all
you got to get this
00:35:37.28\00:35:38.92
because I see what verse
6 is going it start about--
00:35:38.95\00:35:44.08
it's imposs--what did they
do, what kind of experience?
00:35:44.11\00:35:46.62
They were enlightened,
they tasted heavenly gifts,
00:35:46.65\00:35:50.18
they became
partakers of the Holy Spirit,
00:35:50.21\00:35:52.83
they tasted the
good word of God,
00:35:52.86\00:35:55.80
and they even experienced
the powers of the age to come.
00:35:55.83\00:35:59.79
They were in
Christ, but what happens?
00:35:59.82\00:36:03.69
"If they fall away" verse 6
00:36:03.72\00:36:07.09
"To renew them
again to repentance,
00:36:07.12\00:36:09.67
since they crucify
again for themselves
00:36:09.70\00:36:14.01
the Son of God and
put him to open shame."
00:36:14.04\00:36:18.97
Wow, wow. That's powerful.
00:36:19.00\00:36:21.92
Now there could be
some misunderstanding
00:36:21.95\00:36:23.37
with this passage
because it says impossible.
00:36:23.40\00:36:26.09
People focus on
that word impossible.
00:36:26.12\00:36:28.37
So they almost
try to teach this,
00:36:28.40\00:36:30.67
"Once you fall
away always fall away."
00:36:30.70\00:36:33.64
And that's not really
what this passage is saying.
00:36:33.67\00:36:36.27
Let me try and put a little
bit of context to it here.
00:36:36.30\00:36:39.42
If someone is in Christ and he's
tasting of the heavenly gift
00:36:39.45\00:36:43.86
and living in the spirit
and doing all those things
00:36:43.89\00:36:46.07
that part of the joy that
we have in Christ everyday
00:36:46.10\00:36:50.05
and they through
circumstance, mistake, neglect
00:36:50.08\00:36:54.19
whatever it maybe
they began to be drawn away
00:36:54.22\00:36:56.86
and then it says fall away,
00:36:56.89\00:36:58.38
which is they go
back into the life of sin.
00:36:58.41\00:37:00.48
They choose to
be without Christ.
00:37:00.51\00:37:03.59
They choose a life of sin.
00:37:03.62\00:37:05.61
They choose the
former life they once had
00:37:05.64\00:37:07.94
to go back into that life.
00:37:07.97\00:37:09.34
It's impossible to renew
them again to repentance.
00:37:09.37\00:37:11.38
It's not saying that
God blocks them from,
00:37:11.41\00:37:15.00
from ever being saved again.
00:37:15.03\00:37:16.40
It's saying that
in that condition,
00:37:16.43\00:37:18.42
in that fallen condition,
00:37:18.45\00:37:19.82
in that choice of
not following Christ,
00:37:19.85\00:37:22.30
God cannot save them. Right.
00:37:22.33\00:37:26.06
So it is actually the opposite
of "once saved, always saved."
00:37:26.09\00:37:31.29
One that has
experienced salvation
00:37:31.32\00:37:33.41
but has fallen
away when they think
00:37:33.44\00:37:35.43
it's impossible to renew them.
00:37:35.46\00:37:36.83
In that condition of
fallen away they are lost.
00:37:36.86\00:37:39.93
They cannot be saved.
That's right. That's right.
00:37:39.96\00:37:42.43
So to say that
once you're saved,
00:37:42.46\00:37:43.83
you're always saved
according to this passage
00:37:43.86\00:37:45.53
it is absolutely
untrue. That's what...
00:37:45.56\00:37:49.21
We're giving kind of
some bad news here now. Okay.
00:37:49.24\00:37:51.18
But not necessarily
because we clarify this but,
00:37:51.21\00:37:53.87
but these are text that
they're typically aren't talked
00:37:53.90\00:37:56.04
about much when people talk
about assurance of salvation
00:37:56.07\00:37:58.77
and being saved
always by Christ.
00:37:58.80\00:38:03.16
The idea and, John,
00:38:03.19\00:38:05.10
alluded to this
actually-- didn't allude to it,
00:38:05.13\00:38:08.19
he actually
mentioned it the 3 P's
00:38:08.22\00:38:10.67
sometimes you go past that.
00:38:10.70\00:38:12.37
When we accept Jesus
Christ-- oh, wonderful example
00:38:12.40\00:38:15.15
the 3 P's were
effective in the life of the,
00:38:15.18\00:38:17.46
in the lives of the Israelites.
00:38:17.49\00:38:20.14
He saved them from the penalty.
00:38:20.17\00:38:22.55
They were all slaves in Egypt.
00:38:22.58\00:38:24.05
He brought them
out with a mighty hand.
