Hello, friends, grab your Bible
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and a friend and
sit back as we explore
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God's word together on
this edition of "House Calls."
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Welcome to another
"House Calls" program.
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My name is John
and he is also John.
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Don't get us confused.
There are a lot of similarities.
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Most important
similarity is we love the Lord
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and we love sharing our Bibles.
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Don't you think so,
John? Amen, I like that.
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That's what makes us brothers.
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That's right,
brothers in the Lord,
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brothers in the word.
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And thank you
for joining us today.
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We are always excited
when you come into our home,
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that is, into this house
and let us into your house.
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Hopefully, you let
us into your hearts
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also by the study of God's word.
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We're gonna continue on
the topic of "Justification."
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What does it
mean to be justified?
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I think we left the last program
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talking about the
difference between
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a convict and a convert.
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That's a great sermon title.
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So look for that
one in the future.
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But today, we are excited--
John's smiling over here.
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Because a lot of
people don't know
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the difference
between being--you know,
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you can be completely
convicted of all the things
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you believe but not
converted. That's right.
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So get your
Bibles, get your pens--
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did I finish the rhyme?
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Invite your
family and your friends
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and sit down with
us for the next hour
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or so to enjoy a
study of God's word.
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But before we do
anything, before we give you
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any more
information, we'd like to pray.
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John, pray for us. Yes.
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Dear Father in heaven,
we invite Your Spirit to be
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with us here today
as we study Your word.
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Lord, be with every
aspect of this program.
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May we sense Your
Spirit leading and guiding us
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and with our viewers
and our listeners, Lord.
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May they be
impressed by Your word,
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Your truth and Your
love for each one of them.
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In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.
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Many of you like
to send questions
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to this program and
we always appreciate
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when you do so.
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I'll try to make them
as concise as possible
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but if you--if you want
to send us a book you can.
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Just know that it
won't be read on the air
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because we
don't want to decipher
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through all of that to
find out what the question is.
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But here is the
email that you need.
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Send those
questions and comments
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to housecalls@3abn.org.
That's housecalls@3abn.org
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and we surely
appreciate everything you do.
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John, I'm gonna let you go
and quote about it for us today.
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What do you have for us?
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I've got a question
here from Rollen. Rollen?
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Yeah. He says, "Firstly,
it is"--misspelling there.
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"In Jonah, he was in
the belly of the whale
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for three days and three nights.
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Then we expect
Christ to be in the belly
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three days and three nights
as Jesus Himself referred to.
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Not one night
outside, that is, dead before
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being dead into
in, simple symbolism,
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Second, John 20:1
and 19 suggest Christ
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was resurrected
by Saturday evening.
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Thirdly, calculate
the dates backward and see
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which day was the
14th of Abib in AD 31."
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So essentially
what the question is--
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and the question
is trying to do here
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is establish that
maybe the timeline
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that we have for
Christ's crucifixion
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and the days that it
happened are incorrect,
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our traditional understanding
of that in the church
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and the Bible
said something else.
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Well, I think we
need to be careful
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with quick rushes to conclusions
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based upon one
text or two texts.
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We need to harmonize
all the texts of Scripture.
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And there are things
that are fairly definitive
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about the event
of Christ crucifixion
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that are clearly
laid out in Scripture
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and I find only one with
a pure sequence of events
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giving days
found in all the word.
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That's right. And
that is the gospel of Luke.
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And so we need to turn
to that gospel, Luke 23.
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Okay. As it
transitions into chapter 24
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as well to find
the sequence of events
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and when those
events actually happened
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because this is the
re-capitulation of the event
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giving the timeline itself.
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And so we're
gonna start with Luke 23
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beginning with verse 53.
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And this is right
after Christ was crucified,
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He gave up his
life, He died on the cross
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and it says in verse
53, "Then he took it down,"
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that is the body,
wrapped it in linen
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and laid it in a tomb
that was hewn out of the rock,
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where no one had
ever lain before."
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And that is Joseph and
the followers of Christ,
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a few of them there,
they got the body of Christ
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down from the cross
and took them to the tomb
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that Joseph had donated.
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"That day," it says verse 54,
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"That day was the preparation
and the Sabbath drew near."
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There is a
clear connection there
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to the
preparation day and the day
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that Christ died on the
cross, the crucifixion day,
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which is Friday, Friday,
the day before the Sabbath
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which is the seventh day.
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So we're talking
about the sixth day, Friday.
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That is the day that Christ
was crucified on the cross.
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It says then in verse 55,
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"And when the
women who had come forth
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with or had come
with Him from Galilee
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followed after and
they observed the tomb
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and how His body was laid.
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Then they returned
and prepared spices
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and fragrant oils and
they rested on the Sabbath
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according to the commandment."
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So Christ rested in
the grave on the Sabbath,
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as did His disciples rest
according to the commandment,
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the fourth
commandment which requires
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the observance of the
seventh day as the Sabbath.
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That's right.
The holy day of God.
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Then it says in
chapter 24, verse 1,
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"Now on the
first day of the week,
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very early in the morning
they and certain other women
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with them came to the
tomb bringing the spices
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which they had
prepared, but they found
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the stone rolled
away from the tomb.
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Then they went
in and did not find
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the body of the Lord Jesus."
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So now we find, on
the first day of the week,
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we know that today is Sunday,
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that early in the
morning they went to the tomb
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and did not find the
body of the Lord Jesus.
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He had been resurrected.
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And so the sequence
of events here, John,
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pretty clear in
the book of Luke,
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is that on
Friday He was crucified.
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On the Sabbath
day, the seventh day,
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He rested in the grave.
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By Sunday morning when
they went to find Him there,
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He was no longer there.
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He had been resurrected
early in the morning.
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That's right. Another text says,
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"Very early in the morning
as it was still dark outside."
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Now we know from
not only tradition
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but from reading history
that they treated each day,
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the transition from
one day to the next,
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as happening at
sunset. That's right.
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So on the sixth day of
the week, the preparation day,
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that day ended on--
at the sunset on Friday
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and the seventh day, the Sabbath
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then was in effect
from sundown Friday night
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to sundown Saturday night.
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And then Sunday, the
first day of the week,
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began Saturday night
into throughout Sunday,
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the entire day until
the sun set on Sunday,
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which was then the
second day of the week.
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So when we're
talking about days here
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we're clearly finding events
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lined up in each
day very systematically.
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And what we have in the Bible is
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what's called
inclusive reckoning,
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which is, if something
happens on part of the day
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you include that day as
part of the sequence of three.
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So when we say He was
raised on the third day,
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we can say that very
clearly that on the sixth day
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He was crucified, the
seventh day He rested,
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on the first day He was raised,
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that is the third day. Right.
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So that part is
fairly clear in Scripture.
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What this
gentleman is suggesting
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is that somehow
with Jonah being--
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or being in the
belly of the whale,
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three days and
three nights, that somehow
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Christ had to be in the grave,
three days and three nights.
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I think what we're finding here
is a little misunderstanding
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or misapplication of
this Scripture to include
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that Christ had to be in
the grave on that first night
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which would have
required Thursday night,
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according to our reckoning.
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But that is not
in fact the case,
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because we find
that Luke tells us
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He was crucified on Friday.
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So the question isn't, is
the Bible contradicting itself.
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The question is
how do we resolve
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this apparent contradiction
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to find the
reality of what happened.
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And the only way
to do that is to say,
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what happened to
Christ on Thursday night
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that would have qualified Him
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of being as Jonah was
in the belly of the whale.
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And what we find
here is His experience
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in the garden of
Gethsemane. That's right.
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And that experience of Him
in the torment of his soul,
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His agony of soul
working out our redemption,
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already beginning that process
by submitting Himself to God,
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overcoming His
own personal desire
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for self
sustenance, for not wanting
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to go to the cross, to
experience the separation
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from His Father,
but yet relenting
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to His Father's will and
submitting Himself to that.
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And it says that
He agonized so much,
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he dropped--his sweat
included drops of blood,
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it came from Him.
Wow. I can imagine that.
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And it also
suggests in that passage
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that had the angels
had not ministered to Him
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that night in His
agony, He may have died
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right there in the
garden of Gethsemane.
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So He in every way
was experiencing death,
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beginning to
experience death that separates
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from His Father in that garden
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even before the
crucifixion experience.
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So was He in the belly of
the whale on Thursday night
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in the garden of Gethsemane?
00:10:02.31\00:10:03.88
Answer,
absolutely He was. Right.
00:10:03.91\00:10:06.90
This has been one of the
most controverter points.
00:10:06.93\00:10:09.94
It just seems to be a pet peeve,
00:10:09.97\00:10:11.96
kind of like the question
of what was Adam's color.
00:10:11.99\00:10:15.41
I find it to be so
irrelevant in this sense
00:10:15.44\00:10:19.60
that the fact of the
matter is Jesus rose.
00:10:19.63\00:10:24.52
And when you look at the gospels
00:10:24.55\00:10:25.92
and you try to reconcile
all of the Scriptures together
00:10:25.95\00:10:28.95
you find one writer would
say, while the sun had risen.
00:10:28.98\00:10:33.16
The other one said
while it was yet dark
00:10:33.19\00:10:35.67
and one says very
early in the morning.
00:10:35.70\00:10:38.60
The fact of the
matter is when you look
00:10:38.63\00:10:40.00
at the references in the Bible,
00:10:40.03\00:10:42.82
the point that we
pull, and you made
00:10:42.85\00:10:44.72
this point a moment
ago, inclusive reckoning.
00:10:44.75\00:10:47.14
Any part of that third day
is included in the sequence.
00:10:47.17\00:10:50.87
Here is where
people misunderstand
00:10:50.90\00:10:52.96
their own statements.
00:10:52.99\00:10:54.36
They say "Well, He had
to be in there three days
00:10:54.39\00:10:56.90
and three nights complete
and then He would rise."
00:10:56.93\00:11:00.47
If that were the case He
would have to be in there
00:11:00.50\00:11:02.61
for 72 hours and the 73rd hour
00:11:02.64\00:11:06.21
would have been the fourth day.
00:11:06.24\00:11:09.84
The Bible didn't say He
would rise the fourth day.
00:11:09.87\00:11:12.87
Nowhere can you
find a statement saying
00:11:12.90\00:11:15.51
He would raise the fourth day.
00:11:15.54\00:11:16.91
So He had to
rise within that day.
00:11:16.94\00:11:19.55
He didn't rise--
and when people say,
00:11:19.58\00:11:22.16
"Well, didn't the Bible say
after three days he would rise?"
00:11:22.19\00:11:24.65
Well, you misunderstand
00:11:24.68\00:11:26.05
how the Lord
counted the third day.
00:11:26.08\00:11:31.86
Go with me before I
give you the Scriptures,
00:11:31.89\00:11:33.62
go with me to Luke 13:32.
