Music... 00:00:01.93\00:00:15.54 Welcome back to our continuing study on the judgment. 00:00:15.58\00:00:19.38 The hour of God's judgment is come. 00:00:19.41\00:00:21.35 We're going to be looking in this second presentation 00:00:21.38\00:00:24.69 specifically at some verses in the book of Matthew, 00:00:24.72\00:00:28.02 Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 through 23 00:00:28.06\00:00:31.63 and these verses are going to be vital for us to understand 00:00:31.66\00:00:35.66 why God has a judgment 00:00:35.70\00:00:38.17 especially in relation to professed Christians 00:00:38.20\00:00:40.94 so, let's pause for a moment 00:00:40.97\00:00:42.47 and just ask the Holy Spirit to be with us in prayer 00:00:42.50\00:00:44.64 and then we'll get right into our study. 00:00:44.67\00:00:46.01 "Father in heaven, we just want to thank you again 00:00:46.04\00:00:47.94 for this opportunity to study your Word 00:00:47.98\00:00:50.08 and to study the theme of the judgment. 00:00:50.11\00:00:52.18 We know it's an important theme. 00:00:52.21\00:00:53.58 We know the Bible tells us there's going to be a judgment 00:00:53.62\00:00:56.32 and that we are in the hour of Your judgment 00:00:56.35\00:01:00.26 and we're just praying 00:01:00.29\00:01:01.62 that You will guide us with Your Holy Spirit, 00:01:01.66\00:01:03.32 that You will touch our minds and hearts 00:01:03.36\00:01:05.59 in a way that will help us to awaken 00:01:05.63\00:01:07.80 to the importance of being ready for that judgment 00:01:07.83\00:01:11.37 and knowing what to do to make it through the judgment, 00:01:11.40\00:01:14.50 how we can rely upon Christ and His righteousness 00:01:14.57\00:01:17.24 in the judgment 00:01:17.27\00:01:18.61 so guide our minds and our hearts we pray, 00:01:18.64\00:01:20.48 in Jesus' name, amen. " 00:01:20.51\00:01:23.04 So, in our first session, we talked about 00:01:23.08\00:01:26.48 the importance of not judging others. 00:01:26.51\00:01:29.85 We looked at Romans chapter 14 primarily 00:01:29.88\00:01:33.19 and we learned that 00:01:33.25\00:01:34.76 one of the main reasons why God has a judgment 00:01:34.79\00:01:37.63 is so that we will stop judging one another... 00:01:37.66\00:01:40.40 that only God can read the heart... 00:01:40.43\00:01:43.40 we looked at Romans 14 and Acts 15 verse 8 00:01:43.43\00:01:47.54 that God reads the hearts... we don't read hearts, 00:01:47.60\00:01:51.34 we compared that to some Old Testament insight from 00:01:51.37\00:01:55.08 the book of Hebrews chapter 11 00:01:55.11\00:01:56.91 where God talks about all of His faithful people 00:01:56.95\00:02:00.05 in the Old Testament, like Abraham and Moses 00:02:00.08\00:02:03.15 and Samson who messed up big time... 00:02:03.18\00:02:05.32 they made some big mistakes 00:02:05.35\00:02:07.46 and some of them, we've even questioned, 00:02:07.49\00:02:09.52 "Hmmm... did they make it?" Their lives looked so bad 00:02:09.56\00:02:12.49 and yet we realize that there they are 00:02:12.53\00:02:14.73 in the Hall of Faith chapter of Hebrews chapter 11 00:02:14.76\00:02:17.80 and that's because God knows their heart 00:02:17.83\00:02:20.87 and God understood where they were in their situation... 00:02:20.94\00:02:24.11 circumstance... 00:02:24.14\00:02:25.47 and so He has them in the Hall-of-Faith Chapter 00:02:25.51\00:02:29.08 with none of their errors... none of their mistakes... 00:02:29.11\00:02:31.81 none of their sins being mentioned 00:02:31.85\00:02:33.35 and that's one of the most beautiful things 00:02:33.38\00:02:35.32 about Hebrews chapter 11. 00:02:35.35\00:02:37.39 It gives a record of God's people without their mistakes 00:02:37.42\00:02:40.52 and if you want to know what it looks like 00:02:40.56\00:02:43.06 to be in the judgment as a believer... 00:02:43.09\00:02:45.49 hiding behind Jesus just read Hebrews chapter 11. 00:02:45.53\00:02:49.70 It's a powerful testament 00:02:49.73\00:02:51.07 to what it looks like to stand in the judgment 00:02:51.10\00:02:53.03 and then we noted also 00:02:53.07\00:02:54.60 that the judgment is also all about obeying the gospel. 00:02:54.64\00:02:57.97 We looked at 1st Peter chapter 4 verse 17 where it says 00:02:58.01\00:03:01.31 that judgment first comes to the house of God 00:03:01.34\00:03:03.98 and it first comes to us, 00:03:04.01\00:03:05.61 what will be the end of those who don't obey the gospel? 00:03:05.65\00:03:08.68 So, obedience is huge in the judgment, 00:03:08.72\00:03:11.89 obedience to the gospel is huge in the judgment. 00:03:11.92\00:03:15.46 So, that's the summary, a short summary 00:03:15.52\00:03:18.09 of our first session, 00:03:18.13\00:03:19.46 now, we're going to look in the second session 00:03:19.49\00:03:21.20 at what it means to be in the judgment 00:03:21.23\00:03:24.27 as a professed or fake Christian. 00:03:24.30\00:03:27.30 This is another reason why God has the judgment. 00:03:27.34\00:03:29.70 We're going to look at Matthew chapter 7, 00:03:29.74\00:03:31.21 let's just open our Bibles there to Matthew chapter 7 00:03:31.24\00:03:33.38 and let's look now in Matthew 7 00:03:33.41\00:03:35.84 beginning with verse 21, 00:03:35.88\00:03:37.88 so, Matthew chapter 7 beginning with verse 21. 00:03:37.91\00:03:40.78 Jesus is speaking here and He says, 00:03:40.82\00:03:43.15 Verse on screen... 00:03:43.18\00:04:16.79 So, we got this pretty clear declaration 00:04:16.82\00:04:21.46 from Jesus in relation to people 00:04:21.49\00:04:23.53 who profess to be following Him but who are workers of iniquity. 00:04:23.56\00:04:29.96 The way it lays out there 00:04:30.00\00:04:31.90 in Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 to 23 00:04:31.93\00:04:34.84 is basically... there are these people who call Jesus, "Lord" 00:04:34.87\00:04:37.84 so, they call Him "Lord" 00:04:37.87\00:04:39.41 which means they profess to be followers of Christ. 00:04:39.44\00:04:41.41 I don't know if you've ever met people like that, 00:04:41.44\00:04:43.45 they... they profess to be followers of Christ, 00:04:43.48\00:04:45.38 they, even, as preachers and pastors they ask for... 00:04:45.41\00:04:50.29 for money but... but you learn in time that they're hypocrites. 00:04:50.32\00:04:53.66 A lot of times, people like this 00:04:53.69\00:04:55.96 are asking you for money 00:04:55.99\00:04:58.49 and telling you what to do... 00:04:58.56\00:05:00.03 they... they... they are... keep telling you how to live 00:05:00.06\00:05:03.06 but they don't live that way. 00:05:03.10\00:05:04.43 They keep telling you to give but they don't give, 00:05:04.47\00:05:06.74 they take and, we sometimes get frustrated, 00:05:06.77\00:05:10.24 remember, we've already learned that it's not our place to judge 00:05:10.27\00:05:13.38 that's God's place 00:05:13.41\00:05:15.18 but the reason why God has a judgment 00:05:15.24\00:05:17.21 is because there are people like this. 00:05:17.25\00:05:19.61 There are people who are stepping in 00:05:19.65\00:05:21.88 and doing the very things that are outlined 00:05:21.92\00:05:25.39 in verses 21 to 23 of Matthew chapter 7. 00:05:25.42\00:05:28.16 They are fulfilling the words of Christ, 00:05:28.19\00:05:30.69 they do many wonderful works in His name 00:05:30.73\00:05:33.16 and sometimes it's... it's... it's hard for us, 00:05:33.19\00:05:35.20 it's confusing for us because we think, "Wow, 00:05:35.23\00:05:37.07 these are great Christians, look at all the... 00:05:37.10\00:05:39.00 the good things they're doing in Christ's name... " 00:05:39.03\00:05:40.87 and yet, Jesus says, "I don't know you... " 00:05:40.94\00:05:44.11 and then He says, "You are workers of iniquity, 00:05:44.14\00:05:47.28 depart from me, you workers of iniquity. " 00:05:47.31\00:05:50.35 Now, these are serious verses 00:05:50.38\00:05:51.95 and I think it's important for all of us... 00:05:51.98\00:05:54.05 for any professing Christian to try to understand 00:05:54.08\00:05:57.15 if these verses apply to us... 00:05:57.19\00:05:59.72 we need to examine ourselves. 00:05:59.75\00:06:02.22 Paul says in... in 2nd Corinthians 13:5, 00:06:02.26\00:06:04.83 and see if we're in the faith 00:06:04.89\00:06:06.23 and make sure we're not a reprobate. 00:06:06.26\00:06:07.83 So... so do these verses apply to us? 00:06:07.86\00:06:09.63 There are some key elements that we can look at, now, 00:06:09.66\00:06:11.53 one of the things we need to note right away 00:06:11.57\00:06:14.20 is that these are professing Christians 00:06:14.24\00:06:15.97 so, if you're a Christian, take note, 00:06:16.00\00:06:17.64 they do many wonderful works in Christ's name 00:06:17.67\00:06:20.34 so, you're not off the hook yet 00:06:20.38\00:06:21.91 if you do many wonderful works 00:06:21.94\00:06:23.41 but then it goes on to say that they are workers of iniquity. 00:06:23.45\00:06:28.65 Now, that's the key for us to understand 00:06:28.68\00:06:30.62 because that's going to differentiate 00:06:30.65\00:06:32.52 between true followers of Christ 00:06:32.55\00:06:34.82 and professed followers of Christ. 00:06:34.86\00:06:37.03 Professed followers of Christ and true followers of Christ 00:06:37.09\00:06:40.56 will both be saying, 00:06:40.60\00:06:42.06 "We believe in you Lord, Lord... Lord... " 00:06:42.10\00:06:43.77 they'll be calling Jesus, "Lord. " 00:06:43.80\00:06:45.13 True followers of Christ and professed followers of Christ 00:06:45.17\00:06:48.50 will both be doing many wonderful works, 00:06:48.54\00:06:51.07 they should be doing many wonderful works, 00:06:51.14\00:06:53.64 if you are a follower of Jesus, 00:06:53.68\00:06:55.14 you should be doing many wonderful works. 