00:38:24.08\00:38:27.05
In the wilderness
those who yielded to Christ
00:38:27.08\00:38:29.67
were saved from
the power of sin.
00:38:29.70\00:38:32.47
He quenched the
serpents and scorpions
00:38:32.50\00:38:34.76
that could have
claimed their lives.
00:38:34.79\00:38:36.73
That's those who yielded
to the power to be--I'm sorry,
00:38:36.76\00:38:42.41
those who were--
those who yielded to Christ
00:38:42.44\00:38:45.51
to be saved from
the power of sin.
00:38:45.54\00:38:48.33
And then, well, who made
it into the Promised Land?
00:38:48.36\00:38:52.27
Only a few made it into
the Promised Land. Now why?
00:38:52.30\00:38:56.14
Was it God's
intention that all those
00:38:56.17\00:38:57.90
who He brought out of Egypt
00:38:57.93\00:38:59.30
that He whittle them
down in the wilderness
00:38:59.33\00:39:01.25
and just only let a few go in.
00:39:01.28\00:39:02.95
Did He predestined
from the very beginning
00:39:02.98\00:39:04.75
that only a few are gonna,
00:39:04.78\00:39:06.15
only a few of you
are gonna make it in.
00:39:06.18\00:39:07.88
But just, let me
just bring you all out
00:39:07.91\00:39:09.28
just to kind of play with you.
00:39:09.31\00:39:10.91
No, they had to
make those choices.
00:39:10.94\00:39:13.32
And they lost their
confidence in God's ability
00:39:13.35\00:39:16.04
because remember
they went into the land,
00:39:16.07\00:39:17.55
to spy out the land.
00:39:17.58\00:39:19.10
Ten came back out of the 12 with
a report that we can't do this.
00:39:19.13\00:39:22.41
They lost their connection,
their dependence upon Christ
00:39:22.44\00:39:24.64
who delivered them from the
land of Egypt just shortly ago.
00:39:24.67\00:39:29.49
So in effect they fell away.
00:39:29.52\00:39:31.30
That's right,
they did fall away.
00:39:31.33\00:39:32.70
And didn't make
it to the kingdom.
00:39:32.73\00:39:34.10
That's why there's a
text here in Galatians 6:1,
00:39:34.13\00:39:37.76
look at Galatians 6:1.
00:39:37.79\00:39:41.05
We always read
verse 2 where it says,
00:39:41.08\00:39:42.62
"Bear one another's burdens"
but verse 1 in Galatians 6
00:39:42.65\00:39:46.13
is significant to how
important it is for us
00:39:46.16\00:39:49.89
to just understand
where we, where we live.
00:39:49.92\00:39:53.67
"Brethren, if a man is
overtaken in any trespass,
00:39:53.70\00:39:58.80
you who are spiritual restore
00:39:58.83\00:40:02.27
such a one in a
spirit of gentleness,
00:40:02.30\00:40:06.46
considering yourself
lest you also be tempted."
00:40:06.49\00:40:10.74
So what happens is
there, sometimes they are those
00:40:10.77\00:40:14.25
who can't recover themselves
00:40:14.28\00:40:17.17
because they're
taken captive by the enemy.
00:40:17.20\00:40:19.33
But there are those
of us who are spiritual.
00:40:19.36\00:40:21.53
Now we'll see a
brother or sister
00:40:21.56\00:40:23.29
struggling in a trespass,
00:40:23.32\00:40:27.19
but they
haven't got into a point
00:40:27.22\00:40:29.39
where they are not savable.
00:40:29.42\00:40:32.68
The text that
John read a moment ago,
00:40:32.71\00:40:34.82
they got to the
place where there were--
00:40:34.85\00:40:38.75
where they had
turned away from Christ.
00:40:38.78\00:40:40.83
Where they had
shut off the connection
00:40:40.86\00:40:42.89
between them and Christ
00:40:42.92\00:40:44.29
and he couldn't save
them in that condition.
00:40:44.32\00:40:47.02
And so those who don't repent
00:40:47.05\00:40:48.64
you find in the
Bible even in Revelation,
00:40:48.67\00:40:50.48
they are those who
will be outside of the city
00:40:50.51\00:40:52.96
because they did not
repent of their evil deeds,
00:40:52.99\00:40:54.88
their sorceries
and all the things
00:40:54.91\00:40:56.28
that were against
the government of God.
00:40:56.31\00:40:59.60
God is not gonna allow
sinners in when in fact
00:40:59.63\00:41:02.72
He came to defeat
everything connected to sin.