00:11:33.65\00:11:36.02
Look at this, Luke
13:32 and I'm reading this
00:11:36.05\00:11:40.11
by the way in the NIV.
00:11:40.14\00:11:42.02
Reading this
intentionally in the NIV
00:11:42.05\00:11:43.80
because I want to get a couple
of points very candidly here.
00:11:43.83\00:11:47.43
NIV reads this way, Luke 13:32,
00:11:47.46\00:11:52.61
"Go tell that fox," that is,
He replied, "Go tell that fox,
00:11:52.64\00:11:57.14
'I will drive out
demons and heal people today,
00:11:57.17\00:12:02.35
tomorrow, and the third
day I will reach my goal."
00:12:02.38\00:12:07.83
Now if we did that
we'll say-- we won't call
00:12:07.86\00:12:10.76
two days from now the third day.
00:12:10.79\00:12:12.50
We'll start counting tomorrow,
00:12:12.53\00:12:14.60
we'll call that
two days from now.
00:12:14.63\00:12:16.61
We won't call
that the third day.
00:12:16.64\00:12:18.23
That's the way we
count in modern counting,
00:12:18.26\00:12:21.30
but that's not the way they did.
00:12:21.33\00:12:22.70
This is the example of
inclusive reckoning, today--
00:12:22.73\00:12:26.14
Today is the first
day. Today is the first day.
00:12:26.17\00:12:28.34
We'll say "I'll
meet you in two days,"
00:12:28.37\00:12:30.38
we won't think of that
as the third day from today.
00:12:30.41\00:12:35.16
Yeah, in this language
if we said in two days,
00:12:35.19\00:12:37.69
if we used the way
that they interpreted this,
00:12:37.72\00:12:40.02
two days would be tomorrow.
00:12:40.05\00:12:41.42
Right. Exactly.
But it's not to us.
00:12:41.45\00:12:45.27
But to them it
was. To them it was.
00:12:45.30\00:12:46.99
That's the way
they counted the time.
00:12:47.02\00:12:48.67
So when you look at
the Scriptures in the Bible
00:12:48.70\00:12:51.07
and once again I
put this together
00:12:51.10\00:12:52.47
in the NIV to
get you-- to give you
00:12:52.50\00:12:54.21
some perspective
here, because sometimes
00:12:54.24\00:12:56.42
it reads a little
easier but Matthew 17:23.
00:12:56.45\00:13:00.29
And I want you to
give me the reciprocal
00:13:00.32\00:13:02.76
in the New King
James version, okay.
00:13:02.79\00:13:05.49
Matthew 17:23.
"They will kill Him,"
00:13:05.52\00:13:11.62
Matthew 17:23
"and on the third day
00:13:11.65\00:13:15.86
He will be raised to
life." What does yours say?
00:13:15.89\00:13:20.08
"And they will kill
Him, and the third day
00:13:20.11\00:13:22.25
He will be raised up."
Okay. Okay, same thing.
00:13:22.28\00:13:26.33
Here's another one,
Luke 9:22. Luke 9:22.
00:13:26.36\00:13:33.26
I want you to read that first
00:13:33.29\00:13:34.68
in the New King James version
and I'll read it in the NIV.
00:13:34.71\00:13:38.16
Giving some
balance here, Luke 9:22.
00:13:38.19\00:13:40.89
"The Son of Man
must suffer many things,
00:13:40.92\00:13:42.82
and be rejected by the elders
and chief priests and scribes,
00:13:42.85\00:13:46.57
and be killed, and be
raised the third day."
00:13:46.60\00:13:49.20
Okay, and it says,
"And He must be killed
00:13:49.23\00:13:51.67
and on the third
day be raised to life."
00:13:51.70\00:13:55.37
You know what's
interesting about that verse,
00:13:55.40\00:13:58.73
is that it includes
the trial and the rejection
00:13:58.76\00:14:01.24
by the elders in His
crucifixion experience.
00:14:01.27\00:14:04.07
Right, there you go.
That was Thursday night.
00:14:04.10\00:14:05.82
That's right.
00:14:05.85\00:14:08.10
I'd actually never seen
that before with this verse
00:14:08.13\00:14:11.21
that Jesus Himself is including
00:14:11.24\00:14:12.99
His trial in the
experience of His crucifixion.
00:14:13.02\00:14:19.74
Okay, there you go.
00:14:19.77\00:14:21.14
So that tells me right there
00:14:21.17\00:14:22.54
that not only was
a garden Gethsemane
00:14:22.57\00:14:23.94
and His
deliverance than into the hands
00:14:23.97\00:14:26.05
of the Jewish leaders
that night and His trial.
00:14:26.08\00:14:29.18
This verse says just that
and in Christ's own words.
00:14:29.21\00:14:31.95
Matter of fact,
when He was arrested
00:14:31.98\00:14:33.35
He said this is your hour
and the power of darkness.
00:14:33.38\00:14:37.81
He relinquished
Himself into the hands of those
00:14:37.84\00:14:42.61
who will persecute Him.
00:14:42.64\00:14:44.01
When He was
arrested in the garden
00:14:44.04\00:14:46.73
He said this is your hour
and the power of darkness.
00:14:46.76\00:14:50.51
He acknowledged
that. He timed it, okay.
00:14:50.54\00:14:53.85
And then when they thought
He was going to be released,
00:14:53.88\00:14:57.58
when the disciples
thought He would free Himself
00:14:57.61\00:14:59.41
He said it is for this hour
that I've come into the world.
00:14:59.44\00:15:02.85
He made it very clear.
This now starts a new timeline.
00:15:02.88\00:15:07.04
This is your hour and
the power of darkness.
00:15:07.07\00:15:09.84
So clearly the
trial, the persecution,
00:15:09.87\00:15:13.26
the scourging,
the judgment hall,
00:15:13.29\00:15:16.34
the grave, all of that is
included in the hour of darkness
00:15:16.37\00:15:19.95
and that text puts
it together wonderfully.
00:15:19.98\00:15:22.60
Yes. Rejected by the
elders and chief priests,
00:15:22.63\00:15:26.49
must be killed and on the
third day be raised to life.
00:15:26.52\00:15:31.01
In Luke 18:33, just simply says,
00:15:31.04\00:15:33.51
"On the third day
He will rise again."
00:15:33.54\00:15:37.37
One thing we
have to keep in mind
00:15:37.40\00:15:38.77
as we settle this issue
00:15:38.80\00:15:40.17
that continues to go
forth and, John, Luke 24:46.
00:15:40.20\00:15:44.78
There's another
one. I'll read this.
00:15:44.81\00:15:47.13
Well, just go ahead
and read that in the--
00:15:47.16\00:15:48.55
I'm not there
right now. I'll read it.
00:15:48.58\00:15:50.28
Luke, what? Luke 24:46.
00:15:50.31\00:15:52.18
While you're turning there
I'll make sure this is clear.
00:15:52.21\00:15:54.47
Remember, this is
something widely important.
00:15:54.50\00:15:57.06
Don't try to add another
day because if you say morning,
00:15:57.09\00:16:01.57
night, morning,
night, morning, night,
00:16:01.60\00:16:03.89
72 hours must pass by before
He comes out of the grave.
00:16:03.92\00:16:07.62
A second past 72
hours is the fourth day.
00:16:07.65\00:16:11.91
The Bible never said
He'd rise on the fourth day.
00:16:11.94\00:16:15.98
He rose on the
third day over and over
00:16:16.01\00:16:17.87
and over and over again.
00:16:17.90\00:16:19.27
So it was
perfectly within the timing.
00:16:19.30\00:16:22.08
How does it say
there in Luke 24:46?
00:16:22.11\00:16:25.17
"Thus it is written,
and thus it was necessary
00:16:25.20\00:16:27.70
for the Christ to
suffer and to rise
00:16:27.73\00:16:29.66
from the dead the third day."
00:16:29.69\00:16:31.08
Okay, all right, there you go.
00:16:31.11\00:16:33.73
All right, I think we
pretty much exhausted that.
00:16:33.76\00:16:35.89
And all through the
book of Acts, Acts 10:40,
00:16:35.92\00:16:38.64
"But God raised Him from
the dead on the third day."
00:16:38.67\00:16:41.80
Acts 27:19--well,
not-- in 1 Corinthians 15:4,
00:16:41.83\00:16:46.00
the last one, "He was buried--
00:16:46.03\00:16:49.64
that he was
buried, that he was raised
00:16:49.67\00:16:52.15
on the third day
according to the Scriptures."
00:16:52.18\00:16:56.57
And I don't think this gentleman
is arguing the third day issue.
00:16:56.60\00:16:59.25
He is misunderstanding
the timeline of the third day.
00:16:59.28\00:17:03.25
He's not understanding
inclusive reckoning
00:17:03.28\00:17:05.50
and how they interpreted
that statement of the third day.
00:17:05.53\00:17:10.95
So hopefully we've helped
provide that kind of information
00:17:10.98\00:17:14.13
for those who are having
the same question out there.
00:17:14.16\00:17:16.85
There's a whole book
00:17:16.88\00:17:18.26
that Pastor Doug
Batchelor put together.
00:17:18.29\00:17:20.19
Pastor Doug
Batchelor put together
00:17:20.22\00:17:21.59
on Amazing Facts website
just about the resurrection,
00:17:21.62\00:17:24.64
that whole thing
about inclusive reckoning.
00:17:24.67\00:17:27.44
I think I have
one more question.
00:17:27.47\00:17:29.57
We have time here for that?
00:17:29.60\00:17:31.80
One more
question-- Okay, here it is.
00:17:31.83\00:17:34.24
The following is a question
from one of my coworkers.
00:17:34.27\00:17:37.41
She is not a Christian as I am,
00:17:37.44\00:17:39.85
but does believe
in a higher power.
00:17:39.88\00:17:44.09
It says here, "We
conversed about life
00:17:44.12\00:17:48.24
and spiritual
issues and we openly share
00:17:48.27\00:17:51.11
our beliefs about those
things with each other."
00:17:51.14\00:17:54.08
But her question is, "if the God
that Christians believe in exist
00:17:54.11\00:18:01.47
and it's true
that He gives people
00:18:01.50\00:18:03.98
what is referred to
as free will to choose
00:18:04.01\00:18:07.10
to believe in Him or
not, how can it be called
00:18:07.13\00:18:10.58
free if a person
will be destroyed
00:18:10.61\00:18:13.78
for not believing
in Him even though
00:18:13.81\00:18:17.59
they live a life of
being a good person,
00:18:17.62\00:18:20.01
as good as they can be,
00:18:20.04\00:18:22.33
caring for others,
for animals, etcetera?
00:18:22.36\00:18:24.12
In short, why--
won't they be paying
00:18:24.15\00:18:27.54
the ultimate price just
for not believing in God?"