00:06:55.18\00:06:57.01 If you're a follower of Jesus, 00:06:57.05\00:06:58.55 you should be doing things for Jesus, 00:06:58.58\00:07:00.75 so, so far, there's no difference 00:07:00.78\00:07:03.08 between those who profess and those who are true 00:07:03.15\00:07:05.79 but then it goes on to say... 00:07:05.82\00:07:07.39 Jesus says, "I never knew you, so depart from me 00:07:07.42\00:07:12.26 ye who work iniquity. " 00:07:12.29\00:07:13.63 So, true followers of Christ are not workers of iniquity, 00:07:13.66\00:07:16.80 professed followers of Christ are workers of iniquity, 00:07:16.83\00:07:19.83 what does that mean? 00:07:19.87\00:07:21.20 Well, the word "iniquity" in the Greek means, 00:07:21.24\00:07:25.54 "Illegality or violation of law, wickedness. " 00:07:25.57\00:07:29.84 Illegality, violation of the law or wickedness 00:07:29.91\00:07:34.12 and that, of course, is how we can identify a fake Christian. 00:07:34.15\00:07:38.82 Fake Christians may be doing many wonderful works 00:07:38.85\00:07:41.36 or they may profess to follow and believe in Jesus 00:07:41.39\00:07:43.83 but they lie... they steal... they are sexually immoral... 00:07:43.86\00:07:48.66 they are idolaters... murderers... 00:07:48.70\00:07:51.93 they're covetous... 00:07:51.97\00:07:53.30 all of these are characteristics of fake Christians 00:07:53.34\00:07:56.87 who are workers of iniquity or violating laws 00:07:56.91\00:08:01.64 specifically, God's law. 00:08:01.68\00:08:03.45 You'll notice this in another verse, 1st John chapter 3 00:08:03.51\00:08:07.12 and verse 4, 00:08:07.15\00:08:08.55 let's just look there in 1st John chapter 3 and verse 4, 00:08:08.58\00:08:11.52 what's really interesting about this verse 00:08:11.55\00:08:15.16 is not only that it defines iniquity... 00:08:15.19\00:08:18.76 it defines lawlessness 00:08:18.79\00:08:21.36 but the same word is used here 00:08:21.40\00:08:24.67 as is used in Matthew chapter 7 verse 23. 00:08:24.70\00:08:29.57 The same word that Jesus used in Matthew 7:23... 00:08:29.60\00:08:33.24 iniquity... workers of iniquity... 00:08:33.27\00:08:35.08 the same Greek words used here 00:08:35.14\00:08:37.55 in 1st John chapter 3 and verse 4. 00:08:37.58\00:08:39.95 1st John 3 verse 4 says, 00:08:39.98\00:08:42.98 "Whosoever commits sin transgresseth also the law... " 00:08:43.02\00:08:47.22 I'm reading from the King James... 00:08:47.26\00:08:48.59 "for sin is the transgression of the law... " 00:08:48.62\00:08:50.53 and that phrase, "transgression of the law" 00:08:50.59\00:08:52.56 is the same phrase... the same Greek 00:08:52.59\00:08:54.90 that is used for "workers of iniquity" 00:08:54.93\00:08:57.67 in Matthew chapter 7 and verse 23. 00:08:57.70\00:09:00.40 So, we see a direct connection here, 00:09:00.44\00:09:02.64 Jesus says, "You're workers of iniquity" 00:09:02.67\00:09:04.84 and that means, you are transgressors of the law 00:09:04.87\00:09:08.04 the law of God is being transgressed 00:09:08.08\00:09:11.25 by professed Christians, what do you know? 00:09:11.28\00:09:14.12 So, there's professed Christians who do many wonderful works 00:09:14.15\00:09:17.65 but they transgress God's law. 00:09:17.69\00:09:21.12 Now, why is that? 00:09:21.16\00:09:22.49 Why is it that many professed Christians transgress God's law? 00:09:22.52\00:09:26.46 Well, there are several reasons for that. 00:09:26.49\00:09:28.76 I was raised in a Christian home so to speak, 00:09:28.80\00:09:31.03 went to church every Sunday, 00:09:31.07\00:09:32.80 said my prayers every night, 00:09:32.83\00:09:34.50 as I got older, even when I was strong, 00:09:34.54\00:09:37.21 I would pray some rote prayers 00:09:37.24\00:09:40.58 but I never really knew Christ as my personal Savior. 00:09:40.61\00:09:45.08 I didn't have a born-again experience with Him 00:09:45.11\00:09:47.48 and I definitely wasn't keeping His law. 00:09:47.52\00:09:49.78 I was a professed Christian that was violating the law of God 00:09:49.82\00:09:53.42 in many different ways 00:09:53.46\00:09:55.12 and so, that was my experience. 00:09:55.16\00:09:57.43 I believed in God, 00:09:57.46\00:09:59.26 I believed that I would go to heaven 00:09:59.29\00:10:00.96 but I really didn't have a relationship with God 00:10:01.00\00:10:02.90 so, I can really relate to these verses. 00:10:02.96\00:10:04.50 This warning in Matthew chapter 7 00:10:04.53\00:10:07.07 and this is why I was in that kind of a situation. 00:10:07.10\00:10:11.57 Some Christians have actually tossed the law of God, 00:10:11.61\00:10:16.14 my situation was that I felt that the law of God 00:10:16.21\00:10:20.32 wasn't significant... I would just go to Confession 00:10:20.35\00:10:24.42 and give my sins over to the Priest 00:10:24.45\00:10:26.86 and I would just go on with my life... no big deal. 00:10:26.89\00:10:30.29 I was never taught about keeping the law of God per se, 00:10:30.33\00:10:33.70 so, some Christians have tossed the law of God. 00:10:33.76\00:10:35.93 Some Christians have changed the law... 00:10:35.96\00:10:38.77 the law is still there but it's a law of "Love" 00:10:38.83\00:10:42.04 rather than God's specific Ten Commandments... 00:10:42.07\00:10:45.31 it's a law of "Love" and you just do what is right 00:10:45.34\00:10:48.54 but who knows what that is 00:10:48.58\00:10:50.28 or who knows what that looks like. 00:10:50.31\00:10:51.65 Some Christians believe that they are saved by the law 00:10:51.68\00:10:55.58 and that's why you have these many wonderful works in there 00:10:55.62\00:10:59.19 because some Christians believe that... 00:10:59.25\00:11:01.19 that they're saved by their obedience to the law 00:11:01.22\00:11:04.13 rather than saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ 00:11:04.16\00:11:07.60 and this becomes difficult also because 00:11:07.63\00:11:11.20 when you take away the salvation of... of Christ... 00:11:11.23\00:11:14.74 the grace of Christ, 00:11:14.77\00:11:16.10 you find yourself in a situation where you become legalistic 00:11:16.14\00:11:18.84 and legalism... it's impossible to keep the law 00:11:18.87\00:11:22.08 when you're in a legalistic situation. 00:11:22.11\00:11:23.88 One classic example of this is 00:11:23.95\00:11:26.82 a time when I traveled to Pakistan. 00:11:26.85\00:11:29.28 Now, Pakistan is a Muslim nation... Islam 00:11:29.32\00:11:32.45 and they are outwardly very controlling of morality. 00:11:32.49\00:11:38.19 When I first landed in Pakistan, I didn't see any women 00:11:38.23\00:11:43.90 because they're supposed to be covered... 00:11:43.93\00:11:45.27 they're supposed to be veiled, 00:11:45.30\00:11:46.63 women aren't supposed to be on the street... 00:11:46.67\00:11:48.00 you're not supposed to see them 00:11:48.04\00:11:49.37 and so, you know, 00:11:49.40\00:11:50.74 you have to do all of these different things 00:11:50.77\00:11:53.21 in... in order to... in other words, 00:11:53.24\00:11:55.54 you know, morality is... is enforced by law 00:11:55.61\00:11:59.48 and when you... when you... when you're in Pakistan... 00:11:59.51\00:12:02.62 what you realize after a while, 00:12:02.65\00:12:03.99 there's just a lot of people that are very moral outwardly 00:12:04.02\00:12:06.22 but behind the scenes, there's a lot of immorality taking place 00:12:06.25\00:12:08.79 and that's the way it is in many situations... 00:12:08.82\00:12:12.59 in many religious experiences, not just in... in Islam 00:12:12.63\00:12:16.06 but in Christianity and all the... 00:12:16.10\00:12:17.90 if you are legislating law, 00:12:17.93\00:12:20.34 if you don't have the gospel, you don't have the power 00:12:20.37\00:12:22.54 and so, you're going to see that behind the scenes, 00:12:22.57\00:12:24.74 when... when the doors are closed... 00:12:24.77\00:12:26.51 when the pastor goes home from church and the family and... 00:12:26.57\00:12:30.15 and behind closed doors, 00:12:30.18\00:12:31.91 you're going to see a lot of immorality take place 00:12:31.95\00:12:33.31 without the gospel. 00:12:33.35\00:12:35.25 So, you have these three things... you have... 00:12:35.28\00:12:36.62 you have some Christians who have tossed the law, 00:12:36.65\00:12:38.02 "Oh yeah, the law was fulfilled, 00:12:38.05\00:12:39.39 Christ fulfilled the law... 00:12:39.42\00:12:40.76 the law has been done away with... 00:12:40.79\00:12:42.12 the law was nailed to the Cross... " 00:12:42.16\00:12:43.49 talking about God's moral law now, that's the way they think, 00:12:43.53\00:12:44.86 it's not true, that's the way they think, 00:12:44.89\00:12:46.23 yet some Christians are kind of changed the law... you know, 00:12:46.26\00:12:48.46 "It's this... it's that... 00:12:48.50\00:12:49.83 it's, you know, do what you think is right 00:12:49.86\00:12:51.63 or, you know, we don't have to go by the pre... " 00:12:51.70\00:12:53.64 and then you have some Christians who think 00:12:53.67\00:12:55.00 they're saved by the law... all leads to the same thing, 00:12:55.04\00:12:57.11 it all leads to the same thing. 00:12:57.14\00:12:59.24 You lose the power of the gospel 00:12:59.27\00:13:01.28 whenever you undermine the law of God, 00:13:01.34\00:13:03.85 so, for those Christians who do many wonderful works 00:13:03.88\00:13:06.58 but transgress God's law, do it for many different reasons 00:13:06.61\00:13:10.02 and we... we want to look now at what the Bible actually teaches, 00:13:10.05\00:13:14.92 how does the law relate to the judgment? 00:13:14.96\00:13:19.36 What does the Bible teach 00:13:19.39\00:13:20.73 and how does that relate to the judgment 00:13:20.76\00:13:22.43 in relationship to the law? 00:13:22.46\00:13:23.80 So, we want to look now at what part the law has 00:13:23.83\00:13:27.00 in relation to the judgment... relation to the gospel... 