00:41:02.75\00:41:05.84
That Hebrews 10:26,
00:41:05.87\00:41:09.37
"If we sin willfully
after we have received
00:41:09.40\00:41:11.96
the knowledge of the truth."
00:41:11.99\00:41:13.92
Willful there is a decision
to go back into the life of sin.
00:41:13.95\00:41:17.40
Right. That's the willful sin.
00:41:17.43\00:41:18.96
It's I decide
now to do my own way,
00:41:18.99\00:41:21.43
to do my own thing
and to live my own way.
00:41:21.46\00:41:25.82
And listen to what happens.
00:41:25.85\00:41:27.22
If we sin
willfully after we receive
00:41:27.25\00:41:28.62
the knowledge of the
truth there no longer
00:41:28.65\00:41:30.02
remains a sacrifice
for sins. Why is that?
00:41:30.05\00:41:32.25
Because Christ no
longer is their mediator.
00:41:32.28\00:41:35.81
What else remains, verse 27.
00:41:35.84\00:41:37.70
Verse 27, "But a certain
fearful expectation of judgment
00:41:37.73\00:41:41.86
and fiery indignation, which
will devour the adversaries."
00:41:41.89\00:41:45.06
So here you have the
knowledge of the truth.
00:41:45.09\00:41:47.49
You receive that,
you accept the Christ,
00:41:47.52\00:41:49.13
but instead you
willingly went back into sin
00:41:49.16\00:41:52.00
and now you have nothing
but the expectation of judgment.
00:41:52.03\00:41:55.31
And what is that judgment?
00:41:55.34\00:41:56.71
Verse 29 talks
about that judgment.
00:41:56.74\00:41:58.27
You go ahead. You read that.
00:41:58.30\00:41:59.67
It says, "Of how
much worse punishment,
00:41:59.70\00:42:02.88
do you suppose, will
he be thought worthy,
00:42:02.91\00:42:06.60
who has trample the
Son of God under foot,
00:42:06.63\00:42:09.43
counting the
blood of the covenant,
00:42:09.46\00:42:12.38
by which he was
sanctified, a common thing,
00:42:12.41\00:42:15.56
and insulted the
Spirit of grace?"
00:42:15.59\00:42:18.32
So what's in essence,
what's happening here?
00:42:18.35\00:42:20.34
He's trampling
the Son of God afresh.
00:42:20.37\00:42:23.60
He's discounting the covenant
and he's insulting the spirit.
00:42:23.63\00:42:28.43
So he's using
these-- these are things
00:42:28.46\00:42:30.22
because he decides to
go back and willfully sin.
00:42:30.25\00:42:32.73
Go back after having understood
00:42:32.76\00:42:35.37
the importance of
standing firmly in his faith.
00:42:35.40\00:42:40.43
The punishment is worse.
00:42:40.46\00:42:42.38
I'm gonna share
something that is--
00:42:42.41\00:42:43.78
it may be little
baffling and I'll try
00:42:43.81\00:42:45.18
do it fairly quickly here. Okay.
00:42:45.21\00:42:46.58
I honestly believe that there
is a good intention by teaching
00:42:46.61\00:42:51.01
"Once saved, always saved."
00:42:51.04\00:42:52.67
The intention is to
give us assurance. Right.
00:42:52.70\00:42:54.83
You know what? I
agree with the part
00:42:54.86\00:42:56.47
that we should have assurance.
00:42:56.50\00:42:58.00
We should be
confident in our salvation
00:42:58.03\00:42:59.73
that we have in Christ.
00:42:59.76\00:43:01.41
Christ is our
own of, we're in Him,
00:43:01.44\00:43:03.43
we should be confident
in that. But here's a thing.
00:43:03.46\00:43:05.95
I think that the
"Once saved, always saved"
00:43:05.98\00:43:07.68
actually is more
appropriately titled
00:43:07.71\00:43:10.80
the doctrine of
insecurity. Oh, wow.
00:43:10.83\00:43:13.94
And I call it the doctrine
of insecurity because of this.
00:43:13.97\00:43:16.27
Just let's have a
conversation here.
00:43:16.30\00:43:17.74
So, John, so if,
what about the individual
00:43:17.77\00:43:21.97
that believed in Christ,
committed his way to Christ,
00:43:22.00\00:43:25.75
lived in Christ,
was part of the church,
00:43:25.78\00:43:27.48
was the leader in the church
but fell away committed murder.
00:43:27.51\00:43:30.41
Now he is on death row.
00:43:30.44\00:43:31.81
You talk to him, doesn't
want to talk about Christ.
00:43:31.84\00:43:33.92
Basically has walked away,
wants nothing to do with him.
00:43:33.95\00:43:36.60
Are they saved?