00:18:27.57\00:18:31.68
This is a perfect segue,
John, into our topic today,
00:18:31.71\00:18:35.60
because I said a moment
ago, this is the whole point.
00:18:35.63\00:18:38.42
You see Jesus didn't
come to give His life
00:18:38.45\00:18:40.79
for those who do
good community works.
00:18:40.82\00:18:43.38
Jesus didn't come
to extend eternal life
00:18:43.41\00:18:45.84
for those who take care of
animals and care for others.
00:18:45.87\00:18:49.25
He came to those who acknowledge
00:18:49.28\00:18:50.65
that they are
sinners in need of a Savior.
00:18:50.68\00:18:52.80
Because what's happening
here, what's missing in this
00:18:52.83\00:18:55.38
and I put a
couple of verses here,
00:18:55.41\00:18:57.22
John 3:17 is one
00:18:57.25\00:18:59.25
and Deuteronomy
30:19 is another one.
00:18:59.28\00:19:04.48
As I go down this whole
idea, the person is putting
00:19:04.51\00:19:08.43
the burden of their
salvation on their good works.
00:19:08.46\00:19:12.28
Therefore, they are
saying, well, I'm a good person.
00:19:12.31\00:19:15.76
There's none
that's good, no, not one.
00:19:15.79\00:19:17.60
The first misunderstanding.
I care for others.
00:19:17.63\00:19:20.78
I take care of animals.
00:19:20.81\00:19:23.09
Why am I paying
the ultimate price?
00:19:23.12\00:19:24.90
You know why?
00:19:24.93\00:19:26.30
Because unless the
price is paid by Christ,
00:19:26.33\00:19:29.14
you have to pay
the price, you see.
00:19:29.17\00:19:32.12
Because the wages of
sin-- the wages of sin is death,
00:19:32.15\00:19:36.23
somebody's got to die.
00:19:36.26\00:19:38.42
So if you don't
accept the death of Christ
00:19:38.45\00:19:40.59
imputed and imparted
to you, in other words,
00:19:40.62\00:19:42.72
given you, if your
life is not covered,
00:19:42.75\00:19:44.69
if your debt is not paid by Him,
00:19:44.72\00:19:47.06
then you've got
to pay your debt.
00:19:47.09\00:19:48.98
That's just as simple as I get.
00:19:49.01\00:19:50.99
Deuteronomy 30:19,
because they haven't done
00:19:51.02\00:19:54.10
what these verse says.
00:19:54.13\00:19:55.91
"I call heaven and earth as
witnesses today against you,
00:19:55.94\00:19:59.28
that I have set
before you life and death,
00:19:59.31\00:20:01.30
blessing and cursing.
00:20:01.33\00:20:02.73
Therefore choose
life that both you
00:20:02.76\00:20:05.64
and your descendants may live."
00:20:05.67\00:20:07.70
Right. Choose life.
00:20:07.73\00:20:10.65
So we can't just say, "I
don't want to choose life."
00:20:10.68\00:20:14.14
That's what it says, I
don't want to choose life.
00:20:14.17\00:20:16.97
Yes, every one of us
has the freedom to choose.
00:20:17.00\00:20:19.69
Let me use an
example, an analogy.
00:20:19.72\00:20:21.88
Why is my plane
going to California
00:20:21.91\00:20:24.13
just because I choose to go
on a plane going to Chicago?
00:20:24.16\00:20:27.27
I mean, why am I
not going to California,
00:20:27.30\00:20:30.58
could not pick
any plane I want to.
00:20:30.61\00:20:32.25
Well, you got
to get on the plane
00:20:32.28\00:20:33.65
that's going where
you want to end up.
00:20:33.68\00:20:35.68
So unless you give
your life to Christ,
00:20:35.71\00:20:37.57
unless you accept
Him as your Savior,
00:20:37.60\00:20:40.48
unless you are
in Him you can't go
00:20:40.51\00:20:42.74
where He is going to be.
00:20:42.77\00:20:44.46
So there's only two roads,
00:20:44.49\00:20:45.95
life and blessings
and death and cursings.
00:20:45.98\00:20:49.59
You cannot have two roads.
00:20:49.62\00:20:51.52
John 3:17, look at this,
"For God did not send His Son
00:20:51.55\00:20:56.62
into the world to
condemn the world."
00:20:56.65\00:21:00.44
He didn't send His
Son to condemn this lady.
00:21:00.47\00:21:03.73
"God did not send
His Son into the world
00:21:03.76\00:21:05.52
to condemn the
world but that the world
00:21:05.55\00:21:07.45
through Him might be saved."
00:21:07.48\00:21:08.85
Why? Because she says,
why am I being condemned
00:21:08.88\00:21:13.14
because I don't believe in Him?
00:21:13.17\00:21:14.54
Here is the answer,
right here in verse 18.
00:21:14.57\00:21:17.01
"He who believes in
Him is not condemned
00:21:17.04\00:21:21.81
but He who does not
believe is condemned already."
00:21:21.84\00:21:25.86
This person doesn't
know that by not believing
00:21:25.89\00:21:28.40
you're already condemned.
00:21:28.43\00:21:30.97
What do you want to say
about that, John? Anything?
00:21:31.00\00:21:33.63
Well, Jesus did
not come into the world
00:21:33.66\00:21:35.13
to condemn the
world but the world
00:21:35.16\00:21:36.53
through Him might be saved.
00:21:36.56\00:21:38.30
I mean, that's-- Jesus is not
00:21:38.33\00:21:41.46
and nor should we
extend condemnation to people.
00:21:41.49\00:21:44.66
We don't.
00:21:44.69\00:21:46.06
It is a fact that
they are already condemned,
00:21:46.09\00:21:48.52
they are already on
death row without Christ.
00:21:48.55\00:21:52.27
And so our message
is find Christ and live,
00:21:52.30\00:21:58.68
not, you're
going to hell. Right.
00:21:58.71\00:22:00.69
And that's what I
have a problem with,
00:22:00.72\00:22:02.09
hell fire and
brimstone kind of messages,
00:22:02.12\00:22:03.67
because it's not
really the gospel.
00:22:03.70\00:22:06.16
It's part of the gospel,
in that God is delivering us
00:22:06.19\00:22:09.49
from that
experience, that lake of fire,
00:22:09.52\00:22:12.78
that ultimate eternal
death that all of us will suffer
00:22:12.81\00:22:15.60
if we are apart from God.
00:22:15.63\00:22:18.37
But it is not the
heart of our message.
00:22:18.40\00:22:20.51
Jesus came to save us
00:22:20.54\00:22:23.13
and wants to
live with us forever.
00:22:23.16\00:22:25.85
And that's the key
aspect. That must be our focus.
00:22:25.88\00:22:28.83
When our focus
is on accept Christ
00:22:28.86\00:22:31.12
or you'll burn
forever, that's a problem.
00:22:31.15\00:22:34.66
You know what's so sad--
00:22:34.69\00:22:36.06
That's gonna
cause people to say oh,
00:22:36.09\00:22:37.46
yeah, a God like that.
00:22:37.49\00:22:38.86
I don't want nothing of Him.
00:22:38.89\00:22:40.26
Right and so-- that's--
00:22:40.29\00:22:41.80
Because you're not
focusing on His love.
00:22:41.83\00:22:43.50
Not focusing on His love.
Here is the reality of it.
00:22:43.53\00:22:47.23
We've got to see
the perfect picture
00:22:47.26\00:22:48.78
and the perfect picture
of our present condition
00:22:48.81\00:22:50.69
is we are all on death row
00:22:50.72\00:22:52.09
before we accept Christ.
00:22:52.12\00:22:54.04
We are on a
conveyor belt to destruction.
00:22:54.07\00:22:56.43
So why would I be
shocked if I'm destroyed
00:22:56.46\00:23:00.64
when that is the only
transportation I'm on?
00:23:00.67\00:23:04.78
I'm on the
transportation for destruction.
00:23:04.81\00:23:08.10
I'm on a plane going to Chicago.
00:23:08.13\00:23:10.30
Why am I shocked
when I end up in Chicago?
00:23:10.33\00:23:12.68
The Lord is saying
get off of that plane
00:23:12.71\00:23:14.61
and the only way you can get off
00:23:14.64\00:23:16.01
of that plane is if
My life pays for you
00:23:16.04\00:23:19.88
to get on a different
plane, the plane to eternal life
00:23:19.91\00:23:22.85
or the plane in
this case to California.
00:23:22.88\00:23:25.56
My wife called the airlines
and this is really amazing,
00:23:25.59\00:23:30.21
'cause she tries to-- you know,
00:23:30.24\00:23:32.12
we have status
with American airlines,
00:23:32.15\00:23:33.62
so she says, "Well,
is it too late for me
00:23:33.65\00:23:39.12
to have the--to get
the"-- let me put this again.
00:23:39.15\00:23:44.33
There's bad weather and people
00:23:44.36\00:23:47.12
whose flights were
cancelled were automatically
00:23:47.15\00:23:50.05
booked on another
flight without having to pay.
00:23:50.08\00:23:52.45
So they extend it to everybody
within a specific time frame
00:23:52.48\00:23:57.39
and once you make
that-- once you make
00:23:57.42\00:23:59.69
that request
before the time is out
00:23:59.72\00:24:02.70
then you could
have your reservation
00:24:02.73\00:24:04.63
switched to another reservation
for no charge at all.
00:24:04.66\00:24:07.15
So my wife asked the question
00:24:07.18\00:24:08.61
"Is it too late for me to go
00:24:08.64\00:24:10.01
and get the flight
on that other plane?"
00:24:10.04\00:24:12.11
And they said, "Well, you made
a reservation on this flight
00:24:12.14\00:24:16.67
and the time is already passed,
00:24:16.70\00:24:19.19
so we cannot
extend to you the special
00:24:19.22\00:24:22.27
to be on a different flight
00:24:22.30\00:24:23.67
all together on
a different day."
00:24:23.70\00:24:25.20
Now she could be
on a different flight
00:24:25.23\00:24:26.73
but not on a different day.
00:24:26.76\00:24:28.76
So she said
"When was the cut-off?"
00:24:28.79\00:24:32.66
And they gave her the
date which was the same date.
00:24:32.69\00:24:36.23
She said "Well, it's
still the same date."
00:24:36.26\00:24:38.51
And he said, "Well,
actually it was two hours ago."
00:24:38.54\00:24:43.42
On the same date, so she said,
00:24:43.45\00:24:44.94
"Well, can I get the special--
it was just two hours ago."
00:24:44.97\00:24:48.68
But then she said,
00:24:48.71\00:24:50.08
"Well, let's just
use December 24th."
00:24:50.11\00:24:51.78
They said, "Well, the
special ends on December 24th."