00:13:27.04\00:13:29.20 what does the Bible say? 00:13:29.24\00:13:30.57 The first verse, I think, we should go to 00:13:30.61\00:13:32.24 is found in Galatians chapter 3 and verse 24... 00:13:32.27\00:13:35.21 Galatians chapter 3 and verse 24, 00:13:35.24\00:13:38.51 now, these... this verse, 00:13:38.55\00:13:40.15 these verses that we're going to be looking at... 00:13:40.18\00:13:41.82 these next few verses... 00:13:41.85\00:13:43.59 most of them come from the Apostle Paul 00:13:43.62\00:13:45.22 and Paul was dealing with legalism, 00:13:45.25\00:13:47.62 in fact, Paul confesses that he was a Legalist. 00:13:47.66\00:13:50.99 In Philippians chapter 3, he talks about 00:13:51.03\00:13:53.26 how he was a Pharisee of the Pharisee... 00:13:53.29\00:13:55.43 born... you know... circumcised on the 8th day... 00:13:55.46\00:13:59.03 born of, you know, the Tribe of Benjamin 00:13:59.07\00:14:01.57 and in the law he was blameless and... 00:14:01.60\00:14:04.04 and yet he was persecuting Christians and killing them 00:14:04.07\00:14:06.51 and leading them to their death 00:14:06.54\00:14:08.18 or leading them to prison but he... 00:14:08.21\00:14:09.81 he thought that he was blameless 00:14:10.11\00:14:11.65 because his focus was on law obedience 00:14:11.68\00:14:14.58 being saved by the law rather than being saved by grace 00:14:14.62\00:14:17.22 and so, Paul is dealing with that 00:14:17.29\00:14:20.36 in a lot of his letters to the churches, 00:14:20.39\00:14:22.89 he's talking to the issue of legalism 00:14:22.92\00:14:25.39 and this is another instance... 00:14:25.43\00:14:27.40 his letter to the Galatians is another instance 00:14:27.43\00:14:29.73 where he's talking to the issue of legalism, 00:14:29.76\00:14:32.00 so, we begin in verse 24 and we'll continue on from there 00:14:32.03\00:14:35.34 and just see what it is that Paul was saying about the law 00:14:35.37\00:14:38.64 and where it fits in the context of the gospel. 00:14:38.67\00:14:41.21 Verse 24, he says, 00:14:41.24\00:14:46.25 verse on screen... 00:14:46.28\00:14:51.25 So, the law's our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ 00:14:51.29\00:14:53.15 that we might be justified by faith. 00:14:53.19\00:14:54.99 Now, there is... notice verse 25, 00:14:55.02\00:14:56.83 verse on screen... 00:14:56.86\00:15:02.43 Okay, this is really interesting because a lot of times 00:15:02.46\00:15:07.00 we think, "Well, if the law is bringing us to Christ, 00:15:07.04\00:15:10.97 and after we come to Christ, we don't need the law, 00:15:11.01\00:15:14.88 then, we can do away with the law... " 00:15:14.91\00:15:17.08 but that's not what Paul's saying here, 00:15:17.11\00:15:19.21 Paul isn't saying that once we come to Christ, 00:15:19.25\00:15:22.28 we do away with the law, 00:15:22.32\00:15:23.65 Paul is saying that once we come to Christ, 00:15:23.69\00:15:25.62 we're no longer under the law 00:15:25.65\00:15:27.62 and that's a key phrase that Paul uses not only in Galatians, 00:15:27.66\00:15:31.16 in his letter to the Galatians but in his letter to the Romans. 00:15:31.19\00:15:34.66 A lot of people think to be under the law means 00:15:34.70\00:15:37.60 that you are obligated to obey the law 00:15:37.63\00:15:39.90 and therefore, when you come to Christ, 00:15:39.93\00:15:41.90 you're no longer obligated to obey the law. 00:15:41.94\00:15:43.91 That's not what it means at all... 00:15:43.94\00:15:45.27 to be under the law means 00:15:45.31\00:15:47.74 to be under the condemnation of the law 00:15:47.78\00:15:50.65 and we're going to see this in our next verse, 00:15:50.68\00:15:52.01 if we want to open our Bibles now 00:15:52.05\00:15:54.12 and turn to Romans chapter 3 and verse 19 00:15:54.15\00:15:56.82 and we'll connect this verse in Romans 3 verse 19 00:15:56.85\00:16:00.42 with Galatians 3:24 and 25 that we just read, 00:16:00.46\00:16:03.96 so, Romans chapter 3 and verse 19 00:16:04.03\00:16:07.86 is really going to nail it for us now, 00:16:07.90\00:16:09.93 as far as what it means to be under the law. 00:16:09.96\00:16:12.37 There are other verses too, Romans 6 is good on this, 00:16:12.40\00:16:14.87 the whole book of Romans is really powerful on this point 00:16:14.90\00:16:17.31 but Romans 3:19, 00:16:17.34\00:16:18.67 "We know now... " excuse me... 00:16:18.71\00:16:20.68 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, 00:16:20.71\00:16:23.88 it says to them who are under the law... " 00:16:23.91\00:16:26.98 oh, there's that phrase again, what does it mean? 00:16:27.02\00:16:28.98 "that every mouth may be stopped, 00:16:29.02\00:16:30.85 and all the world become guilty before God. " 00:16:30.89\00:16:34.16 Okay, here's what it means to be under the law. 00:16:34.19\00:16:37.39 To be under the law means to be 00:16:37.43\00:16:39.09 under the condemnation of the law. 00:16:39.13\00:16:40.73 To be under the law means to become guilty before God, 00:16:40.76\00:16:43.73 that's the purpose of the law. 00:16:43.77\00:16:45.83 The law brings us to the place 00:16:45.87\00:16:47.87 where we become guilty before God, 00:16:47.90\00:16:49.87 that's what it means to be "under the law" 00:16:49.90\00:16:51.41 it means to be under the condemnation of the law 00:16:51.44\00:16:53.98 so when we go back to Galatians, 00:16:54.01\00:16:56.08 when we read what Paul says there, 00:16:56.11\00:16:58.11 when he says, "The law's our schoolmaster 00:16:58.18\00:17:00.02 to bring us to Christ... " 00:17:00.05\00:17:01.88 so, the law condemns us... 00:17:01.92\00:17:03.72 the law causes us to become guilty... 00:17:03.75\00:17:05.49 the law shows us where we've transgressed, 00:17:05.52\00:17:07.06 the law shows us where we've fallen short of God's glory, 00:17:07.09\00:17:09.82 the law shows us that we're sinners 00:17:09.86\00:17:11.49 and when we come to that place 00:17:11.53\00:17:12.99 where we're under the condemnation of the law, 00:17:13.03\00:17:15.00 where we're guilty before God, 00:17:15.03\00:17:16.70 then, we need Christ, so... 00:17:16.77\00:17:18.37 so that's how the law leads us to Christ, 00:17:18.40\00:17:20.17 the law leads us to Christ by showing that we need a Savior, 00:17:20.20\00:17:24.31 we need Jesus... we need help... 00:17:24.34\00:17:26.37 that's what the law does 00:17:26.41\00:17:27.74 and once we come to Christ, and we're justified by faith, 00:17:27.78\00:17:31.38 we're no longer under the condemnation 00:17:31.41\00:17:33.42 and guilt of the law, does it make sense? 00:17:33.45\00:17:35.42 Of course, we're not under the condemnation 00:17:35.45\00:17:37.15 and guilt of the law when we come to Jesus, 00:17:37.19\00:17:39.95 because Jesus cleanses us, Jesus forgives us, 00:17:39.99\00:17:42.76 Jesus accepts us, Jesus justifies us, 00:17:42.79\00:17:45.26 we stand before God just as if we've never sinned, 00:17:45.29\00:17:47.66 and so, the condemnation of the law now is erased, it's gone 00:17:47.70\00:17:51.10 but the law itself isn't gone, the law itself is still there. 00:17:51.13\00:17:54.14 It's kind of like that experience I had 00:17:54.17\00:17:55.57 when I was pulled over by a Police Officer 00:17:55.60\00:17:57.71 on my 17th birthday. 00:17:57.74\00:17:59.27 I was driving a 1966 Pontiac GTO 389 four barrel 00:17:59.34\00:18:04.81 out of the factory... it was called a... a "Muscle Car" 00:18:04.85\00:18:06.95 and as I was driving my friend home that evening, 00:18:06.98\00:18:10.45 there was a police officer, 00:18:10.49\00:18:12.19 I remember exactly where we were sitting, 00:18:12.25\00:18:14.06 25th and Grand Boulevard 00:18:14.09\00:18:16.32 and he pulled me over 00:18:16.36\00:18:18.53 and the reason he pulled me over is because 00:18:18.56\00:18:20.03 even though I had four headlights 00:18:20.10\00:18:21.43 in the front of my car, only one of them was working 00:18:21.46\00:18:24.43 and then as he circled my prized jalopy a few times, 00:18:24.47\00:18:27.44 he noticed that I had bald tires, 00:18:27.47\00:18:28.80 I had no muffler, 00:18:28.84\00:18:30.24 my signals weren't working 00:18:30.31\00:18:31.84 and he proceeded to write me a big fat ticket. 00:18:31.87\00:18:35.28 Now, I knew he was going to nail me 00:18:35.31\00:18:36.78 because I had no respect for police officers back then, 00:18:36.85\00:18:39.08 my friend and I... he had a 1967 Firebird 326... 00:18:39.11\00:18:43.39 it was black with orange and yellow flames 00:18:43.42\00:18:45.15 coming up from there, 00:18:45.19\00:18:46.52 we used to race at speeds exceeding a 100 miles an hour, 00:18:46.55\00:18:48.62 we didn't care about police officers, 00:18:48.66\00:18:50.26 we didn't respect police officers 00:18:50.29\00:18:51.83 and my friend got a bunch of tickets... 00:18:51.86\00:18:53.86 this was only my second or third ticket 00:18:53.90\00:18:55.80 but I was still really nervous about it 00:18:55.83\00:18:57.67 especially because, you know, it was my birthday 00:18:57.70\00:19:00.60 and when he came back to my vehicle, 00:19:00.64\00:19:02.77 he told me how much this ticket was going to cost... 00:19:02.80\00:19:05.67 he showed me all the things that he was writing up for me 00:19:05.71\00:19:08.31 and then he said something amazing, 00:19:08.34\00:19:09.71 he said, "But I notice that it's your birthday... " 00:19:09.74\00:19:12.71 I said, "Yeah, yeah, it is my birthday, yeah, July 5" 00:19:12.75\00:19:15.68 "and, therefore, I'm going to... " 00:19:15.72\00:19:19.39 here it comes... 00:19:19.45\00:19:20.79 "I'm going to not write you this ticket, 00:19:20.82\00:19:23.12 I'm going to forgive you for this violation, 00:19:23.16\00:19:25.66 I'm not going to write you up tonight... " 00:19:25.69\00:19:28.13 and I was so thankful... 