00:43:36.63\00:43:38.21
You know, what
the answer usually is
00:43:38.24\00:43:39.61
when you ask that question?
00:43:39.64\00:43:41.01
Well, they weren't really
saved in the first place. Yes.
00:43:41.04\00:43:45.65
That's always the answer
00:43:45.68\00:43:47.05
from the "Once saved,
always saved" proponent.
00:43:47.08\00:43:48.93
Well, one that is gone
away and lived their life
00:43:48.96\00:43:51.16
without Christ again they really
didn't receive the salvation,
00:43:51.19\00:43:53.44
the faith that saved.
00:43:53.47\00:43:54.84
They didn't proclaim the
faith that really saved them.
00:43:54.87\00:43:57.26
But they don't
ask the next question.
00:43:57.29\00:43:59.85
So then how did you know
that you are really saved
00:43:59.88\00:44:04.42
or you had made that
statement of faith that saves?
00:44:04.45\00:44:07.96
See so what it does, it's
actually breeds insecurity.
00:44:07.99\00:44:10.40
And you have
people walking around say,
00:44:10.43\00:44:12.47
I believe in
Jesus. Did that work?
00:44:12.50\00:44:15.88
Yeah, it's a
platform that's shaky at best.
00:44:15.91\00:44:18.91
Yeah, did I, did I take,
because there are people that,
00:44:18.94\00:44:21.20
you know, "Once
saved, always saved."
00:44:21.23\00:44:22.60
They say saved but
there are some that look
00:44:22.63\00:44:24.08
like they were saved but they
are lost now and did that work.
00:44:24.11\00:44:27.35
And so you breed
insecurity into what you think
00:44:27.38\00:44:30.43
is creating a situation
that is supposed to help
00:44:30.46\00:44:32.79
with your eternal security.
00:44:32.82\00:44:35.13
You see, but the scriptural
understanding of salvation that,
00:44:35.16\00:44:39.64
if you walk away from
Christ and begin to live in a--
00:44:39.67\00:44:41.67
a life of sin
that you can be lost
00:44:41.70\00:44:44.43
is actually
helps with my security,
00:44:44.46\00:44:46.08
because I know that
if I'm walking in Christ
00:44:46.11\00:44:48.42
and I depend upon
Him and I trust in Him,
00:44:48.45\00:44:50.93
I'm saved at that moment.
00:44:50.96\00:44:52.84
But if I walk outside
of Him, if I leave Him,
00:44:52.87\00:44:55.35
if I start to live a life of
sin, I'm lost at that moment.
00:44:55.38\00:44:58.32
I know depending upon how
I'm connected or disconnected
00:44:58.35\00:45:01.90
whether I'm saved or
lost. That is helpful to me.
00:45:01.93\00:45:06.45
I don't know, John, if
that makes any sense to you.
00:45:06.48\00:45:08.91
But I would rather know that
if I was committing life of sin
00:45:08.94\00:45:14.06
that I'm not doing
what God wants me to do.
00:45:14.09\00:45:17.18
I need to test
myself, I might be lost.
00:45:17.21\00:45:19.37
Matter of fact,
there's a text I might look
00:45:19.40\00:45:20.77
for right here is
in the Book of Luke.
00:45:20.80\00:45:22.78
Let me turn to
that, I might find it here
00:45:22.81\00:45:25.91
where the Lord said to
those who were following Him,
00:45:25.94\00:45:32.39
"Why call Me, Lord, Lord and do
not do the things which I say."
00:45:32.42\00:45:37.72
So in essence, what
happened to them eventually?
00:45:37.75\00:45:39.98
Let me give you the outcome
of what happened to them.
00:45:40.01\00:45:42.06
Go to John Chapter 6.
00:45:42.09\00:45:43.46
Let me get the mystery taken
care of here. Go to John 6.
00:45:43.49\00:45:48.36
Let me tell you
what happened with those
00:45:48.39\00:45:50.90
who fell into this
particular category.
00:45:50.93\00:45:53.32
John 6 and I guess
what verse we're going to.
00:45:53.35\00:45:59.67
John 6:66 and this is the 666.
00:45:59.70\00:46:06.55
Appropriately it
says here, "From that time
00:46:06.58\00:46:11.99
many of His disciples went back
and walked with Him no more."
00:46:12.02\00:46:19.97
They tasted of
the heavenly gift.
00:46:20.00\00:46:21.93
They escaped corruption
that was in the world.
00:46:21.96\00:46:25.55
They were with
Christ, they were with Christ.
00:46:25.58\00:46:29.29
They were a part of
the larger multitude.
00:46:29.32\00:46:31.29
He had the 12,
then he had the 70.