00:24:51.81\00:24:54.00
She said "Well,
it is December 24th.
00:24:54.03\00:24:57.75
Well, then she said
it ended two hours ago.
00:24:57.78\00:24:59.82
But we have
like eight hours left
00:24:59.85\00:25:01.37
in December 24th, can I get it?
00:25:01.40\00:25:03.30
Well, sorry,
ma'am, you can't get it.
00:25:03.33\00:25:05.26
My point of
that analogy is this,
00:25:05.29\00:25:07.69
we are all booked
on a certain flight
00:25:07.72\00:25:10.81
and in this life
God has extended to us
00:25:10.84\00:25:13.67
the time to get
the ticket changed
00:25:13.70\00:25:16.65
to get on a different flight
for eternal life but if we say,
00:25:16.68\00:25:20.84
I'm good enough to
get on that flight.
00:25:20.87\00:25:23.34
I have status.
00:25:23.37\00:25:24.75
My status says I've helped
the people in the community,
00:25:24.78\00:25:27.95
I've taken care of animals,
I'm a relatively good person,
00:25:27.98\00:25:31.17
I should get on that flight.
00:25:31.20\00:25:33.26
And the Lord says,
no, it's gonna cost you.
00:25:33.29\00:25:35.52
You don't get on by
your deeds, I got to pay.
00:25:35.55\00:25:37.76
And that's the
reason why your friend
00:25:37.79\00:25:39.61
who does good deeds
must come to the place
00:25:39.64\00:25:41.84
where her good deeds
00:25:41.87\00:25:43.29
are not enough
payment for her salvation.
00:25:43.32\00:25:46.60
Her good deeds
cannot atone for her sin.
00:25:46.63\00:25:50.37
That nature that she
has, has to be put to death
00:25:50.40\00:25:53.24
and she has to put on Christ.
00:25:53.27\00:25:55.00
Until we give
ourselves to Christ
00:25:55.03\00:25:57.63
and we die to self
we cannot be saved.
00:25:57.66\00:26:00.82
So Christ doesn't condemn
us. We are condemned already.
00:26:00.85\00:26:04.47
And it is really sin
that destroys us. Right.
00:26:04.50\00:26:08.20
God is simply
destroying sin and sinners go
00:26:08.23\00:26:11.60
with that because
sin is part of them.
00:26:11.63\00:26:17.10
Years ago I saw a military show
00:26:17.13\00:26:18.61
where these guys were
in the midst of a battle
00:26:18.64\00:26:21.18
and they called and they said,
you know, the enemy is coming--
00:26:21.21\00:26:25.66
oh, as a matter
of fact there was,
00:26:25.69\00:26:28.89
recently, not many years
ago, it was a few months ago,
00:26:28.92\00:26:32.15
where these
soldiers in the Middle East
00:26:32.18\00:26:34.30
were pinned down and all around.
00:26:34.33\00:26:36.08
You probably heard
about this on the news.
00:26:36.11\00:26:37.49
And this one soldier
decided-- Mm-hmm, I saw that.
00:26:37.52\00:26:40.76
And he fought
for his whole platoon
00:26:40.79\00:26:42.93
and some of them did
die but here's the point.
00:26:42.96\00:26:45.61
He called in some air
strikes and the air strikes
00:26:45.64\00:26:50.32
were so close, he
heard the bombs blowing up
00:26:50.35\00:26:53.91
and--I forget exactly
what I was gonna apply this to,
00:26:53.94\00:26:57.03
but let me just
suffice it to simply say,
00:26:57.06\00:26:59.80
we've got to--we've got
to get out of the blast zone,
00:26:59.83\00:27:03.55
that's what I was trying to say,
00:27:03.58\00:27:05.38
so that when
destruction does come
00:27:05.41\00:27:07.73
we are removed from the place
00:27:07.76\00:27:11.16
where sin is
going to be eradicated.
00:27:11.19\00:27:13.94
We are no longer
in that category.
00:27:13.97\00:27:15.99
So when all sin is
eradicated we are no longer
00:27:16.02\00:27:18.82
in the category of sin,
00:27:18.85\00:27:20.37
because we have put
on the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:27:20.40\00:27:23.36
What do you say
about that? Amen.
00:27:23.39\00:27:26.00
Amen. So it is
not our good works.
00:27:26.03\00:27:29.58
The Lord loves every
one of us just as we are,
00:27:29.61\00:27:31.81
but He doesn't leave
us the way He finds us.
00:27:31.84\00:27:34.00
We are born on death row,
we are born programmed to die.
00:27:34.03\00:27:38.42
He doesn't assign us there.
00:27:38.45\00:27:40.12
He's the one that
gets us out of there.
00:27:40.15\00:27:41.78
That's right. Okay.
So let's not put it--
00:27:41.81\00:27:43.53
look at Him as a God
that wants us to be lost.
00:27:43.56\00:27:45.43
He wants us not to
be lost. That's right.
00:27:45.46\00:27:47.76
Thank you for your
questions and comments.
00:27:47.79\00:27:49.53
We're gonna
transition to our program
00:27:49.56\00:27:50.95
but if you have any
questions and comments
00:27:50.98\00:27:52.35
you'd like to send to
us, the email to send those
00:27:52.38\00:27:54.76
is housecalls@3abn.org.
That's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:27:54.79\00:28:00.72
Thank you for all
you do for this network
00:28:00.75\00:28:03.24
and thank you for
bearing with us even
00:28:03.27\00:28:05.38
when we get excited
about what we're talking about.
00:28:05.41\00:28:08.30
John, we left off
yesterday, kind of put us back
00:28:08.33\00:28:10.93
into the mindset of our topic--
00:28:10.96\00:28:13.48
actually not
yesterday, but last topic,
00:28:13.51\00:28:15.80
we left off on this last
topic about justification,
00:28:15.83\00:28:19.96
but we were talking about mercy
and the need for forgiveness.
00:28:19.99\00:28:23.57
Lead us into
this discussion today.
00:28:23.60\00:28:26.87
Well, there's something
that I think kind of carries
00:28:26.90\00:28:29.53
over from the question
that we just read. Okay.
00:28:29.56\00:28:32.53
And it's a subject
that kind of comes into play
00:28:32.56\00:28:34.49
when we're seeking
salvation, when we're seeking
00:28:34.52\00:28:38.71
God's mercy and
understanding the condition
00:28:38.74\00:28:41.25
that we're in as sinners.
00:28:41.28\00:28:42.74
And that is this
word called guilt. Okay.
00:28:42.77\00:28:46.89
If there's no sense
of guilt before God,
00:28:46.92\00:28:49.83
if there's no sense
of remorse for our sin
00:28:49.86\00:28:54.12
and at the same
time a corresponding love
00:28:54.15\00:28:57.65
for a Savior who
has paid the penalty,
00:28:57.68\00:29:01.58
for the penalty of
our sin, then there's no--
00:29:01.61\00:29:04.78
nothing that moves
us, moves our heart
00:29:04.81\00:29:07.49
to want or even
seek out that mercy
00:29:07.52\00:29:12.05
and the justified life
that we can have in Christ.
00:29:12.08\00:29:15.62
And I think
that's where she's coming
00:29:15.65\00:29:17.42
from a little bit, the friend,
is that there's no remorse
00:29:17.45\00:29:20.27
or guilt for her to live.
00:29:20.30\00:29:21.67
In fact saying I'm a good
person is the opposite of guilt.
00:29:21.70\00:29:26.72
What we're saying by that
is I'm not guilty of anything.
00:29:26.75\00:29:29.49
Right. Right?
00:29:29.52\00:29:30.93
I mean, when we
say I'm a good person.
00:29:30.96\00:29:32.55
I'm not guilty of
anything. I don't hurt anybody.
00:29:32.58\00:29:34.82
I don't do
anything bad to anybody.
00:29:34.85\00:29:37.40
We understand that
guilt has already been--
00:29:37.43\00:29:40.23
not guilt, but sin
has already been imposed.
00:29:40.26\00:29:43.56
Recognizing the sin is guilt
00:29:43.59\00:29:47.01
and then it
drives us to the Savior.
00:29:47.04\00:29:49.59
And something I
failed to mention,
00:29:49.62\00:29:51.03
I think I need to
mention it right now
00:29:51.06\00:29:52.43
just so I can
give balance to this.
00:29:52.46\00:29:54.58
This person may be may
have never committed a crime,
00:29:54.61\00:29:57.97
may never have cheated on taxes,
00:29:58.00\00:30:00.26
may have been the kindest,
most gentle, loving person.
00:30:00.29\00:30:04.89
Everybody loves her,
00:30:04.92\00:30:07.06
but one thing that is missing
00:30:07.09\00:30:08.80
in the equation is
this, in 1 Corinthians 15:22,
00:30:08.83\00:30:14.05
"As in Adam all die,
00:30:14.08\00:30:17.25
even so in Christ
all shall be made alive."
00:30:17.28\00:30:20.51
What many people
fail to realize is
00:30:20.54\00:30:23.04
when we are born into the world,
00:30:23.07\00:30:26.00
we are born alienated,
00:30:26.03\00:30:29.26
because we have this
nature, this sin nature,
00:30:29.29\00:30:34.23
not so much a list of
thing we've done wrong.
00:30:34.26\00:30:37.09
And I think that's where
00:30:37.12\00:30:38.49
people sometimes
misunderstand the truth.
00:30:38.52\00:30:41.17
We haven't done all
these terrible things.
00:30:41.20\00:30:43.20
We're not like Jeffrey Dahmer,
we're not like Charles Manson,
00:30:43.23\00:30:47.20
we're not like
the ramping murderer,
00:30:47.23\00:30:49.22
we're not a
terrorist, we're not--
00:30:49.25\00:30:51.20
we're not any of
those awful things.
00:30:51.23\00:30:52.61
We don't rob
people, we don't rob stores,
00:30:52.64\00:30:54.88
we don't cheat, but
if they fail to realize
00:30:54.91\00:30:58.73
it's the nature that
they have is the issue.
00:30:58.76\00:31:02.56
That is the category we are in.
00:31:02.59\00:31:04.83
That results in
these sins that occur.
00:31:04.86\00:31:07.09
That results in
our condemnation.
00:31:07.12\00:31:08.93
Even if we did nothing wrong,
00:31:08.96\00:31:10.65
and there's nobody
who's done nothing wrong,
00:31:10.68\00:31:12.10
but even if we did nothing
atrocious it is the nature
00:31:12.13\00:31:15.30
that we have that
has to be put to death,
00:31:15.33\00:31:17.39
the nature that
condemns us, not just our acts.
00:31:17.42\00:31:20.80
You know even as
a Christian though,
00:31:20.83\00:31:22.64
I find the battle that I have
00:31:22.67\00:31:26.56
is not recognizing
the sin that I have.