00:19:28.16\00:19:29.50 my whole attitude toward police officers changed, 00:19:29.53\00:19:32.50 I was guilty of violating the law... he caught me... 00:19:32.53\00:19:35.50 there was no way out of it, 00:19:35.54\00:19:36.87 I had all these violations, 00:19:36.91\00:19:38.24 five different violations on this one vehicle, 00:19:38.27\00:19:40.68 and I was... I was transgressing the law of the land 00:19:40.71\00:19:44.28 and there was no way I could say, 00:19:44.31\00:19:45.75 "Now, wait a minute, there's... " 00:19:45.81\00:19:47.15 no, there was nothing I could do... 00:19:47.18\00:19:48.52 guilty, guilty, guilty... and he forgave me 00:19:48.55\00:19:50.69 and as he forgave me, he said this... 00:19:50.72\00:19:53.32 he said, "But... " he said, 00:19:53.36\00:19:55.09 "I want you to take this poor excuse for a car home 00:19:55.12\00:19:57.89 and I don't want to see it on the road again 00:19:57.93\00:19:59.36 until you get it fixed... " 00:19:59.39\00:20:01.00 and guess what? That's exactly what I did, 00:20:01.03\00:20:02.96 I took this car home 00:20:03.00\00:20:04.33 and I didn't drive it again until I had tires on it, 00:20:04.37\00:20:06.94 until I had the muffler fixed so I had... 00:20:06.97\00:20:08.60 so, it was where it needed to be 00:20:08.64\00:20:10.17 and I did that out of respect, 00:20:10.21\00:20:11.67 I did that because I appreciated 00:20:11.71\00:20:14.01 that this officer had forgiven me, 00:20:14.08\00:20:16.34 he had extended to me grace... 00:20:16.38\00:20:18.01 he had extended to me mercy 00:20:18.05\00:20:19.58 and that's exactly how the gospel works. 00:20:19.61\00:20:22.15 The law convicts us, 00:20:22.18\00:20:25.09 the law find us guilty, 00:20:25.12\00:20:27.49 the law condemns us, 00:20:27.52\00:20:29.79 that's the job of the law, that's the purpose of the law, 00:20:29.82\00:20:31.69 the police officer didn't say, 00:20:31.73\00:20:33.23 "Well, you know, you've got all these violations 00:20:33.26\00:20:34.60 but, yeah, I think I'll just throw the law out tonight, 00:20:34.63\00:20:37.17 I think we must get rid of the law... " 00:20:37.20\00:20:38.53 no... the law was still there, 00:20:38.57\00:20:40.07 the law stood... 00:20:40.10\00:20:41.54 but I was extended forgiveness, I was extended grace 00:20:41.57\00:20:43.81 and then I came in harmony with the law, 00:20:43.84\00:20:46.41 I fixed my car to comply with the standard of the law, 00:20:46.44\00:20:51.35 the driving standards of the law 00:20:51.38\00:20:53.31 and this is what Paul is saying, 00:20:53.35\00:20:55.22 he's saying in Galatians chapter 3:24 and 25, 00:20:55.25\00:20:58.19 the law's like a schoolmaster, it's like a teacher, 00:20:58.22\00:21:00.49 it brings us to Jesus, 00:21:00.52\00:21:02.46 it teaches us that we're sinners, 00:21:02.49\00:21:03.99 it teaches us that we're transgressors, 00:21:04.03\00:21:05.46 it teaches us that we're guilty, 00:21:05.49\00:21:07.03 it brings... it leads us to a Savior. 00:21:07.06\00:21:09.20 Now, Paul is picking up the same theme again here 00:21:09.23\00:21:12.13 in Romans chapter 3... this first verse we already read 00:21:12.17\00:21:15.94 in verse 19 that we would... 00:21:15.97\00:21:17.51 the law convicts us... 00:21:17.54\00:21:20.18 it speaks to us so that every mouth is stopped 00:21:20.21\00:21:22.88 so, all excuses are stopped and we become guilty before God 00:21:22.91\00:21:26.11 and then it says as the whole world becomes guilty before God, 00:21:26.15\00:21:29.35 I want you to notice now verse 20, 00:21:29.38\00:21:30.95 verse on screen... 00:21:30.99\00:21:37.59 Did you get that? 00:21:37.63\00:21:44.20 The law is what reveals to us what sin is 00:21:44.23\00:21:47.47 and Jesus Christ came to save sinners 00:21:47.50\00:21:50.14 and so, it makes sense doesn't it 00:21:50.21\00:21:52.77 that Jesus Christ is the One who can justify us 00:21:52.81\00:21:57.95 from the violation of the law. 00:21:58.01\00:21:59.81 Jesus Christ is the One that can cleanse us 00:21:59.85\00:22:02.55 from the transgression of the law. 00:22:02.58\00:22:04.15 The law leads us to Jesus... 00:22:04.19\00:22:05.82 it's like a schoolmaster leading us to Jesus, 00:22:05.85\00:22:07.99 but the law can't cleanse us, the law can't justify us, 00:22:08.02\00:22:10.93 we can't be saved or cleansed by obedience to the law, 00:22:10.96\00:22:13.83 we can only be saved by the righteousness... 00:22:13.86\00:22:16.13 the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ 00:22:16.16\00:22:18.37 and so, Paul concludes this whole idea in Romans chapter 3 00:22:18.40\00:22:21.94 and verse 31. 00:22:21.97\00:22:23.30 This is what he says in Romans chapter 3 00:22:23.34\00:22:25.67 and verse 31 in conclusion, 00:22:25.71\00:22:27.18 verse on screen... 00:22:27.21\00:22:35.68 so, do you see the point he's trying to make here? 00:22:35.72\00:22:38.22 It's really a powerful point. 00:22:38.25\00:22:39.59 Do we then make void? 00:22:39.62\00:22:40.96 Do we then do away with... 00:22:40.99\00:22:42.32 do we then toss out the law of God through faith? 00:22:42.36\00:22:46.76 "No, no, we don't make void the law of God, 00:22:46.80\00:22:48.66 God forbid... " that's strong language... 00:22:48.70\00:22:50.53 "God forbid that we should make void the law of God 00:22:50.57\00:22:54.04 through faith, no, we establish the law. " 00:22:54.07\00:22:55.94 Why do we establish the law? 00:22:55.97\00:22:57.34 Why does the law need to be established? 00:22:57.37\00:22:59.61 This is the point that Paul is making in the previous verses. 00:22:59.64\00:23:03.31 This is the point that Paul is making in Galatians chapter 3, 00:23:03.35\00:23:07.02 the reason the law needs to be established 00:23:07.05\00:23:09.15 is, so that we can be led to Jesus. 00:23:09.18\00:23:11.89 The reason why the law needs to be established is 00:23:11.92\00:23:14.36 so that we can become guilty or at least aware of our sins 00:23:14.39\00:23:18.43 so that we can give them to Jesus. 00:23:18.46\00:23:20.26 Paul says in Romans chapter 7 for example... 00:23:20.30\00:23:22.80 just over a couple of pages in your Bible, 00:23:22.83\00:23:25.30 Romans chapter 7 and look here... 00:23:25.33\00:23:27.84 Romans chapter 7 at verse 7... Romans 7:7, 00:23:27.87\00:23:31.27 "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. " 00:23:31.34\00:23:34.98 There's the strong language there... "God forbid... " 00:23:35.01\00:23:38.61 "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: 00:23:38.65\00:23:42.65 for I had not known lust, 00:23:42.68\00:23:44.49 except the law had said, 'Thou shalt not covet. '" 00:23:44.52\00:23:47.09 And that's our problem today. 00:23:47.12\00:23:49.52 Our problem today is that 00:23:49.56\00:23:51.89 because we have done away with the law... 00:23:51.93\00:23:54.63 because Christians have done away with the law... 00:23:54.66\00:23:56.77 because Christians have nailed the law to the cross... 00:23:56.80\00:23:59.10 because Christians have said the law is not valid anymore... 00:23:59.13\00:24:01.47 because Christians have... 00:24:01.50\00:24:02.90 have lacked clear identity of what the law is... 00:24:02.94\00:24:07.11 because... because Christians are... 00:24:07.14\00:24:09.14 are waffling on the law of God 00:24:09.18\00:24:12.15 and the Ten Commandment law of God, 00:24:12.18\00:24:13.52 there are people who don't have a knowledge of sin, 00:24:13.55\00:24:15.88 a lot of people don't think they're sinners anymore, 00:24:15.92\00:24:18.22 they think they're pretty good people 00:24:18.25\00:24:19.75 and the reason why we think we're pretty good people 00:24:19.79\00:24:21.79 is because instead of looking at God's law, 00:24:21.82\00:24:23.86 we're looking at each other 00:24:23.89\00:24:25.23 and we're thinking, "Well, I'm better than the next guy, 00:24:25.26\00:24:27.10 I'm better than that guy down there, 00:24:27.16\00:24:28.50 I'm better than my neighbor, oh, that guy is a terrible guy" 00:24:28.53\00:24:30.03 we're watching Social Media and we're seeing 00:24:30.07\00:24:31.90 some real terrible people out there, 00:24:31.93\00:24:33.84 we look at the World News 00:24:33.87\00:24:35.60 and we look at all the terrorism 00:24:35.64\00:24:36.97 and terrible stuff that's going on 00:24:37.01\00:24:38.34 and we think, "Well, I'm not a bad person, 00:24:38.37\00:24:39.71 look at how bad they are... " 00:24:39.74\00:24:41.08 but if we would allow the law to be established, 00:24:41.11\00:24:43.51 we would realize that all of us are sinners... saved by grace 00:24:43.55\00:24:47.35 and we recognize that the only solution to our dilemma 00:24:47.42\00:24:52.22 to our guilt... is Jesus, 00:24:52.25\00:24:54.12 so, basically what we see happening here 00:24:54.16\00:24:57.33 is the law is being tossed 00:24:57.36\00:24:59.96 and in tossing the law and undermining the law 00:25:00.00\00:25:02.40 and weakening the law, we're weakening the gospel. 00:25:02.43\00:25:04.80 We're weakening our need of Jesus, 00:25:04.83\00:25:06.67 that's why a lot of people say, "Well, you know, 00:25:06.70\00:25:08.30 those Christians... aaah... aaah, I don't need Jesus, 00:25:08.34\00:25:10.87 I mean, I'm a good person, you know, 00:25:10.91\00:25:12.24 I live a good life, I mean, even though those Christians... 00:25:12.27\00:25:13.98 they're kind of hypocritical, I don't need that... " 00:25:14.01\00:25:16.04 but remember now, we're looking at fake Christians 00:25:16.08\00:25:18.05 we're understanding that, but that doesn't... 00:25:18.08\00:25:19.75 that doesn't remove our responsibility 00:25:19.81\00:25:22.18 from investigating what the Bible has to say. 00:25:22.22\00:25:24.05 Just because you come in contact with a fake Christian, 00:25:24.09\00:25:26.65 doesn't mean... 00:25:26.69\00:25:28.02 in fact, it obligates you, 00:25:28.06\00:25:29.39 if you think Christians are hypocrites, 00:25:29.42\00:25:31.09 well, why do you think that? 00:25:31.13\00:25:32.46 You think that because you're a better person? 