00:46:31.32\00:46:33.45
He sent out many
of them to witness
00:46:33.48\00:46:35.92
and then what happened is,
00:46:35.95\00:46:38.02
they along the way seen
the requirements of the gospel.
00:46:38.05\00:46:42.94
As Peter made that very clear
00:46:42.97\00:46:44.79
when Jesus talked to
the rich young ruler.
00:46:44.82\00:46:46.85
This rich young ruler
said, "Okay, what master,
00:46:46.88\00:46:49.33
what good thing or teacher,
00:46:49.36\00:46:50.73
what good must I do
to have eternal life?"
00:46:50.76\00:46:53.04
And He said, "Okay,
00:46:53.07\00:46:55.80
keep the commandments,
have your neighbor do."
00:46:55.83\00:46:58.75
He went to all these
things and the young rich,
00:46:58.78\00:47:01.55
rich young ruler said,
00:47:01.58\00:47:04.09
"I've been doing
this since I was a youth.
00:47:04.12\00:47:06.95
What else do you want me to do?"
00:47:06.98\00:47:08.64
And the Lord says,
"If you will be perfect,
00:47:08.67\00:47:11.07
you want to get
this thing right,
00:47:11.10\00:47:12.74
go sell all that you have."
00:47:12.77\00:47:14.60
And notice what
happened and kind of fits in
00:47:14.63\00:47:16.52
with context of
the conversation today.
00:47:16.55\00:47:18.93
He had many possessions.
00:47:18.96\00:47:20.33
He had a lot of
wealth, a lot of riches.
00:47:20.36\00:47:22.66
And that was
more important to him
00:47:22.69\00:47:25.50
than his connection with Christ.
00:47:25.53\00:47:27.33
But notice what he said,
I've kept all these things.
00:47:27.36\00:47:30.25
In other words,
I've been a keeper
00:47:30.28\00:47:31.70
of all these things
that You ask me to do.
00:47:31.73\00:47:34.25
But what happened? He
walked away sorrowfully.
00:47:34.28\00:47:36.92
There was no indication that,
that young man was ever saved.
00:47:36.95\00:47:40.60
But the last indication
we got was he walked away.
00:47:40.63\00:47:47.34
The--in Matthew 18, this
is classic parable. Okay.
00:47:47.37\00:47:51.96
Of the servant that owed
everything to his master.
00:47:51.99\00:47:58.83
And there was a king, of
course who required his--
00:47:58.86\00:48:03.75
those that owed
him money to pay.
00:48:03.78\00:48:06.83
And this servant came
before him, pleading for--
00:48:06.86\00:48:10.29
What verse you're
into? Do not be imprisoned.
00:48:10.32\00:48:11.86
This is Matthew 18, verse--
00:48:11.89\00:48:13.51
oh, we'll start with-- 15.
00:48:13.54\00:48:16.99
No, we'll start
with verse 25. Okay.
00:48:17.02\00:48:19.52
This servant, it
says, "Was not able to pay
00:48:19.55\00:48:22.85
and his master
commanded that he be sold
00:48:22.88\00:48:25.49
without or with
his wife and children
00:48:25.52\00:48:28.22
and all that he had
and that payment be made.
00:48:28.25\00:48:32.08
The servant therefore
fell down before him saying,
00:48:32.11\00:48:34.81
'Master, have patience
with me and I'll pay you all.'
00:48:34.84\00:48:39.38
Then the master of that servant
was moved with compassion
00:48:39.41\00:48:41.77
released him and
forgave him the debt.
00:48:41.80\00:48:43.72
He said, 'I'll
cancel your debt.'"
00:48:43.75\00:48:45.89
And those who have
done a study of this,
00:48:45.92\00:48:48.47
this debt was
equated to something
00:48:48.50\00:48:50.54
that we would be unable to
pay in the millions of dollars.
00:48:50.57\00:48:53.16
Right. Okay.
00:48:53.19\00:48:54.56
See, I think I
calculated it, he had to--
00:48:54.59\00:48:56.75
he would have had to lived
146 years or something like that
00:48:56.78\00:49:01.07
to be able to pay his debt off,
that's if he did nothing else.
00:49:01.10\00:49:04.21
That's if he did nothing
else but just made payments
00:49:04.24\00:49:06.85
and he couldn't, there is no
possible way he could afford it.
00:49:06.88\00:49:09.54
But notice this,
so he was forgiven,
00:49:09.57\00:49:12.80
but then he goes
away and he doesn't act
00:49:12.83\00:49:15.28
like this king
acted towards Him.
00:49:15.31\00:49:17.58
He meets this buddy, laid hands
on him demanded that he pay him.