00:31:26.59\00:31:31.48
I'm not a murderer,
don't steal, don't lie,
00:31:31.51\00:31:35.49
you know, strict adherence,
00:31:35.52\00:31:36.98
you know, as far the Ten
Commandments are concerned,
00:31:37.01\00:31:39.55
but when Jesus
came He really elevated,
00:31:39.58\00:31:41.55
He raised the bar
00:31:41.58\00:31:43.15
as to what expectations were
of Christians, to be like Him.
00:31:43.18\00:31:46.98
I mean, He was perfect.
00:31:47.01\00:31:48.55
So, you know, we can
get our little things
00:31:48.58\00:31:51.09
that we begin to do
00:31:51.12\00:31:52.49
and we can get so
kind of, we can rationalize
00:31:52.52\00:31:54.89
what we're doing
is not really wrong.
00:31:54.92\00:31:58.71
Simple thing, we
talked about this in a program
00:31:58.74\00:32:01.07
not too long ago, complaining.
00:32:01.10\00:32:05.94
Do I have the right to complain?
00:32:05.97\00:32:08.91
I mean, do I have
the right to complain?
00:32:08.94\00:32:10.31
If, you know, this
situation with Angie, two hours,
00:32:10.34\00:32:14.90
I mean, it just
doesn't seem fair, does it?
00:32:14.93\00:32:17.78
She has the right to
complain. That's not fair.
00:32:17.81\00:32:23.09
But the Bible says do all things
00:32:23.12\00:32:24.63
without
murmuring and complaining.
00:32:24.66\00:32:28.88
Being critical of somebody else,
00:32:28.91\00:32:31.58
getting angry at
somebody for doing something.
00:32:31.61\00:32:34.64
These things we kind of
rationalize, they're okay,
00:32:34.67\00:32:37.10
'cause we have
the right to do that.
00:32:37.13\00:32:39.25
But look at Jesus.
00:32:39.28\00:32:40.84
Did He have the right to
come down off that cross?
00:32:40.87\00:32:47.27
Did He have the right
to respond and retaliate
00:32:47.30\00:32:50.61
for those who were beating Him
00:32:50.64\00:32:52.19
and whipping Him
and spitting on Him?
00:32:52.22\00:32:53.77
Did he have the
right to do those things?
00:32:53.80\00:32:55.32
Yeah. Absolutely.
00:32:55.35\00:32:57.35
But he didn't,
because it was in his nature.
00:32:57.38\00:33:00.45
He laid any of
those rights aside.
00:33:00.48\00:33:03.25
And we as sinners, we
like to exercise this right.
00:33:03.28\00:33:07.01
I have this--my
dad was a very wise man
00:33:07.04\00:33:10.92
and he loved words and language
00:33:10.95\00:33:13.71
and deep thought kind
of articles and stuff.
00:33:13.74\00:33:17.64
And he would bring
stuff in front of me.
00:33:17.67\00:33:19.04
And he had this
moment just he brought to me
00:33:19.07\00:33:20.66
that was very influential in
my approach to life in general.
00:33:20.69\00:33:25.27
And it was an article
and I still have it today.
00:33:25.30\00:33:28.29
An article called
"The Justice Trap."
00:33:28.32\00:33:31.20
And what it
essentially was saying,
00:33:31.23\00:33:32.60
the author was suggesting
here that we in America
00:33:32.63\00:33:35.39
and the world in general
are caught in this justice trap.
00:33:35.42\00:33:40.34
Well, it's not fair.
And we want to exercise.
00:33:40.37\00:33:44.16
We want to assert our rights.
00:33:44.19\00:33:45.83
We want to make things fair.
00:33:45.86\00:33:47.33
And the conclusion is really
00:33:47.36\00:33:48.84
that the world
is not a fair place.
00:33:48.87\00:33:50.76
True. It's not.
00:33:50.79\00:33:52.22
And the justice trap, the
trap part about it is that
00:33:52.25\00:33:55.14
when we have this
mentality that it's not fair
00:33:55.17\00:33:57.31
and we need to
exercise our right or assert,
00:33:57.34\00:33:59.84
you know, get justice,
when we fall into that trap,
00:33:59.87\00:34:03.48
we can never be
satisfied with life,
00:34:03.51\00:34:06.00
because life is never fair.
00:34:06.03\00:34:08.50
And because it
never will be fair
00:34:08.53\00:34:10.36
we can never be
satisfied by the good life.
00:34:10.39\00:34:12.61
But Jesus came
that we might have life
00:34:12.64\00:34:14.20
and have it more abundantly.
00:34:14.23\00:34:15.84
And part of that abundant life
is recognizing life's not fair,
00:34:15.87\00:34:19.64
we're not good, we're sinners,
00:34:19.67\00:34:21.88
we're caught in a situation that
we can't get ourselves out of.
00:34:21.91\00:34:24.86
I need Jesus. That's right.
00:34:24.89\00:34:27.84
And He lifts us out of that
00:34:27.87\00:34:29.57
and gives us the life
that He wants us to have.
00:34:29.60\00:34:32.39
And we can argue and talk about,
00:34:32.42\00:34:34.38
oh, it's not fair for us
to be condemned and so forth.
00:34:34.41\00:34:36.99
A lot of that comes
out of a misunderstanding
00:34:37.02\00:34:38.95
of who God is and what
His character really is.
00:34:38.98\00:34:41.00
That's where a lot
of that is coming from.
00:34:41.03\00:34:43.22
But I think to a great degree
00:34:43.25\00:34:45.39
we need to realize no
good dwells within us.
00:34:45.42\00:34:49.58
Nothing.
00:34:49.61\00:34:50.98
And if we understand that,
00:34:51.01\00:34:52.38
I think a lot less
arguing and fighting
00:34:52.41\00:34:53.78
and complaining and disputing
00:34:53.81\00:34:55.18
what happened
even within the church
00:34:55.21\00:34:57.42
that happens today
00:34:57.45\00:34:59.99
and we can move
forward with His mission
00:35:00.02\00:35:01.65
knowing that we
all have our things,
00:35:01.68\00:35:03.40
we all have our issues,
but let's still unite together
00:35:03.43\00:35:06.75
and let's do this work
that God has given us to do
00:35:06.78\00:35:09.88
which is proclaim the
wonderful love of Christ
00:35:09.91\00:35:11.74
that he has for us and
this gospel of salvation
00:35:11.77\00:35:14.42
that we have in Him to
pick us up from where we are
00:35:14.45\00:35:18.41
and lift us up into high places
00:35:18.44\00:35:21.14
and eventually
bring us up into heaven
00:35:21.17\00:35:23.27
and to live with
Him for eternity.
00:35:23.30\00:35:25.80
When we understand our condition
this topic of justification
00:35:25.83\00:35:29.19
I want to point at a
few texts in the Bible
00:35:29.22\00:35:30.99
that really help us understand
to see why it's impossible
00:35:31.02\00:35:34.15
for mercy to be extended to us
00:35:34.18\00:35:36.12
without the
existence of God's law.
00:35:36.15\00:35:38.16
We talked about
this a moment ago.
00:35:38.19\00:35:40.03
And we use analogies.
00:35:40.06\00:35:41.87
It always makes me
chuckles when people,
00:35:41.90\00:35:44.98
kind of, say you're a pastor,
00:35:45.01\00:35:47.77
you got a ticket, you
know, speeding ticket?
00:35:47.80\00:35:50.94
Do you know anybody who
hasn't got a speeding ticket?
00:35:50.97\00:35:53.11
We had one elder in California
00:35:53.14\00:35:54.51
that had never gotten a
speeding ticket all of his life.
00:35:54.54\00:35:57.28
And he was coming down
between Concord and Antioch,
00:35:57.31\00:36:02.05
there's a pass there
that he was coming down that.
00:36:02.08\00:36:04.45
I don't remember.
00:36:04.48\00:36:05.85
You may--you know
exactly what I'm talking about.
00:36:05.88\00:36:07.76
But I remember his name
right now, it's been so long.
00:36:07.79\00:36:10.25
He was coming down that coast,
00:36:10.28\00:36:11.65
you know, it's really steep
and right at the very bottom
00:36:11.68\00:36:13.42
there was a highway
patrol that caught him.
00:36:13.45\00:36:15.67
And he said to
highway patrolman,
00:36:15.70\00:36:17.87
"I've never gotten
a ticket in my life.
00:36:17.90\00:36:24.39
Please don't give me one."
00:36:24.42\00:36:26.81
And he said,
"You were speeding."
00:36:26.84\00:36:31.45
And that--I'm sure there
are several police officers
00:36:31.48\00:36:34.39
that love to hear that to give.
00:36:34.42\00:36:35.92
He can say in response,
00:36:35.95\00:36:37.59
"I'll be the first person
to give you a ticket then,"
00:36:37.62\00:36:41.19
Oh, man, I tell you,
00:36:41.22\00:36:42.59
my wife got one many
years ago on her birthday.
00:36:42.62\00:36:44.83
My--I had a cast on my left leg.
00:36:44.86\00:36:48.40
She had a doctor's
appointment in St. Louis
00:36:48.43\00:36:50.93
and it was her birthday
and we were going to St. Louis
00:36:50.96\00:36:53.26
to go to this
doctor's appointment,
00:36:53.29\00:36:54.66
then stay out there
and celebrate her birthday.
00:36:54.69\00:36:56.90
And she got a ticket
00:36:56.93\00:36:58.30
and she said to that
police officer through tears,
00:36:58.33\00:37:00.91
"Please don't give me a
ticket. Today is my birthday."
00:37:00.94\00:37:02.93
He said, "Well, then hurry up.
00:37:02.96\00:37:04.41
I don't want to keep
you from celebrating.
00:37:04.44\00:37:05.81
Hurry up and
give me your license
00:37:05.84\00:37:07.21
so we get this thing
done and get over..."
00:37:07.24\00:37:08.98
It didn't really
matter. It didn't really matter.
00:37:09.01\00:37:12.57
And I know of a young lady,
00:37:12.60\00:37:14.13
I performed her
wedding with her husband.
00:37:14.16\00:37:16.37
She got a ticket
on her wedding day.
00:37:16.40\00:37:18.53
She's on the way with
her pre-bride dress on.
00:37:18.56\00:37:22.00
She said, "It's my wedding day."
00:37:22.03\00:37:23.70
He said, "Well, then hurry up.
00:37:23.73\00:37:25.28
What time are
you getting married?
00:37:25.31\00:37:26.68
I don't want to take..."
00:37:26.71\00:37:28.08
So there's some
people-- here's my point.
00:37:28.11\00:37:30.79
This whole thing about justice
00:37:30.82\00:37:32.72
it cannot be abrogated
or it cannot be suspended,
00:37:32.75\00:37:37.40
because human nature
cries for mercy, you see.