00:25:32.49\00:25:34.86 Well, then you need to show them 00:25:34.90\00:25:36.60 what it means to live a better life... to be a better person 00:25:36.63\00:25:40.17 and the only way that can really happen is 00:25:40.20\00:25:42.07 if you're aware of the principles of God's law... 00:25:42.10\00:25:44.61 the principles of His character, who He is 00:25:44.67\00:25:46.74 and the only way you can become aware of that 00:25:46.78\00:25:48.84 is to see that in His Word. 00:25:48.88\00:25:51.31 In the Word of God, we have a clear path to salvation 00:25:51.35\00:25:54.98 and that path involves being convicted 00:25:55.02\00:25:57.12 and becoming guilty under the law 00:25:57.15\00:25:59.15 and then being freed from that guilt through Jesus Christ. 00:25:59.19\00:26:02.39 That's why Jesus says, you know in John, 00:26:02.42\00:26:04.89 "I am the way... the truth and the life 00:26:04.93\00:26:07.40 no one comes to the Father but by me. " 00:26:07.46\00:26:09.80 He's not making a statement in John 14:6, 00:26:09.83\00:26:12.13 He's not making a statement that is, you know, 00:26:12.17\00:26:15.57 unique to anything else he says in Scripture, 00:26:15.60\00:26:18.94 He's just giving a summary to the reality of the gospel. 00:26:18.97\00:26:22.61 There's no way we can save ourselves, 00:26:22.64\00:26:24.35 there's no one else that can save you... 00:26:24.41\00:26:26.05 there's no other religion that can save you from sin, 00:26:26.08\00:26:28.38 the only way we can be saved is through Jesus Christ 00:26:28.42\00:26:30.82 so, we need to come to Him and that's what the law does. 00:26:30.85\00:26:33.25 The law leads us to Jesus 00:26:33.29\00:26:35.06 that we can be justified by faith. 00:26:35.09\00:26:37.26 Look at this in 1st John chapter 1, 00:26:37.29\00:26:39.39 there's a few verses here that I just love, 00:26:39.43\00:26:41.66 1st John chapter 1 00:26:41.73\00:26:43.06 and we'll start with verse 8, 00:26:43.10\00:26:44.53 I call this in 1st John chapter 1, the gospel sandwich. 00:26:44.57\00:26:49.04 This is the gospel sandwich, I mean, 00:26:49.07\00:26:51.04 there's just so much gospel in these verses right here 00:26:51.07\00:26:53.98 that we can have no doubt 00:26:54.01\00:26:56.71 as to where we're supposed to land in all of this. 00:26:56.75\00:26:59.41 In 1st John chapter 1 and beginning with verse 8, 00:26:59.45\00:27:02.15 we have the 1st piece of the gospel sandwich. 00:27:02.18\00:27:04.82 We have the first piece of bread you got a piece of bread 00:27:04.85\00:27:06.76 and then you got the filling 00:27:06.79\00:27:08.12 and then you got another piece of bread... 00:27:08.16\00:27:09.76 that's a good sandwich. 00:27:09.79\00:27:11.13 You know, my wife knows that I'll eat anything in a sandwich, 00:27:11.16\00:27:13.80 even salad... I'll eat salad as, put lettuce and some tomatoes, 00:27:13.83\00:27:16.43 and some onions and whatever in between two pieces of bread, 00:27:16.46\00:27:18.63 I'm going to eat it. 00:27:18.67\00:27:20.00 If you put it in a bowl... I don't know 00:27:20.04\00:27:21.37 but put it between bread, I'm going to eat it, 00:27:21.40\00:27:23.10 I love sandwiches, 00:27:23.17\00:27:24.51 so, 1st John chapter 1 and let's start with verse 8, 00:27:24.54\00:27:28.41 "If we say that we have no sin... " 00:27:28.44\00:27:31.91 what then, "we deceive ourselves, 00:27:31.95\00:27:35.38 and the truth is not in us. " 00:27:35.42\00:27:37.09 "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, 00:27:37.12\00:27:39.22 and truth is not in us... " 00:27:39.25\00:27:40.59 so, here's the first piece of the gospel sandwich. 00:27:40.62\00:27:43.43 There's no way that we can say that we don't have sin. 00:27:43.46\00:27:46.49 We are sinners... 00:27:46.53\00:27:47.86 we are lost... we are fallen... 00:27:47.90\00:27:49.40 there's not one of us that can say, "We have no sin... " 00:27:49.43\00:27:51.77 and the good news about that is, 00:27:51.80\00:27:53.13 you know, many times we're overwhelmed by our sins, 00:27:53.17\00:27:55.57 we're like, "Man, I'm so sinful, 00:27:55.60\00:27:56.94 there's no way I'm going to make it, 00:27:56.97\00:27:58.31 I'm such a bad person... such a terrible person. " 00:27:58.34\00:27:59.77 Hey, God understands that, God knows that, 00:27:59.81\00:28:02.31 look right in His Word He says, 00:28:02.34\00:28:04.05 "Don't say you're not a sinner, 00:28:04.11\00:28:05.75 it's obvious... and I know you're a sinner, so... " 00:28:05.78\00:28:08.18 anyone who says he's not a sinner is self-deceived, 00:28:08.22\00:28:10.62 like, you know, he's just self-deceived 00:28:10.65\00:28:13.76 and that is a basis of the gospel sandwich. 00:28:13.79\00:28:16.89 We don't have to feel bad for being a sinner, 00:28:16.93\00:28:20.00 we don't have to feel bad before God 00:28:20.03\00:28:22.23 for the revelation of what we are. 00:28:22.26\00:28:24.40 Now, what actually we should feel bad about 00:28:24.43\00:28:28.34 is if we fail to follow the next Bible verse 00:28:28.37\00:28:31.67 in 1st John chapter 1 and that's verse 9, 00:28:31.71\00:28:34.94 "If we confess our sins, 00:28:35.01\00:28:37.81 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 00:28:37.85\00:28:40.42 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " 00:28:40.45\00:28:43.12 Now, that's the filling of the gospel sandwich... 00:28:43.18\00:28:45.82 isn't that beautiful? 00:28:45.85\00:28:47.19 "If we confess our sins, 00:28:47.22\00:28:48.56 He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins. " 00:28:48.59\00:28:50.69 God will forgive our sins if we confess them 00:28:50.73\00:28:53.06 and the devil knows that... 00:28:53.09\00:28:54.66 the devil knows that 00:28:54.70\00:28:56.03 and so, what we find is the devil is trying to stop us 00:28:56.06\00:28:58.77 from confessing our sin 00:28:58.80\00:29:00.44 and the best way for him to do that 00:29:00.47\00:29:04.04 is to destroy the definition of sin. 00:29:04.07\00:29:06.78 If he can destroy the definition of sin, 00:29:06.81\00:29:09.48 then he can stop us from confessing our sins... 00:29:09.51\00:29:11.88 see, the issue with God 00:29:11.91\00:29:13.28 is not that we would realize that we're sinners, 00:29:13.31\00:29:16.05 you know, Satan wants us to feel overwhelmed 00:29:16.08\00:29:18.35 with the idea that we're sinners... 00:29:18.39\00:29:19.72 we want to justify ourselves, 00:29:19.75\00:29:21.09 we want to pretend we're not sinners... 00:29:21.12\00:29:22.46 and if we can justify ourselves and pretend we're not sinners, 00:29:22.49\00:29:24.29 then we think, "Oh, we're going to be okay. " 00:29:24.33\00:29:26.43 No, don't do that... 00:29:26.46\00:29:27.80 the Bible says, "If you say you haven't sinned, 00:29:27.83\00:29:29.16 you deceive yourself. " 00:29:29.20\00:29:30.53 So, don't do that, 00:29:30.57\00:29:31.90 simply recognize that yes, the law of God is in place 00:29:31.93\00:29:34.80 to bring us guilt and condemnation 00:29:34.84\00:29:37.77 so that we can be led to Jesus who justifies us. 00:29:37.84\00:29:40.58 That's the... that's the whole process right there, 00:29:40.61\00:29:42.84 it's just that simple 00:29:42.88\00:29:44.25 and so, if we confess our sins, He's faithful... He's just. 00:29:44.28\00:29:48.45 Why is he faithful? 00:29:48.48\00:29:49.82 Well, because He's never failed, 00:29:49.85\00:29:52.15 none of His promises have ever failed, 00:29:52.19\00:29:53.82 why is He just? 00:29:53.86\00:29:55.19 Because He died for our sins... the just for the unjust, 00:29:55.22\00:29:58.46 He's faithful... it's the right thing to do, 00:29:58.49\00:30:00.70 justice is fair. 00:30:00.73\00:30:02.06 He's not just forgiving us 00:30:02.10\00:30:04.33 because He's merciful and gracious, 00:30:04.37\00:30:05.73 He's forgiving us because He's fair... 00:30:05.77\00:30:07.14 fair is fair... 00:30:07.17\00:30:08.50 Jesus died for the sins of the world, 00:30:08.54\00:30:11.37 Jesus took the whole weight of the sin of the world 00:30:11.41\00:30:12.77 upon Himself, 00:30:12.81\00:30:14.14 if we confess our sins, it's only fair 00:30:14.18\00:30:16.31 that He forgives us because it's not... 00:30:16.34\00:30:18.85 He doesn't want double payment, 00:30:18.88\00:30:20.22 He doesn't want Himself to pay for our sins 00:30:20.25\00:30:22.08 and us to pay for our sins, so it's only fair... 00:30:22.12\00:30:24.45 it's only just... it's only right... 00:30:24.49\00:30:26.09 He will faithfully and justly forgive us our sins... 00:30:26.12\00:30:30.73 notice what else it also goes on to say, 00:30:30.79\00:30:32.73 "And cleanse us from all unrighteousness... " 00:30:32.76\00:30:34.36 so, how does He do that? 00:30:34.40\00:30:35.73 You know, when I was a kid, I was convinced... convicted... 00:30:35.76\00:30:39.73 of certain sins and when I went to Confession, 00:30:39.77\00:30:43.30 at that point... at that time in my life, 00:30:43.34\00:30:46.68 it was to a man... 00:30:46.71\00:30:48.04 but now I know I can confess my sins directly to God, 00:30:48.08\00:30:50.05 in fact, that's the only you should ever confess your sins... 00:30:50.08\00:30:52.28 just directly to God. 00:30:52.31\00:30:54.15 When I confess my sins... 00:30:54.22\00:30:55.98 but then, there are some sins I don't know about. 00:30:56.02\00:30:58.25 There are some things... sins that I'm not aware of 00:30:58.29\00:31:00.49 for years I was going to church every Sunday, 00:31:00.56\00:31:04.56 I had no idea the Bible taught that the 7th-day Sabbath... 00:31:04.59\00:31:09.06 the Sabbath of the Lord is on Saturday. 