00:49:17.61\00:49:21.80
His buddy pleads
with him the same thing
00:49:21.83\00:49:23.54
he did with the
king, buddy pleased him,
00:49:23.57\00:49:24.94
please don't, I'll pay what you,
00:49:24.97\00:49:27.27
what you what I owe
you just be patient with me
00:49:27.30\00:49:29.29
but instead he had
him thrown into prison.
00:49:29.32\00:49:31.14
So the king hears
about it, king calls him back
00:49:31.17\00:49:35.03
and listen to
what the king says.
00:49:35.06\00:49:37.28
Verse, what verse?
00:49:37.31\00:49:38.69
Verse 32. Okay.
00:49:38.72\00:49:41.12
"Then his master,
after he had called him,
00:49:41.15\00:49:43.05
said to him,
'You wicked servant!
00:49:43.08\00:49:45.01
I forgave you all that
debt because you begged me.
00:49:45.04\00:49:48.56
Should you not
also have compassion
00:49:48.59\00:49:50.38
on your fellow servant,
just as I had pity on you?'
00:49:50.41\00:49:53.31
And his master was angry,
00:49:53.34\00:49:54.71
and delivered
him to the torturers
00:49:54.74\00:49:56.38
until he should pay
all that was due him."
00:49:56.41\00:49:59.80
In order words he
heap back all the debt
00:49:59.83\00:50:03.00
on to him to pay back
in full. That's right.
00:50:03.03\00:50:06.08
Then notice this, he makes a
spiritual lesson out of this,
00:50:06.11\00:50:08.33
Jesus does, "So
My heavenly Father
00:50:08.36\00:50:10.43
also will do to you if
each of you from his heart,
00:50:10.46\00:50:13.32
does not forgive his
brother his trespasses."
00:50:13.35\00:50:15.64
Wow. Now do you
know what that saying?
00:50:15.67\00:50:17.50
That's huge. Powerful.
00:50:17.53\00:50:19.77
Good, do you want to
say it and I'll amplify?
00:50:19.80\00:50:21.17
No, go ahead, amplify.
00:50:21.20\00:50:22.57
The Lord forgives us
of our sins but we go--
00:50:22.60\00:50:26.71
we take that
whole beautiful gift
00:50:26.74\00:50:30.69
and we go after
somebody who has wronged us
00:50:30.72\00:50:32.92
in something and demand
that they give restitution.
00:50:32.95\00:50:39.28
He said, okay, I'm not
just gonna forgive you,
00:50:39.31\00:50:41.65
but here's what
I want you to do.
00:50:41.68\00:50:43.05
And you go down the list
of requirements and this man,
00:50:43.08\00:50:45.58
if you look at the story
this was quite a situation
00:50:45.61\00:50:47.64
where the person would had owed
00:50:47.67\00:50:49.37
and I think the
estimate was just to say,
00:50:49.40\00:50:51.83
just to say this
guy owe him 20 bucks.
00:50:51.86\00:50:54.40
or 3 million dollars
00:50:54.43\00:50:57.28
that was already
forgiven him but his small debt.
00:50:57.31\00:51:00.60
That's why you find the phrase,
00:51:00.63\00:51:02.18
"Forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors."
00:51:02.21\00:51:09.29
If we forgive those
who trespass against us,
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then the Lord will
forgive our trespasses.
00:51:13.69\00:51:16.19
And not just that the
trespasses that we had forgiven
00:51:16.22\00:51:20.65
are put back on to
our account. That's right.
00:51:20.68\00:51:24.85
So we were forgiven,
now we are unforgiven.
00:51:24.88\00:51:29.05
What does that
mean? That means lost.
00:51:29.08\00:51:31.28
Right, that means all
your sins are back on you.
00:51:31.31\00:51:33.62
Yeah, so clearly
Jesus is teaching
00:51:33.65\00:51:36.03
not once saved always
saved, but salvation in Christ.
00:51:36.06\00:51:39.93
In what I'd have done in
my forgiveness and He demands,
00:51:39.96\00:51:43.01
He requires that
we live like Him.
00:51:43.04\00:51:45.71
That's the part of casting
off the works of darkness
00:51:45.74\00:51:48.26
and putting on
Christ and His work,
00:51:48.29\00:51:50.44
purifying ourselves, living
according to His commandments
00:51:50.47\00:51:53.28
as we talked about
it in our last program.
00:51:53.31\00:51:56.84
There is another
story within the Bible
00:51:56.87\00:52:02.00
and it's a parable about
the wedding feast. That's right.
00:52:02.03\00:52:05.06
And in Matthew 25 it
talks about the 10 virgins.
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Those were the wise
virgins were able to go
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into the wedding
because they were ready.