00:37:37.43\00:37:41.49
Proverbs 16:6.
00:37:41.52\00:37:45.52
This is funny.
Oh, boy, I tell you.
00:37:45.55\00:37:49.11
Proverbs 16:6, Proverb is a--
00:37:49.14\00:37:51.66
if you want to get wise--
00:37:51.69\00:37:53.06
as a matter of fact
Dr. Ben Carson said he--
00:37:53.09\00:37:56.66
growing up he read
the Book of Proverb
00:37:56.69\00:37:58.32
so frequently, but here's one.
00:37:58.35\00:38:01.58
Proverbs 16, "In mercy and
truth," no, mercy and truth.
00:38:01.61\00:38:07.41
"In mercy and truth atonement
is provided for iniquity.
00:38:07.44\00:38:12.99
And by the fear of the
Lord one departs from evil."
00:38:13.02\00:38:17.59
So you see clearly
there two things exist
00:38:17.62\00:38:23.50
in the context of
provision for our simple life.
00:38:23.53\00:38:28.14
Two things must abide together.
00:38:28.17\00:38:30.15
Mercy and truth and
God's commandments are truth.
00:38:30.18\00:38:35.21
So you ask for mercy
00:38:35.24\00:38:37.85
but it has to be in the
hand of the one who is--
00:38:37.88\00:38:40.42
now it doesn't say
the police officers
00:38:40.45\00:38:42.31
or highway
patrolmen or whatever category
00:38:42.34\00:38:44.29
they may be in
that enforce the law,
00:38:44.32\00:38:48.44
it doesn't say that
they are filled with mercy.
00:38:48.47\00:38:50.96
It said they are
filled with justice, you see.
00:38:50.99\00:38:54.82
So God would be the
one who atones for us,
00:38:54.85\00:38:59.87
but in Him is
mercy and also truth.
00:38:59.90\00:39:04.85
Both of those exist together.
00:39:04.88\00:39:07.50
You know and Psalms, book
of Psalms elevates this truth,
00:39:07.53\00:39:11.36
this concept of truth.
00:39:11.39\00:39:12.76
Psalm 119:151,
"You are near, O, Lord,
00:39:12.79\00:39:18.04
and all Your
commandments are truth." Okay.
00:39:18.07\00:39:22.98
Jesus says,
"Sanctify them by your truth.
00:39:23.01\00:39:26.58
Your word is truth."
00:39:26.61\00:39:30.50
So we have here clearly
God's word, His commandments.
00:39:30.53\00:39:36.01
Everything that we
need, that is truth.
00:39:36.04\00:39:39.69
And coupled with them
this atonement that's provided,
00:39:39.72\00:39:46.76
thinking about the atonement,
00:39:46.79\00:39:49.29
atonement really
is an act of mercy.
00:39:49.32\00:39:52.73
Atonement is broken down with
00:39:52.76\00:39:54.96
basically by three separate
words, at-one-ment. Very true.
00:39:54.99\00:39:58.36
It's a bringing
together what has been apart.
00:39:58.39\00:40:01.43
And so when we seek mercy
from God and He forgives our sin
00:40:01.46\00:40:06.36
He's performing
an act of atonement,
00:40:06.39\00:40:09.12
in that He's bringing
what is apart together again.
00:40:09.15\00:40:13.32
And Jesus is the one that makes
that possible by His death.
00:40:13.35\00:40:18.42
So when we receive
Him, then through Him
00:40:18.45\00:40:20.78
we are brought
together as one with God.
00:40:20.81\00:40:24.90
That's right and so--
00:40:24.93\00:40:26.30
And so I mention that though
00:40:26.33\00:40:27.70
because it's part
of the justified life.
00:40:27.73\00:40:29.10
It's part of what
the justification is
00:40:29.13\00:40:31.11
that we have in Christ is
the bringing together as one.
00:40:31.14\00:40:35.85
You know what we're
actually doing here today
00:40:35.88\00:40:37.86
for those of you
who are listening
00:40:37.89\00:40:39.26
and watching this program,
00:40:39.29\00:40:40.66
we're not talking about
just the justification itself.
00:40:40.69\00:40:42.87
We're talking about why there
is a need for justification.
00:40:42.90\00:40:46.33
So often we want to
arrive at a particular location
00:40:46.36\00:40:48.79
without understanding
why we need to arrive there,
00:40:48.82\00:40:51.07
why we need to be there.
00:40:51.10\00:40:52.90
We've talked about the fact that
00:40:52.93\00:40:54.75
none of us is
guiltless before God,
00:40:54.78\00:40:58.01
not because we have
done these atrocious things.
00:40:58.04\00:41:00.51
Somebody may say,
"Well, man, am I that bad?"
00:41:00.54\00:41:05.87
Yeah, we are.
00:41:05.90\00:41:07.27
Not because we've
done all these bad things
00:41:07.30\00:41:09.97
but because our wrapping,
our packaging is defective.
00:41:10.00\00:41:13.39
That's the best
way I can describe it.
00:41:13.42\00:41:14.79
The packaging is
the nature of Adam
00:41:14.82\00:41:17.04
which we had no share in.
00:41:17.07\00:41:18.85
We had no share in
that. We became inheritors.
00:41:18.88\00:41:22.26
And when you read
that text when it says
00:41:22.29\00:41:25.06
visiting the
inequity of the father
00:41:25.09\00:41:27.73
unto the children of
third and fourth generation,
00:41:27.76\00:41:30.32
that's what happened.
00:41:30.35\00:41:31.72
The inequity of
Adam has visited to us.
00:41:31.75\00:41:34.95
We become
inheritors of this defaulty,
00:41:34.98\00:41:38.42
this faulty nature.
00:41:38.45\00:41:40.79
Not guilty of his
specific sin. Right.
00:41:40.82\00:41:44.03
But the nature of sin
now we have inherited.
00:41:44.06\00:41:46.99
And that's why some people say,
00:41:47.02\00:41:48.39
"Man, you're just as
hot-headed as your dad."
00:41:48.42\00:41:51.22
We've heard
that. Some people say,
00:41:51.25\00:41:52.62
"You're just as
kind as your mother,"
00:41:52.65\00:41:54.02
or "kind as your father."
00:41:54.05\00:41:55.42
I don't want to make men
hot-headed and women kind,
00:41:55.45\00:41:57.35
but sometimes people say,
00:41:57.38\00:41:59.84
"Boy, it just--I could
tell you're part of that family
00:41:59.87\00:42:02.63
because everybody I've met
00:42:02.66\00:42:04.03
from that family is
really, really rude."
00:42:04.06\00:42:06.78
Those are the nature--
those are the characteristics
00:42:06.81\00:42:08.92
that carry on from
generation to generation.
00:42:08.95\00:42:11.61
And so we're not saying that
00:42:11.64\00:42:13.54
you are this
terrible bad person,
00:42:13.57\00:42:15.28
that you're
sitting in your house
00:42:15.31\00:42:16.68
scheming and conniving.
00:42:16.71\00:42:18.27
We're simply saying the
nature that you were born with
00:42:18.30\00:42:22.25
does not qualify you
for a different destination.
00:42:22.28\00:42:25.90
That nature can't fit
in a different destination.
00:42:25.93\00:42:30.17
You know we've talked--
00:42:30.20\00:42:31.57
we're talking about the
subject of justification
00:42:31.60\00:42:33.49
and it almost seems like
00:42:33.52\00:42:34.89
we've got to go
to Romans Chapter 3.
00:42:34.92\00:42:37.57
Because that is probably
one of the most profound
00:42:37.60\00:42:40.40
statements of why or how we
are found guilty before God,
00:42:40.43\00:42:47.04
but then He bestows or
gives us that forgiveness
00:42:47.07\00:42:50.42
that we have
through Christ. Amen.
00:42:50.45\00:42:52.11
And so I'm gonna start
with Romans 3:19. Okay.
00:42:52.14\00:42:56.88
"Now we know that
whatever the law says
00:42:56.91\00:42:59.35
it says to those
who are under the law,
00:42:59.38\00:43:01.94
that every mouth may be stopped,
00:43:01.97\00:43:03.37
and all the world may
become guilty before God."
00:43:03.40\00:43:06.08
That's right.
00:43:06.11\00:43:07.48
So the law, the Ten Commandments
00:43:07.51\00:43:08.89
reveals the perfect
character of Christ.
00:43:08.92\00:43:11.46
It reveals God's authority,
who He is, His perfection.
00:43:11.49\00:43:16.24
And when we see that law we
realize we're not like that.
00:43:16.27\00:43:19.10
We become guilty
before God, okay.
00:43:19.13\00:43:22.48
Now there's something
that law can't do though
00:43:22.51\00:43:26.05
and that's where
we get to in verse 20,
00:43:26.08\00:43:28.36
"Therefore by the
deeds of the law,"
00:43:28.39\00:43:31.52
in another words just
by beginning to do it,
00:43:31.55\00:43:33.90
"no flesh will be
justified in the sight of God,
00:43:33.93\00:43:37.78
for by the law is
the knowledge of sin."
00:43:37.81\00:43:40.68
So it is true that the law
cannot do anything to save us.
00:43:40.71\00:43:45.31
That is something that we agree
00:43:45.34\00:43:46.84
with our
evangelical brethren on. Right.
00:43:46.87\00:43:49.23
The law cannot save us.
00:43:49.26\00:43:51.11
Just realizing
you're guilty and saying,
00:43:51.14\00:43:52.84
"Okay, if I stop
performing it now
00:43:52.87\00:43:54.66
or start performing it now
00:43:54.69\00:43:56.49
then I can work
my way back to God
00:43:56.52\00:43:58.60
and I will be
found in favor with Him."
00:43:58.63\00:44:01.11
But we've already broken it.
00:44:01.14\00:44:03.47
What's gonna
happen with all the sins,
00:44:03.50\00:44:05.30
all the things we've done
to break the law in the past?
00:44:05.33\00:44:07.93
Well, that's
where Jesus comes in.
00:44:07.96\00:44:09.44
So we go a little further now.
00:44:09.47\00:44:11.17
Verse 21, "But now
the righteousness of God
00:44:11.20\00:44:13.24
apart from the law,"
and there was something
00:44:13.27\00:44:15.48
other than the
law had to come in
00:44:15.51\00:44:18.47
"had to be revealed to help us."
00:44:18.50\00:44:22.01
That is verse 22, "Even
the righteousness of God
00:44:22.04\00:44:25.02
through faith in Jesus Christ
to all and on all who believe.
00:44:25.05\00:44:30.53
For there is no
difference, for all."
00:44:30.56\00:44:32.55
How many is that? All. Everyone.
00:44:32.58\00:44:35.08
"All have sinned and fall
short of the glory to God."
00:44:35.11\00:44:38.05
We all need this intervening,
this revealing of Christ
00:44:38.08\00:44:42.89
apart from what the
law could do to save us.