00:31:09.10\00:31:11.17 If fact, I thought that was weird when I first heard that, 00:31:11.20\00:31:13.13 I thought, "What? No one goes to church on Saturday... 00:31:13.17\00:31:15.04 that's not what the Bible teaches, 00:31:15.10\00:31:16.57 no way could the Bible teach... " 00:31:16.60\00:31:18.01 and, of course, I didn't know anything about 00:31:18.04\00:31:19.67 what the Bible taught at that time in my life. 00:31:19.74\00:31:21.28 So, I had to go back and I had to study... research this 00:31:21.34\00:31:24.28 and research... "Well, how did this all change? 00:31:24.31\00:31:26.58 What happened?" 00:31:26.61\00:31:27.95 And sure enough, I found out that... 00:31:27.98\00:31:29.32 that the day was changed from Saturday to Sunday by man... 00:31:29.35\00:31:32.89 not by God... 00:31:32.92\00:31:34.26 that God has always honored... blessed... 00:31:34.29\00:31:37.43 sanctified and kept the seventh-day Sabbath... Saturday 00:31:37.46\00:31:41.43 and when I realized that, I thought, 00:31:41.46\00:31:43.47 "Whoa, so He's not only going to forgive my sins 00:31:43.50\00:31:46.53 but He's going to cleanse me from all unrighteousness, 00:31:46.57\00:31:48.54 He's going to show me other areas 00:31:48.57\00:31:50.44 where I didn't understand or I didn't know... 00:31:50.47\00:31:52.21 He's going to show me those areas 00:31:52.24\00:31:54.18 and He's going to lead me in a way... 00:31:54.21\00:31:55.64 He's going to cleanse me from all of that. 00:31:55.68\00:31:57.55 You see, we shouldn't be afraid of the law, 00:31:57.58\00:31:59.18 we shouldn't be afraid of being convicted, 00:31:59.21\00:32:00.55 we shouldn't think that, 00:32:00.58\00:32:01.92 "Well, if the law is... is telling me to do something 00:32:01.95\00:32:04.35 and I'm violating that law, 00:32:04.39\00:32:05.72 then I need to get rid of that law. " 00:32:05.75\00:32:07.09 No, you don't want to do that 00:32:07.12\00:32:08.46 because you're still going to be violating the law. 00:32:08.49\00:32:11.83 It's like driving down the road at a 100 miles an hour 00:32:11.89\00:32:15.53 and the Police Officer pulls you over 00:32:15.56\00:32:16.93 and you get a ticket 00:32:16.97\00:32:18.47 and so, the next time you go down that road, 00:32:18.50\00:32:20.00 you see the speed sign, you say, 00:32:20.04\00:32:21.67 "I'm going to take that thing down. " 00:32:21.70\00:32:23.14 So, you take down the Speed-Limit Sign... 00:32:23.17\00:32:24.57 this 55-Mile Speed-Limit sign... 00:32:24.61\00:32:26.54 and the next time you drive down that road 00:32:26.57\00:32:27.91 at a 100 miles an hour, the Police Officer pulls you over 00:32:27.94\00:32:29.48 and you say, "Why are you pulling me over?" 00:32:29.51\00:32:31.11 He says, "Because you're driving too fast... " 00:32:31.15\00:32:32.65 and you say, "Well, where's the Speed-Limit Sign?" 00:32:32.68\00:32:34.15 "Well, I don't know what happened to the sign 00:32:34.18\00:32:35.82 but it's 55 miles an hour. " 00:32:35.85\00:32:37.85 That Police Officer is not going to be convinced in any manner, 00:32:37.89\00:32:41.19 shape or form that it's... 00:32:41.22\00:32:42.56 the speed limit is now 100 miles an hour 00:32:42.59\00:32:44.03 because someone took down the sign. 00:32:44.06\00:32:45.46 You can't change God's law and think that sin disappears. 00:32:45.49\00:32:48.56 It doesn't disappear. 00:32:48.60\00:32:50.30 God's law identifies it 00:32:50.37\00:32:52.00 and changing God's law only deceives us. 00:32:52.03\00:32:54.60 It leaves us in a place where we don't feel like we've sinned. 00:32:54.64\00:32:56.67 We haven't sinned... "I haven't sinned... 00:32:56.71\00:32:58.41 I didn't know the speed limit sign was... 00:32:58.44\00:33:00.04 that was not... there was no sign in there... " 00:33:00.08\00:33:01.58 oh... now wait a minute, you have sinned 00:33:01.61\00:33:03.75 and you're deceiving yourself if you think you haven't sinned 00:33:03.78\00:33:06.15 and you need to go to the law of God that identifies sin 00:33:06.18\00:33:08.48 because sin is transgression of God's law 00:33:08.55\00:33:10.59 1st John chapter 3 verse 4, 00:33:10.62\00:33:12.82 so, if we confess our sins, 00:33:12.85\00:33:14.99 He's faithful and just to forgive us our sins 00:33:15.02\00:33:17.03 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:33:17.06\00:33:18.99 Now, notice this part, this is really powerful too, 00:33:19.03\00:33:21.06 verse 10... 00:33:21.10\00:33:22.43 here's the other piece of bread for the gospel sandwich. 00:33:22.46\00:33:26.13 "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar... " 00:33:26.17\00:33:30.07 and here's the key part, "His word is not in us. " 00:33:30.11\00:33:33.68 Okay, "His word is not in us... " 00:33:33.71\00:33:36.85 so, the Word of God is where we're discovering the truth 00:33:36.88\00:33:41.35 about the gospel and the law of God. 00:33:41.38\00:33:43.05 The Word of God is what is leading us to understand 00:33:43.08\00:33:46.65 what part... what role the law plays in the gospel... 00:33:46.69\00:33:50.23 it leads us to Jesus so we can be justified, 00:33:50.26\00:33:51.79 it convicts us of sin, 00:33:51.86\00:33:53.19 it points out sin and it brings us to a place 00:33:53.23\00:33:55.43 where we're guilty before the law 00:33:55.46\00:33:57.07 so that we can be justified by... 00:33:57.10\00:33:58.60 freely by His grace and saved by His grace. 00:33:58.63\00:34:01.04 So, if we say we have not sinned... 00:34:01.10\00:34:03.87 a lot of people will say, "Well, I haven't sinned... 00:34:03.91\00:34:05.51 just because I'm going to church on the wrong day, 00:34:05.54\00:34:07.98 it's not a violation of... that's not sin... is it?" 00:34:08.01\00:34:10.81 Well, actually the Ten Commandments outline what sin is 00:34:10.85\00:34:13.65 and one of the Commandment says, 00:34:13.68\00:34:15.02 "Remember the seventh day to keep it holy. 00:34:15.05\00:34:17.05 Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work: 00:34:17.09\00:34:19.05 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God... " 00:34:19.12\00:34:20.96 and then it points us back to Creation... 00:34:20.99\00:34:22.69 in six days the Lord made heaven and earth 00:34:22.72\00:34:24.36 and the sea and all that in them is 00:34:24.39\00:34:25.79 and He rested on the seventh day 00:34:25.83\00:34:27.16 and blessed it and sanctified it. 00:34:27.20\00:34:28.76 Wherefore, the Lord God commanded you 00:34:28.80\00:34:30.17 to keep the seventh day. " 00:34:30.20\00:34:31.53 This is where we get the truth from the Word of God 00:34:31.57\00:34:34.20 and so, if we say we have not sinned, 00:34:34.24\00:34:36.54 we're making God a liar 00:34:36.57\00:34:38.34 and His Word is not in us. 00:34:38.37\00:34:40.08 That's what this gospel sandwich is telling us. 00:34:40.11\00:34:42.68 It's... it's vital for us and God... 00:34:42.74\00:34:44.95 you might think, "Well, God is hitting us pretty hard 00:34:44.98\00:34:46.61 right here in these three verses, 00:34:46.65\00:34:47.98 I mean, God is... " 00:34:48.02\00:34:49.35 but the reason why God is doing this 00:34:49.38\00:34:50.92 is because He doesn't want us to be deceived. 00:34:50.95\00:34:54.66 He doesn't want us to neglect to confess our sins. 00:34:54.72\00:34:57.53 There's a... there's a... there's an "If" there, 00:34:57.56\00:35:00.10 there's a condition there, 00:35:00.13\00:35:01.46 if we don't confess our sins, guess what happens? 00:35:01.50\00:35:04.43 He's not faithful to... to... to forgive us our sins 00:35:04.47\00:35:07.64 and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:35:07.67\00:35:09.20 He's not faithful and just to forgive us. 00:35:09.27\00:35:10.97 If we don't confess, how can He forgive? 00:35:11.01\00:35:12.64 We haven't confessed, there's a condition in there, 00:35:12.67\00:35:14.34 and the condition is: confess. 00:35:14.38\00:35:15.71 Not justify... not excuse... not pretend... 00:35:15.74\00:35:18.48 but confess. 00:35:18.51\00:35:19.85 Confess your sins 00:35:19.88\00:35:21.35 and you just give that sin to Jesus 00:35:21.38\00:35:22.98 and He cleanses it... He forgives it 00:35:23.02\00:35:24.79 and He cleanses you and justifies you. 00:35:24.85\00:35:26.55 That is the process that God wants us to walk through 00:35:26.59\00:35:30.09 so that we are no longer transgressors of His law, 00:35:30.13\00:35:33.60 1st John chapter 3 verse 4 is the context... 00:35:33.63\00:35:36.70 that larger context of what we've been reading 00:35:36.73\00:35:39.77 in 1st John chapter 1, 00:35:39.80\00:35:41.27 "Whoever commits sin, transgresses the law 00:35:41.30\00:35:43.10 for sin is transgression of the law. " 00:35:43.14\00:35:45.91 So, John is being really clear here 00:35:45.94\00:35:48.61 as the connection between the law and the gospel... 00:35:48.64\00:35:53.11 the law and the gospel... 00:35:53.15\00:35:55.08 vital connection right here so, basically what's happening is... 00:35:55.12\00:35:58.02 is that to do away with the law 00:35:58.05\00:35:59.82 is a subtle attack on the gospel. 00:35:59.85\00:36:01.52 It's a subtle attack on the gospel do away with the law 00:36:01.56\00:36:04.33 because when you do away with the law, 00:36:04.36\00:36:05.83 you actually do away with the gospel. 00:36:05.89\00:36:07.30 Now, what does this have to do with the judgment? 00:36:07.33\00:36:11.47 Well, remember, 00:36:11.50\00:36:12.83 we've been talking about professed Christians... 00:36:12.87\00:36:14.50 professed Christians who do many wonderful works, 00:36:14.54\00:36:16.77 they cast out devils, they heal, 00:36:16.81\00:36:18.44 they do many wonderful works in Your name 00:36:18.47\00:36:20.98 and He says, "I don't know you... " 00:36:21.01\00:36:22.41 "Why don't You know me?" 00:36:22.44\00:36:23.78 "Well, because you're workers of iniquity. " 00:36:23.81\00:36:25.15 "Oh, iniquity... " which is transgression of God's law. 00:36:25.18\00:36:27.62 There are a lot of Christians who have transgressed... 