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And if you look there
the context of being ready
00:52:16.51\00:52:18.30
was that they had the
righteousness of Christ on.
00:52:18.33\00:52:22.15
Matthew 22, then
amplifies on that
00:52:22.18\00:52:27.68
and talks about
this wedding feast
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that everybody
is in attendance at,
00:52:29.27\00:52:31.72
because they were ready
and they came into the wedding
00:52:31.75\00:52:34.32
with the garment of Christ on.
00:52:34.35\00:52:36.01
In fact, by the
way that's the only way
00:52:36.04\00:52:37.41
you get into the wedding feast
'cause we attend the wedding
00:52:37.44\00:52:40.33
that's taking place in
heaven by faith. That's right.
00:52:40.36\00:52:42.57
So the only way to
attend it is by faith in Christ.
00:52:42.60\00:52:45.17
He's the one that brings us,
00:52:45.20\00:52:46.57
gets us in so to speak.
That's the fact, only way.
00:52:46.60\00:52:49.41
So now here we
find this wedding--
00:52:49.44\00:52:52.19
shifting to the story
down back to Matthew 22.
00:52:52.22\00:52:55.07
This wedding where this king
comes into inspect the guest.
00:52:55.10\00:52:59.74
And he comes into
to inspect the guest
00:52:59.77\00:53:01.14
and notice this, Matthew 22:11,
00:53:01.17\00:53:05.31
"But when the king
came in to see the guests,
00:53:05.34\00:53:07.06
he saw a man there who did
not have on a wedding garment.
00:53:07.09\00:53:11.69
So he said to him, 'Friend,
00:53:11.72\00:53:13.09
how did you come in here
without a wedding garment?'"
00:53:13.12\00:53:16.06
Because why did
he ask that question?
00:53:16.09\00:53:18.07
Because the only way to get
in is with the wedding garment.
00:53:18.10\00:53:20.51
So how did you get in here
when you don't have one on?
00:53:20.54\00:53:23.46
The man was
speechless because you know why?
00:53:23.49\00:53:25.98
He had one on.
00:53:26.01\00:53:27.84
He came in with the
wedding garment of Christ on.
00:53:27.87\00:53:30.98
But he lost it.
00:53:31.01\00:53:33.85
He didn't care for it, he
neglected that relationship
00:53:33.88\00:53:37.12
the connection with
Christ and he was found
00:53:37.15\00:53:39.05
without the wedding garment.
And what happened to him?
00:53:39.08\00:53:41.49
He was cast out.
00:53:41.52\00:53:43.52
Now if you look at
James, I think it's Chapter 5
00:53:43.55\00:53:46.20
and you find through
the Old Testament as well,
00:53:46.23\00:53:48.51
over and over again you see
00:53:48.54\00:53:49.91
this theme of the
garments being moth eaten.
00:53:49.94\00:53:53.51
Let me ask you a
question, do moths eat quickly?
00:53:53.54\00:53:58.14
No, they actually don't.
00:53:58.17\00:53:59.54
Do you usually know when your
garment is being moth eaten.
00:53:59.57\00:54:02.24
You say, you know what, I
think my garment is being moth--
00:54:02.27\00:54:05.76
my suit is being
eaten by moths right now.
00:54:05.79\00:54:08.19
No you usually
take out your suit
00:54:08.22\00:54:10.24
and you're getting ready to wear
00:54:10.27\00:54:11.64
and you see that hole,
what is that doing there.
00:54:11.67\00:54:14.91
And you realize right there
without you really realizing it
00:54:14.94\00:54:18.39
you've neglected the
care of your garment.
00:54:18.42\00:54:20.54
The moths got in and
they're eating holes in it.
00:54:20.57\00:54:23.58
And James says, your
garments are moth eaten.
00:54:23.61\00:54:27.60
In order words we
sometimes in neglecting
00:54:27.63\00:54:29.89
our relationship
with Jesus can fall away.
00:54:29.92\00:54:32.51
The devil comes in to
eat away those garments
00:54:32.54\00:54:35.05
and we find one day to a
point if we neglect long enough
00:54:35.08\00:54:38.16
that we have no longer
the wedding garment on,
00:54:38.19\00:54:40.67
the garment of
Christ righteousness. Wow.
00:54:40.70\00:54:43.05
And then the declaration of
Revelation 18, Chapter 6:15.
00:54:43.08\00:54:48.87
"Behold I'm coming
as a thief, Jesus says,
00:54:48.90\00:54:51.63
'Blessed is he who watches
and keeps his garments.'"
00:54:51.66\00:54:56.27
Keeps his
garments. That's right.
00:54:56.30\00:54:58.66
Unless he walk naked
and they see His shame.