00:44:42.92\00:44:46.53
Verse 24, "Being
justified freely by His grace
00:44:46.56\00:44:51.94
through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus"
00:44:51.97\00:44:54.82
In another words Jesus saves
us by His grace not the law.
00:44:54.85\00:44:58.26
The law can't save us.
00:44:58.29\00:44:59.66
The law condemns us in
that we do not measure up.
00:44:59.69\00:45:03.61
And I like the fact, I want
to just amplify this verse here
00:45:03.64\00:45:07.06
because when I look at Romans 3,
00:45:07.09\00:45:08.87
this Romans is a deep book,
00:45:08.90\00:45:11.82
but if you go back a
few verses to verse 10
00:45:11.85\00:45:14.11
and the reason why
this is so beautiful here is
00:45:14.14\00:45:16.01
because of what
the stage had been--
00:45:16.04\00:45:17.90
how the stage had
been set in Romans 3:10,
00:45:17.93\00:45:20.69
"As it is written, there is
none righteous, no, not one.
00:45:20.72\00:45:25.98
There is none who understands,
00:45:26.01\00:45:28.95
there is none
who seeks after God.
00:45:28.98\00:45:31.79
They have all
gone out of the way,
00:45:31.82\00:45:34.37
they have together
become unprofitable,
00:45:34.40\00:45:37.62
there is none who
does good, no, not one."
00:45:37.65\00:45:41.93
So unless we come
to that conclusion
00:45:41.96\00:45:44.41
this thing that God extends
to us and this is beautiful.
00:45:44.44\00:45:47.66
This is where the
good news comes in.
00:45:47.69\00:45:49.35
It says "we
have been"--verse 24,
00:45:49.38\00:45:51.72
you read that
"being justified freely."
00:45:51.75\00:45:54.14
We look at that
and say, "Man, free.
00:45:54.17\00:45:56.64
Salvation is free." To you--
00:45:56.67\00:46:00.49
Not to God. But not to God.
00:46:00.52\00:46:02.18
It caused Him
everything. He paid the price.
00:46:02.21\00:46:05.97
Peter says, "We are not redeemed
00:46:06.00\00:46:08.20
with corruptible
things like gold and silver
00:46:08.23\00:46:10.69
but with the precious blood of
Christ as of a spotless lamb."
00:46:10.72\00:46:15.66
He didn't just take out
His credit card and swipe it.
00:46:15.69\00:46:18.28
He gave His life
on the chopping block.
00:46:18.31\00:46:21.12
He said, "Life for life" and
what's so beautiful about life
00:46:21.15\00:46:25.38
is that Jesus, that one life
00:46:25.41\00:46:27.39
can save the
lives of every humanity.
00:46:27.42\00:46:30.12
That's how
wealthy that one life is.
00:46:30.15\00:46:32.65
Do you know of anyone
who has enough money to pay
00:46:32.68\00:46:35.99
for everybody who has ever
lived to go on a trip to heaven?
00:46:36.02\00:46:40.88
I thought about it that way
one day and I almost stopped.
00:46:40.91\00:46:44.91
I almost froze
00:46:44.94\00:46:46.35
because I don't know of anybody
who has enough money to pay--
00:46:46.38\00:46:49.69
okay, let me put it this way,
00:46:49.72\00:46:51.09
number of years
ago Oprah Winfrey
00:46:51.12\00:46:53.99
and this everybody in
the studio that day she said,
00:46:54.02\00:46:56.05
"Everybody in here
today is going to Australia"
00:46:56.08\00:46:58.93
and they went nuts.
00:46:58.96\00:47:01.58
She paid for everybody
00:47:01.61\00:47:03.38
and their family
members to go to Australia.
00:47:03.41\00:47:06.80
She charted, I
think two 747s. Wow.
00:47:06.83\00:47:11.41
That's some deep pocket. Yeah.
00:47:11.44\00:47:13.60
I mean, I can't even
buy a dinner for everybody.
00:47:13.63\00:47:17.03
I can't go to Australia.
00:47:17.06\00:47:20.30
I mean, we couldn't--
00:47:20.33\00:47:22.35
we don't have the
money in our own pockets
00:47:22.38\00:47:24.15
to pay for us
to go to Australia,
00:47:24.18\00:47:25.90
let alone charter two planes
00:47:25.93\00:47:27.56
and pay for all
their family members
00:47:27.59\00:47:29.59
to go to Australia.
00:47:29.62\00:47:30.99
That was huge and we
were sitting there, it's like,
00:47:31.02\00:47:32.95
"uh, why can't I be in
the audience that day?"
00:47:32.98\00:47:35.73
But then I think of Jesus.
00:47:35.76\00:47:38.01
See this is a topic that is
just so exciting to me, to us.
00:47:38.04\00:47:41.03
We think of Jesus who
says, "Hey, guys, guess what?
00:47:41.06\00:47:44.31
I can pay for everyone and
their family to go to heaven."
00:47:44.34\00:47:49.63
And I'm thinking,
"man, a lot of Oprah,
00:47:49.66\00:47:52.40
you just got played.
00:47:52.43\00:47:54.28
Oprah, you don't have any money.
00:47:54.31\00:47:56.31
Let me introduce you to somebody
00:47:56.34\00:47:57.80
who really can pay
and who has paid it all."
00:47:57.83\00:48:01.78
It's just so humbling.
00:48:01.81\00:48:03.30
So when it says, "We've been
justified freely by His grace,"
00:48:03.33\00:48:07.65
we're talking about that grace,
00:48:07.68\00:48:09.09
"through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus."
00:48:09.12\00:48:11.67
We're talking about something
00:48:11.70\00:48:13.07
that is so
powerful, it leads right in.
00:48:13.10\00:48:16.81
And I don't know how
many verses you're going down.
00:48:16.84\00:48:18.24
Keep reading on. Are
you going down to verse 27?
00:48:18.27\00:48:20.59
Yeah. Verse 28?
00:48:20.62\00:48:21.99
Go ahead. 28, yes. Keep going.
00:48:22.02\00:48:23.98
"Whom God set forth"--
00:48:24.01\00:48:26.73
That's in verse 25, keep going.
00:48:26.76\00:48:28.28
"As a propitiation by His blood,
00:48:28.31\00:48:30.42
through faith to
demonstrate His righteousness,
00:48:30.45\00:48:33.48
because in His
forbearance God had passed over
00:48:33.51\00:48:37.84
the sins that were
previously committed."
00:48:37.87\00:48:40.48
Stop and break that down.
00:48:40.51\00:48:43.58
He passes over previously
committed sins. That's right.
00:48:43.61\00:48:47.03
So if you sinned in the
past and you accept Jesus.
00:48:47.06\00:48:51.32
He's passed over them.
00:48:51.35\00:48:53.29
Pass over, get it? That's right.
00:48:53.32\00:48:55.37
He does not allow
destruction to come to us,
00:48:55.40\00:48:58.31
because His blood causes
destruction to pass over.
00:48:58.34\00:49:02.83
Ooh, that's deep.
And what else does He do?
00:49:02.86\00:49:06.14
Verse 26.
00:49:06.17\00:49:07.54
"To demonstrate at the
present time His righteousness,
00:49:07.57\00:49:10.71
that He might be
just and the justifier
00:49:10.74\00:49:14.51
of the one who
has faith in Jesus."
00:49:14.54\00:49:18.02
And verse 27, I got it,
"Where is boasting then?"
00:49:18.05\00:49:23.50
That's the way he--so
what are you boasting about?
00:49:23.53\00:49:26.61
It's almost like--
Nothing you can do.
00:49:26.64\00:49:28.76
There's nothing about
you. It's not about you.
00:49:28.79\00:49:30.30
It's nothing you can do. Right.
00:49:30.33\00:49:31.78
So what do you
have to boast about?
00:49:31.81\00:49:33.32
Tell me that you've done
that you can boast about?
00:49:33.35\00:49:35.97
That's what Paul
is in essence saying.
00:49:36.00\00:49:37.74
So tell me who you're boasting?
00:49:37.77\00:49:39.16
What are you boasting about?
00:49:39.19\00:49:40.56
He says, "Where
is boasting then?
00:49:40.59\00:49:44.08
It is excluded. By
what law? Of works?
00:49:44.11\00:49:48.54
No, by the law of faith."
00:49:48.57\00:49:51.48
How many have heard
of the law of faith?
00:49:51.51\00:49:53.80
The law of faith is demonstrated
in the very next passage.
00:49:53.83\00:49:57.14
"Therefore we conclude
that a man is justified
00:49:57.17\00:50:01.90
by faith apart from
the deeds of the law."
00:50:01.93\00:50:07.15
The law faith is justification.
00:50:07.18\00:50:10.57
Just as if I had never sinned.
00:50:10.60\00:50:12.66
Justified. That's right.
00:50:12.69\00:50:14.59
It's just powerful. So
the Lord is saying you--
00:50:14.62\00:50:17.38
that's the law that
you can never get rid of
00:50:17.41\00:50:20.45
because
justification doesn't get
00:50:20.48\00:50:23.02
rid of the commandments of God
00:50:23.05\00:50:24.65
nor did justification get
rid of the ceremonial law.
00:50:24.68\00:50:28.64
Sometimes people say
which law do we get rid of?
00:50:28.67\00:50:31.27
Even if both of them
were in force still today,
00:50:31.30\00:50:34.20
we still need justification
through the life of Christ.
00:50:34.23\00:50:37.29
In fact verse 31 says,
00:50:37.32\00:50:38.69
"Do we then make void
the law through faith?
00:50:38.72\00:50:40.70
Certainly not!
Exclamation point.
00:50:40.73\00:50:43.89
On the contrary, we establish
the law." That's right.
00:50:43.92\00:50:48.33
If you by faith
believe and trust in Jesus
00:50:48.36\00:50:51.34
as your Lord and Savior
00:50:51.37\00:50:52.76
who has died and paid
the penalty for your sins
00:50:52.79\00:50:55.30
you have established
the authority of God's law.
00:50:55.33\00:51:00.12
Because the authority of
God's law is still in effect.
00:51:00.15\00:51:02.77
It is still in
place and condemns us
00:51:02.80\00:51:04.92
as a sinner in
need of God's grace.
00:51:04.95\00:51:09.73
So grace and law are together.
00:51:09.76\00:51:13.54
It's not law or grace.
00:51:13.57\00:51:15.76
It's not Old Testament
law, New Testament grace.
00:51:15.79\00:51:18.42
It's both testaments
law and grace together.