00:36:27.68\00:36:30.52 who are transgressing God's law, 00:36:30.55\00:36:32.09 who have transgressed God's law 00:36:32.12\00:36:33.59 and yet they profess to be followers of Christ 00:36:33.62\00:36:36.22 and they do many wonderful works. 00:36:36.26\00:36:37.59 That's the context of what we're reading here. 00:36:37.63\00:36:39.39 Remember, our first study together... 00:36:39.43\00:36:41.70 it was emphasized that we shouldn't judge one another, 00:36:41.73\00:36:45.90 Romans chapter 14... 00:36:45.93\00:36:47.40 "One person's persuaded to keep one day, 00:36:47.44\00:36:49.60 another person keeps every day, 00:36:49.64\00:36:50.97 one person eats this... another person eats that... " 00:36:51.01\00:36:52.44 let's not judge one another, 00:36:52.47\00:36:54.41 we'll all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, 00:36:54.44\00:36:56.24 so, it's really important here. 00:36:56.28\00:36:57.85 People sometimes misunderstand Romans chapter 14 00:36:57.91\00:37:01.92 but in principle, it's really clear. 00:37:01.95\00:37:03.82 It's not saying that we should forget about the law 00:37:03.85\00:37:06.49 and pretend that it doesn't exist 00:37:06.52\00:37:08.02 because we don't want to judge people, no... 00:37:08.06\00:37:09.39 what it's saying is... 00:37:09.42\00:37:10.76 is that we need to let people be fully persuaded 00:37:10.79\00:37:12.66 in their own minds, 00:37:12.69\00:37:14.03 we're not supposed to judge anyone else 00:37:14.06\00:37:15.70 for their obedience to or lack of obedience to the law 00:37:15.76\00:37:18.13 but it doesn't mean we shouldn't teach what the Bible says. 00:37:18.17\00:37:21.14 The Bible says, "The law of God is the standard in the judgment" 00:37:21.17\00:37:26.24 that sin is transgression of the law 00:37:26.27\00:37:28.58 and the law of God is what leads us to Jesus 00:37:28.61\00:37:30.91 so we can be justified by His grace freely 00:37:30.95\00:37:33.18 and that until we get justified, we're under condemnation, 00:37:33.21\00:37:36.92 we're under the condemnation of the law 00:37:36.99\00:37:38.55 but as we get conviction... 00:37:38.59\00:37:41.26 as we realize that the law is pointing us to Jesus, 00:37:41.29\00:37:44.53 as we realize that we are sinners, 00:37:44.59\00:37:46.13 we come to Jesus and whoever comes to Jesus... 00:37:46.16\00:37:48.80 He will no wise cast out. 00:37:48.83\00:37:50.17 That's the whole point 00:37:50.20\00:37:52.53 of the law in connection with the gospel. 00:37:52.57\00:37:55.50 How does that relate to the judgment? 00:37:55.54\00:37:57.67 Well, we know... it's interconnected very closely 00:37:57.74\00:38:00.98 because the judgment is all about obeying the gospel 00:38:01.01\00:38:04.25 and the only way you can obey the gospel 00:38:04.28\00:38:06.31 is to understand that the law is leading us to Jesus... 00:38:06.35\00:38:09.25 that's the foundation of the gospel 00:38:09.28\00:38:12.02 so, you've got to understand how the law connects 00:38:12.05\00:38:14.02 in the context of the gospel in the judgment 00:38:14.06\00:38:17.49 because you don't want to step into the judgment 00:38:17.53\00:38:19.23 and be fulfilling the verses in Matthew chapter 7 00:38:19.26\00:38:22.33 verses 21 to 23. 00:38:22.36\00:38:23.70 Now, we want to understand the law of God, 00:38:23.73\00:38:26.43 in other words, what we want to look at here is 00:38:26.47\00:38:28.20 James chapter 2, 00:38:28.24\00:38:29.77 James chapter 2 and verse 10, 00:38:29.80\00:38:31.14 we touched on this already but we want to go back to it now 00:38:31.17\00:38:34.81 as we summarize, James chapter 2 and verse 10, 00:38:34.84\00:38:38.41 James is speaking here about the law of God. 00:38:38.45\00:38:42.12 Sometimes, Christians will go in and say, 00:38:42.15\00:38:44.79 "Well, this is the law of Love. " 00:38:44.82\00:38:46.15 Notice what James says here, 00:38:46.19\00:38:47.52 verse on screen. 00:38:47.56\00:39:18.09 So, you want to notice what James is saying here 00:39:18.12\00:39:20.12 because it's really important. 00:39:20.16\00:39:22.06 As we transition through this whole process of understanding 00:39:22.09\00:39:26.23 the place of the law, 00:39:26.26\00:39:27.66 we need to recognize that we're coming in contact 00:39:27.70\00:39:30.13 with a subtle enemy, the devil, 00:39:30.17\00:39:31.53 who's been at his work for 1,000s of years 00:39:31.57\00:39:33.70 seeking to deceive the whole world. 00:39:33.74\00:39:35.60 Matthew 24 end-time chapter Jesus warns about being deceived 00:39:35.64\00:39:38.77 three different times. 00:39:38.81\00:39:40.14 In the book of Revelation, the prophetic book... 00:39:40.18\00:39:43.24 the symbolic book... deception is everywhere... 00:39:43.28\00:39:46.25 he deceives... he deceives... he deceives... he deceives... 00:39:46.28\00:39:48.48 especially in Revelation 13 00:39:48.52\00:39:50.02 when we come to the Mark of the Beast 00:39:50.05\00:39:51.79 and we see how it is 00:39:51.82\00:39:53.82 that he's going to try to deceive the whole world 00:39:53.86\00:39:55.96 in these end days 00:39:55.99\00:39:57.33 and here's one of the key elements, 00:39:57.36\00:39:59.19 here's one of the key plans that he uses to deceive. 00:39:59.23\00:40:01.86 In James chapter 2 as we read, it says, 00:40:01.90\00:40:06.33 "If you break one... if you keep the whole law 00:40:06.37\00:40:09.84 and yet offend in one point, you're guilty of all. " 00:40:09.87\00:40:11.87 So, I know a lot of Christians who will keep nine commandments. 00:40:11.91\00:40:14.88 Yeah, I know a lot of Christians who will keep nine commandments. 00:40:14.91\00:40:17.78 Like, yeah we... we believe in the law, 00:40:17.81\00:40:19.81 we... we believe in the law, I mean... 00:40:19.85\00:40:21.75 most of it has been repeated in the New Testament 00:40:21.78\00:40:23.85 so, we believe in the law, 00:40:23.89\00:40:25.22 we believe we shouldn't commit adultery 00:40:25.25\00:40:26.59 and we believe we shouldn't steal, 00:40:26.62\00:40:27.96 we shouldn't lie and shouldn't have idols... 00:40:27.99\00:40:29.32 we believe that... 00:40:29.36\00:40:30.69 we believe that we shouldn't take God's name in vain, 00:40:30.73\00:40:32.06 you know, we believe we shouldn't have any other gods" 00:40:32.09\00:40:33.73 but then there's one part of the law 00:40:33.76\00:40:36.40 that they kind of... yeah... 00:40:36.43\00:40:39.27 "Well, I'm not sure about that... " 00:40:39.30\00:40:41.50 and that's the Sabbath... that's the 4th Commandment... 00:40:41.54\00:40:44.21 the 4th Commandment... 00:40:44.24\00:40:45.57 and so, the devil is just having a heyday here 00:40:45.61\00:40:48.34 and this is why God inspired James to write this. 00:40:48.38\00:40:51.11 He inspired James to write this 00:40:51.15\00:40:53.18 because He knew that in the end of time especially 00:40:53.21\00:40:55.28 there will be a bunch of Christians 00:40:55.32\00:40:56.89 who'll be keeping all of the law but one... 00:40:56.92\00:40:59.15 every commandment but one 00:40:59.19\00:41:00.86 and so He says, "Now, if you keep all the law 00:41:00.89\00:41:03.43 and yet you offend in one, you're guilty of all of it... " 00:41:03.46\00:41:07.26 and then He goes on to say 00:41:07.30\00:41:08.76 and you need to be careful here 00:41:08.80\00:41:10.17 because you're going to be judged by that law... 00:41:10.23\00:41:11.93 you're going to be judged as workers of iniquity 00:41:12.00\00:41:13.94 by that law. 00:41:13.97\00:41:15.30 That's what the New Testament tells us... 00:41:15.34\00:41:16.97 we're going to be judged by the law... 00:41:17.01\00:41:19.07 the law is part of the judgment 00:41:19.11\00:41:20.88 because the law is the standard of God's character... 00:41:20.91\00:41:24.61 it's the standard of God's kingdom. 00:41:24.65\00:41:26.61 Jesus summed it up in Matthew 22 and He said 00:41:26.65\00:41:29.18 that loving the Lord your God 00:41:29.22\00:41:31.62 with all your heart, mind and soul 00:41:31.65\00:41:33.05 and loving your neighbor as yourself 00:41:33.09\00:41:34.42 is the fulfillment of the law, Matthew chapter 22 00:41:34.46\00:41:39.63 verses 26 through 30 00:41:39.66\00:41:41.13 so, what we need to recognize is 00:41:41.16\00:41:43.16 that Jesus has... or is that 36 through 40... 00:41:43.20\00:41:45.83 Jesus hasn't done away with the law, 00:41:45.87\00:41:47.87 Jesus has fulfilled or established the law of God 00:41:47.90\00:41:52.57 as the standard 00:41:52.61\00:41:53.94 but that standard can't be met by human beings... 00:41:53.98\00:41:55.54 by fallen human beings... 00:41:55.61\00:41:56.95 we have to have a sin bearer... 00:41:56.98\00:41:58.88 we have to have a mediator... 00:41:58.91\00:42:00.68 we have to have someone who justifies us 00:42:00.72\00:42:02.18 but as we go to Jesus, we get cleansed... 00:42:02.22\00:42:04.59 does that mean that we are free now to transgress God's law? 00:42:04.62\00:42:07.39 No, because then we just come under the law again, 00:42:07.42\00:42:09.79 we come under the condemnation of the law once more, 00:42:09.82\00:42:12.13 it's like that Police Officer pulls me over... 00:42:12.19\00:42:13.83 he doesn't give me a ticket 00:42:13.86\00:42:15.20 even though he writes up the violation... 00:42:15.23\00:42:16.56 he gives me grace... he gives me mercy 00:42:16.60\00:42:17.97 and then I turn around 00:42:18.03\00:42:19.37 and I go out and I do the same thing all over again 00:42:19.40\00:42:21.27 and again and again and again 00:42:21.30\00:42:22.64 and that's what some Christians do... 00:42:22.67\00:42:24.01 that's what some people do 00:42:24.04\00:42:25.37 and that's why they're identified 00:42:25.41\00:42:27.54 in Matthew chapter 7 verses 21 to 23. 