00:54:58.69\00:55:02.76
Wow. So we don't just--
00:55:02.79\00:55:04.27
well, the key was you had--
00:55:04.30\00:55:06.17
you come in with the garment but
you have to keep the garment.
00:55:06.20\00:55:09.37
Thus he that has this hope
in himself purifies himself,
00:55:09.40\00:55:13.18
keeps that garment clear
even as He, Christ is pure.
00:55:13.21\00:55:17.29
So we don't just get garments,
00:55:17.32\00:55:19.85
this whole ideology and
I'll cover this very quickly
00:55:19.88\00:55:23.87
but in Ezekiel 33, "When
I say to the righteous--"
00:55:23.90\00:55:29.23
Ezekiel 33:13, "When
I say to the righteous
00:55:29.26\00:55:31.98
that he shall surely live but he
trusts in his own righteousness
00:55:32.01\00:55:36.93
and commits iniquity
none of his righteous works
00:55:36.96\00:55:40.41
shall be remembered
but because of the iniquity
00:55:40.44\00:55:43.72
that he has
committed, he shall die."
00:55:43.75\00:55:46.57
And that's saying to
the righteous, isn't it?
00:55:46.60\00:55:47.97
That's the
righteous. That's huge.
00:55:48.00\00:55:50.50
That's not saying to the
person that doesn't know Christ,
00:55:50.53\00:55:52.30
you see, I'm saying
this to the righteous,
00:55:52.33\00:55:54.29
when he trusts in
his own righteousness
00:55:54.32\00:55:57.37
'cause he didn't keep
the garment of Christ.
00:55:57.40\00:55:59.69
He came in but now
it's all about him.
00:55:59.72\00:56:02.35
It's all about him.
00:56:02.38\00:56:03.75
He has not, that's why
the Bible makes it very clear.
00:56:03.78\00:56:05.80
We must examine ourselves to see
00:56:05.83\00:56:07.88
whether or not
we're in the faith.
00:56:07.91\00:56:10.52
Examine ourselves,
look at our own character,
00:56:10.55\00:56:13.19
look at ourselves.
00:56:13.22\00:56:14.59
It's easy to look everybody else
00:56:14.62\00:56:15.99
because that's the
measurement by which we feel
00:56:16.02\00:56:17.58
much better about ourselves.
00:56:17.61\00:56:18.98
In that very text
"Examine yourself to see
00:56:19.01\00:56:20.99
whether you're in
faith, test yourself."
00:56:21.02\00:56:22.99
It ends with saying
unless you're disqualified.
00:56:23.02\00:56:26.31
So there--I'm not saying
that we're running around here,
00:56:26.34\00:56:30.52
worrying that
Christ is gonna disqualify
00:56:30.55\00:56:32.35
us for some reason. No.
00:56:32.38\00:56:34.28
God loves us, in
fact even if we're lost,
00:56:34.31\00:56:36.82
He loves the lost. Right.
00:56:36.85\00:56:39.22
People quote,
"Nothing can separate us
00:56:39.25\00:56:41.02
from the love of
God." That's true.
00:56:41.05\00:56:43.21
But that doesn't
equate to nothing can keep us
00:56:43.24\00:56:45.58
from being saved because
the enemy does get in there
00:56:45.61\00:56:47.59
and try to break us from
the relationship with Christ.
00:56:47.62\00:56:49.76
There you go.
00:56:49.79\00:56:51.16
But God still loves
us, He loves the sinner,
00:56:51.19\00:56:53.69
He loves sinners until
they're burned. That's right.
00:56:53.72\00:56:56.62
And love them
probably for eternity
00:56:56.65\00:56:58.13
in ways that we can understand.
00:56:58.16\00:57:00.02
The strange act of God is His
love never ceases to be loved.
00:57:00.05\00:57:03.59
But He will not allow the guilty
00:57:03.62\00:57:06.71
to be cleared until they repent.
00:57:06.74\00:57:09.52
Exodus 34:7 is
where you'll find that.
00:57:09.55\00:57:12.50
He will by no
means clear the guilty.
00:57:12.53\00:57:15.97
So what are we
saying is this salvation
00:57:16.00\00:57:18.20
that can give us confidence?
00:57:18.23\00:57:19.63
Yes. How often am I saved?
00:57:19.66\00:57:22.25
Every moment of every
day I must rely on Christ.
00:57:22.28\00:57:25.86
That's what the
program is all about.
00:57:25.89\00:57:27.26
So friends, our desire for you
is that you remain in Christ.
00:57:27.29\00:57:30.18
So have a great day
in Him. God bless you.
00:57:30.21\00:57:33.71