00:51:18.45\00:51:22.86
That is what Paul is saying and
so anything outside of that--
00:51:22.89\00:51:27.20
if you're pastor or
you're, you know, school teacher
00:51:27.23\00:51:31.54
or you're church teacher,
00:51:31.57\00:51:34.68
whoever is teaching that the law
was done away with by Christ,
00:51:34.71\00:51:38.21
he is completely
contrary to what we just read,
00:51:38.24\00:51:41.45
that the law is established
by the faith we have in Jesus.
00:51:41.48\00:51:44.80
In fact Revelation
14:12. John, I'm there.
00:51:44.83\00:51:48.94
Oh, we do think
alike sometimes. Go ahead.
00:51:48.97\00:51:51.60
"Here is the
patience of the saints.
00:51:51.63\00:51:53.94
Here are those who keep
the commandments of God,
00:51:53.97\00:51:58.21
and the faith of Jesus."
00:51:58.24\00:52:01.35
Law and faith, together.
00:52:01.38\00:52:04.20
Saved by grace through faith,
00:52:04.23\00:52:06.33
but do we make void the
law though faith? Uh-uh.
00:52:06.36\00:52:09.98
You establish it.
00:52:10.01\00:52:11.51
This is the
amazing part about it
00:52:11.54\00:52:12.91
and I want to emphasize this.
00:52:12.94\00:52:14.64
People have said over and over
and I've heard pastors say this,
00:52:14.67\00:52:18.01
but what they are meaning
is something quite different
00:52:18.04\00:52:20.36
than what the Bible is meaning.
00:52:20.39\00:52:21.77
They say, "You can't be saved
by keeping the law therefore,"
00:52:21.80\00:52:26.79
they're saying,
"don't try to keep it."
00:52:26.82\00:52:29.68
The first part of
statement is accurate,
00:52:29.71\00:52:31.44
the second part
is not a conclusion
00:52:31.47\00:52:33.56
supported by Scripture.
00:52:33.59\00:52:34.96
And I've got statements here.
00:52:34.99\00:52:37.26
We read a
question the other day.
00:52:37.29\00:52:39.24
You know, we don't--we are
not against the Old Testament
00:52:39.27\00:52:41.77
and we're not
saying there's anything
00:52:41.80\00:52:43.17
wrong with the law
00:52:43.20\00:52:44.57
but we don't have
to keep it to be saved.
00:52:44.60\00:52:47.12
That was the
problem with that statement
00:52:47.15\00:52:48.72
and that's exactly
what you're reiterating.
00:52:48.75\00:52:50.97
The law of God doesn't save us.
00:52:51.00\00:52:52.69
It points out
our need of a Savior.
00:52:52.72\00:52:55.23
But once you have that Savior,
00:52:55.26\00:52:56.66
you can't be saved without
living in harmony with that law.
00:52:56.69\00:52:59.73
Thank you.
Because they are together.
00:52:59.76\00:53:01.95
The law can't save you.
You can't keep it to be saved.
00:53:01.98\00:53:04.72
We can't say this
enough, but when you are saved
00:53:04.75\00:53:07.33
you don't live out
of harmony with it.
00:53:07.36\00:53:10.13
I like the way John
Carter said, he says,
00:53:10.16\00:53:12.51
"You don't have to
be good to be saved.
00:53:12.54\00:53:15.17
You have to be
saved to be good."
00:53:15.20\00:53:17.36
I like that.
Isn't that powerful?
00:53:17.39\00:53:19.36
That's good.
Everybody went, whoa.
00:53:19.39\00:53:22.34
When you are saved you are good,
00:53:22.37\00:53:24.75
the law is holy
and just and good.
00:53:24.78\00:53:29.11
When you are saved you are good.
00:53:29.14\00:53:31.14
You cannot be good
00:53:31.17\00:53:32.54
and be out of harmony
with something that is good.
00:53:32.57\00:53:34.91
And what he's really
saying is when you are saved
00:53:34.94\00:53:37.63
God makes you a
keeper of His law.
00:53:37.66\00:53:40.73
Your life, they say you want
to see the commandments of God?
00:53:40.76\00:53:43.67
There it is. That
person's living in harmony.
00:53:43.70\00:53:45.82
Wait a minute. Profound thought.
00:53:45.85\00:53:47.79
If you love me,
keep my commandments.
00:53:47.82\00:53:50.15
The only way to get
the commandments first
00:53:50.18\00:53:52.10
is through Christ. That's right.
00:53:52.13\00:53:53.50
The relationship has
to be established first.
00:53:53.53\00:53:56.18
So when He says keep,
00:53:56.21\00:53:58.28
He's implying you've already
received those commandments
00:53:58.31\00:54:01.36
through what Christ has
done for you. That's right.
00:54:01.39\00:54:03.53
So He's asking you to
keep something, not perform it,
00:54:03.56\00:54:05.99
to do it, to attain it.
00:54:06.02\00:54:08.06
He didn't say
attain my commandments.
00:54:08.09\00:54:09.85
That's right. He said keep them.
00:54:09.88\00:54:13.13
He didn't say
perform my commandments.
00:54:13.16\00:54:14.53
No. That's right.
00:54:14.56\00:54:15.93
You're keeping
what God has given you
00:54:15.96\00:54:17.54
through faith in Christ. Wow.
00:54:17.57\00:54:20.09
So you are keeping something
that only He can give you.
00:54:20.12\00:54:23.47
So if you have-- you
don't have Jesus yet,
00:54:23.50\00:54:25.78
there's no keeping,
'cause you don't have them.
00:54:25.81\00:54:28.09
Once you have Jesus then there's
keeping the commandments,
00:54:28.12\00:54:30.57
because you've got
Jesus and His laws.
00:54:30.60\00:54:32.91
Wow, it's like
receiving the garment.
00:54:32.94\00:54:34.81
Blessed is he
that keepth his garment
00:54:34.84\00:54:36.66
not he that maketh
his garment. That's right.
00:54:36.69\00:54:38.58
Not he that
designth his garment.
00:54:38.61\00:54:40.63
I've just given you a
garment, keep it. That's right.
00:54:40.66\00:54:43.35
I've just-- now you are one
00:54:43.38\00:54:45.54
that I can
entrust my law to keep it.
00:54:45.57\00:54:48.58
Just like He gave Moses
the commandments, keep them.
00:54:48.61\00:54:52.61
Oh, that's a deep thought.
That's a very deep thought.
00:54:52.64\00:54:54.54
Never thought of it
that way but that's--
00:54:54.57\00:54:56.79
That's the
evidence of inspiration.
00:54:56.82\00:54:59.22
The Lord, when He comes to us,
00:54:59.25\00:55:02.05
the provision He makes is
not something that is shoddy.
00:55:02.08\00:55:06.45
He doesn't require of us
to put something together now
00:55:06.48\00:55:09.28
to harness our relationship
00:55:09.31\00:55:11.58
or govern and guide
our relationship with Him.
00:55:11.61\00:55:14.31
He says, "I already
have the guidelines.
00:55:14.34\00:55:17.36
Here they are now."
00:55:17.39\00:55:18.92
And you know,
John, let me add to that.
00:55:18.95\00:55:20.44
This is beautiful.
00:55:20.47\00:55:21.84
This is beautiful,
praise God for that.
00:55:21.87\00:55:23.36
He's in essence saying, okay,
00:55:23.39\00:55:25.74
"Up until this point--"
00:55:25.77\00:55:27.34
I'm gonna just
make this obscure.
00:55:27.37\00:55:28.74
I don't want the
title of this to be seen.
00:55:28.77\00:55:31.13
He said, "Up until this point
I could not trust you with this
00:55:31.16\00:55:38.77
because you would have
violated them to no end
00:55:38.80\00:55:42.57
but now that I've saved you
00:55:42.60\00:55:45.03
here's my commandments."
00:55:45.06\00:55:46.59
Keep them. "Keep them."
00:55:46.62\00:55:49.18
And you accept them.
00:55:49.21\00:55:51.36
And you say, "You mean,
you're giving this to me?"
00:55:51.39\00:55:56.24
I can live like this.
00:55:56.27\00:55:57.64
You mean--yeah,
because that's your life.
00:55:57.67\00:56:00.05
You are not out of
harmony with any of the--
00:56:00.08\00:56:02.88
you mean, I'm actually
living in harmony with this?
00:56:02.91\00:56:05.73
That's what Isaiah 8:16 says.
00:56:05.76\00:56:07.98
Go to Isaiah 8:16
before our time slips away.
00:56:08.01\00:56:10.67
You see, friends, the
beauty of the justified life
00:56:10.70\00:56:13.11
is the Lord couldn't
even give us His law.
00:56:13.14\00:56:16.05
He couldn't even give it to us.
00:56:16.08\00:56:18.53
Although it's in
authority. Right.
00:56:18.56\00:56:20.80
But we don't have it yet.
00:56:20.83\00:56:22.20
It's only
condemning us from afar.
00:56:22.23\00:56:23.94
Well, get the
point, He gave it to Moses.
00:56:23.97\00:56:26.66
When did it get broken?
00:56:26.69\00:56:28.21
Because of the
transgression of the people.
00:56:28.24\00:56:30.46
It didn't get
broken in Moses' hands.
00:56:30.49\00:56:32.35
Isaiah 8:16.
Okay. Is that powerful?
00:56:32.38\00:56:36.06
Yeah, it's all
working. The Lord is working.
00:56:36.09\00:56:38.87
"Bind up the testimony, seal
the law among My disciples."
00:56:38.90\00:56:43.55
Wow. We're
talking about the sealing.
00:56:43.58\00:56:45.84
Where is the law
sealed? Among His disciples.
00:56:45.87\00:56:50.83
Because He gave
it to us. Notice--
00:56:50.86\00:56:52.39
How is it sealed? In
our minds, in our hearts.
00:56:52.42\00:56:54.44
Ezekiel, "I will
put my laws within them
00:56:54.47\00:56:57.84
and cause them to walk
in my statues and do them."
00:56:57.87\00:57:02.41
And, John, when
you think about that,
00:57:02.44\00:57:03.83
the doing of His
law, how can we do that
00:57:03.86\00:57:05.77
because it's in our
heart, in our lives?
00:57:05.80\00:57:08.82
There's no other
way that we can do them
00:57:08.85\00:57:10.83
except He seals
them in among us.
00:57:10.86\00:57:14.89
That's powerful.
It's a powerful thought.
00:57:14.92\00:57:16.29
So when you think about that,
friends, here at "House Calls,"
00:57:16.32\00:57:18.32
I mean, we're so
excited about this topic
00:57:18.35\00:57:19.92
because the Lord wants
to do so much in our lives
00:57:19.95\00:57:23.14
but we have to
give Him the permission.
00:57:23.17\00:57:24.57
So today, let me encourage you,
00:57:24.60\00:57:27.00
ask the Lord to come in,
justify and change you life.
00:57:27.03\00:57:30.52
And by the way, have
a great day in Christ.
00:57:30.55\00:57:34.00