00:42:27.58\00:42:30.25 They're identified there as workers of iniquity... 00:42:30.28\00:42:32.61 people that Jesus doesn't know. 00:42:32.68\00:42:34.52 So, when we only look at this New Testament... 00:42:34.55\00:42:37.39 the law of Liberty is going to be our standard... 00:42:37.42\00:42:40.22 Old Testament... Ecclesiastes... 00:42:40.26\00:42:42.06 we looked at this in our last meeting 00:42:42.09\00:42:43.73 but let's look at it again as we close up here 00:42:43.76\00:42:46.59 Ecclesiastes chapter 11 or chapter 12... 00:42:46.63\00:42:50.83 Ecclesiastes chapter... 00:42:50.87\00:42:52.20 the very last chapter of Ecclesiastes... 00:42:52.23\00:42:55.17 right after the book of Proverbs, 00:42:55.20\00:42:59.17 Ecclesiastes chapter 11 or 12, excuse me, 00:42:59.21\00:43:03.55 verses 13 and 14, 00:43:03.58\00:43:06.41 Solomon's speaking again, he says, 00:43:06.45\00:43:09.92 "Now, let's hear the conclusion of the whole matter... " 00:43:09.95\00:43:11.39 here's a guy who went through everything in life... 00:43:11.42\00:43:13.82 he experienced the good, the bad, the ugly. 00:43:13.86\00:43:15.42 "Here's the conclusion of the whole matter: 00:43:15.46\00:43:16.99 Fear God, and keep His commandments: 00:43:17.03\00:43:19.66 keep His commandments: 00:43:19.69\00:43:21.40 for this is the whole duty of man. 00:43:21.43\00:43:23.50 For God shall bring... " verse 14... 00:43:23.53\00:43:25.57 "God shall bring every work into judgment, 00:43:25.60\00:43:28.67 whether it be good, or whether it be evil. " 00:43:28.70\00:43:31.31 God shall bring every work into judgment, 00:43:31.37\00:43:33.94 and every secret thing... 00:43:33.98\00:43:35.31 whether it be good or whether it be evil. 00:43:35.34\00:43:37.01 So, it doesn't matter where we are in our lives, 00:43:37.05\00:43:41.45 God knows all of us, 00:43:41.48\00:43:42.82 He knows everything we're going through, 00:43:42.85\00:43:44.19 He knows all the secrets of our hearts, 00:43:44.22\00:43:45.55 He knows everything 00:43:45.59\00:43:46.92 and He's going to bring it all in the judgment, 00:43:46.96\00:43:48.29 so, the conclusion is to keep the commandments of God. 00:43:48.32\00:43:50.43 Why? Because they are the standard, 00:43:50.46\00:43:51.79 but you say, "I just feel convicted of my sin when I... 00:43:51.83\00:43:54.86 when I see the commandments, I feel like I'm just a sinner. " 00:43:54.93\00:43:57.23 Well, that's okay because if you confess your sin, 00:43:57.27\00:43:59.50 then, Jesus is faithful to forgive your sin 00:43:59.53\00:44:02.10 and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 00:44:02.14\00:44:04.37 So, it's okay if you feel yourself a sinner, 00:44:04.41\00:44:06.57 the problem is... if you don't feel yourself a sinner, 00:44:06.61\00:44:08.74 because if you don't feel like you've sinned, 00:44:08.78\00:44:10.15 guess what you're doing? 00:44:10.18\00:44:11.51 You're deceiving yourself and the truth is not in us. 00:44:11.55\00:44:14.32 So, that's what we need to be aware of the place of the law 00:44:14.35\00:44:18.82 in leading us to Jesus. 00:44:18.85\00:44:20.36 Now, I want us to... 00:44:20.39\00:44:21.82 let's just look at a way we can summarize this 00:44:21.86\00:44:24.06 because there is a summary of this 00:44:24.09\00:44:25.53 in the context of Revelation chapter 14 00:44:25.56\00:44:27.90 and I love the parallels between Revelation chapter 14 00:44:27.93\00:44:31.93 and Romans chapter 3. 00:44:31.97\00:44:34.00 Romans chapter 3 is just this powerful gospel narrative 00:44:34.04\00:44:37.67 I mean it just... it just explodes with gospel truths, 00:44:37.71\00:44:41.31 it talks about the place of the law, 00:44:41.34\00:44:43.41 talks about how we don't do away with the law... 00:44:43.45\00:44:45.78 that the law is established... 00:44:45.81\00:44:47.45 it talks about how there's no way that the law can do anything 00:44:47.48\00:44:50.55 but make us guilty... that's what the law does... 00:44:50.59\00:44:52.85 we're just guilty before God, now, I understand, 00:44:52.89\00:44:55.06 we don't want to feel guilty, people don't want to feel guilty 00:44:55.09\00:44:57.96 but the law brings us to that place of guilt 00:44:57.99\00:45:00.43 so that we can feel our need of Jesus... 00:45:00.46\00:45:02.83 the Law doesn't bring us there just to leave us there, 00:45:02.86\00:45:04.93 it brings us there because it wants us 00:45:04.97\00:45:07.80 to feel our need of Christ, 00:45:07.87\00:45:09.87 it wants to lead us to Jesus, 00:45:09.90\00:45:11.84 so, Romans chapter 3 is this beautiful gospel explosion, 00:45:11.87\00:45:16.78 this beautiful gospel truth... 00:45:16.81\00:45:18.15 we'll parallel that with Revelation 14. 00:45:18.18\00:45:20.92 Now, a lot of Christians don't like to go 00:45:20.98\00:45:23.69 into the book of Revelation but let me tell you, 00:45:23.72\00:45:25.75 the book of Revelation is a powerful 00:45:25.79\00:45:27.56 revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:45:27.59\00:45:30.69 That's what the book starts as, Revelation 1 verse 1, 00:45:30.73\00:45:33.70 the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:45:33.73\00:45:35.06 I see the book of Revelation as the fifth gospel of the Bible, 00:45:35.10\00:45:37.73 just like Matthew, Mark, Luke and John talk about Jesus, 00:45:37.77\00:45:40.44 Revelation also focuses on Christ 00:45:40.47\00:45:43.00 and if you look at Revelation from that perspective, 00:45:43.07\00:45:45.94 you're going to find over and over again 00:45:45.97\00:45:47.58 the salvation theme. 00:45:47.61\00:45:48.94 You're going to find this gospel theme 00:45:48.98\00:45:51.01 and I want to prove that. 00:45:51.05\00:45:52.58 Revelation chapter 14 verses 6 through 12, 00:45:52.61\00:45:56.08 is almost a perfect parallel to Romans chapter 3, 00:45:56.12\00:46:00.79 if you can compare the two, 00:46:00.82\00:46:02.16 if you compare Revelation chapter 14:6 to 12 00:46:02.19\00:46:04.96 with Romans chapter 3 starting with verse 19 00:46:04.99\00:46:07.76 and we read all the way through to verse 31, 00:46:07.80\00:46:10.10 you're going to see an almost perfect parallel. 00:46:10.13\00:46:12.40 It's not... the words aren't identical 00:46:12.43\00:46:14.70 but the truths that are being spoken there 00:46:14.74\00:46:16.94 are almost identical, 00:46:16.97\00:46:18.31 so, what happens here in Revelation chapter 14 verse 6, 00:46:18.34\00:46:22.31 "I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven 00:46:22.34\00:46:25.31 having the everlasting gospel. " 00:46:25.35\00:46:27.85 See, that's what Paul is talking about in Romans chapter 3, 00:46:27.88\00:46:30.42 he's talking about the everlasting gospel. 00:46:30.45\00:46:31.99 He's been expounding upon it, he begins in Romans 1 00:46:32.02\00:46:34.66 and talks about how he's not ashamed of the gospel 00:46:34.69\00:46:37.16 for... for in the gospel, the righteousness of Christ 00:46:37.19\00:46:39.63 is revealed... Christ's righteousness 00:46:39.66\00:46:41.90 and so, Romans chapter 3 is a further expansion on that gospel 00:46:41.93\00:46:47.17 Revelation 14 verse 6, 00:46:47.20\00:46:49.17 there's an angel flying in the midst of heaven... 00:46:49.20\00:46:51.61 has the everlasting gospel. 00:46:51.64\00:46:53.31 Now, you know why it's called the everlasting gospel? 00:46:53.34\00:46:56.01 This phrase is unique... it's unique in Revelation 14, 00:46:56.04\00:46:58.71 you won't find that phrase, "everlasting gospel" 00:46:58.75\00:47:00.62 anywhere else in the Bible, 00:47:00.65\00:47:01.98 not in the Old Testament, not in the New Testament. 00:47:02.02\00:47:03.45 The reason why that phrase is there 00:47:03.49\00:47:05.29 is because of the very dilemma that we've been talking about. 00:47:05.32\00:47:08.09 Christians in the end of time doing away with God's law... 00:47:08.12\00:47:10.86 Christians who are going to come in the judgment 00:47:10.89\00:47:13.40 and be called: Workers of Iniquity. 00:47:13.43\00:47:15.46 Christians who will come in the judgment 00:47:15.50\00:47:17.20 having done many wonderful works and even trying to persuade God, 00:47:17.27\00:47:21.14 "Let us in... let us in... we've done many wonderful works" 00:47:21.17\00:47:23.44 Friends, please, I don't want you to be those Christians, 00:47:23.47\00:47:25.71 I don't want to be one of those Christians. 00:47:25.74\00:47:27.38 I don't want to plead my wonderful works for salvation, 00:47:27.41\00:47:30.38 we can't be saved for our wonderful works... 00:47:30.45\00:47:31.91 we can only be saved by Jesus 00:47:31.95\00:47:33.28 and the only way Jesus can save us from sin 00:47:33.31\00:47:35.85 is through the standard of the law. 00:47:35.88\00:47:38.22 The law leads us to Jesus so we can be justified. 00:47:38.25\00:47:41.66 The law reminds us of what sin is 00:47:41.69\00:47:44.13 "I wouldn't have known sin, but by the law. " Romans 7:7. 00:47:44.16\00:47:47.00 The law brings us guilty... makes us guilty before God. 00:47:47.03\00:47:49.80 Romans chapter 3 verse 19. 00:47:49.83\00:47:51.30 The law is your friend... it's your mirror. 00:47:51.33\00:47:53.13 You wake up in the morning and you're like, 00:47:53.17\00:47:54.94 "Man, I got to get to work. " 00:47:55.00\00:47:56.34 You look in the mirror, 00:47:56.37\00:47:57.71 you see if you need a little shave or a little trim, 00:47:57.74\00:47:59.37 your hair needs to be straightened out, 00:47:59.41\00:48:00.91 you know, you see where your oddities are 00:48:00.94\00:48:02.78 but the mirror doesn't fix them, right? 00:48:02.81\00:48:04.68 And it's the same with the Bible... 00:48:04.71\00:48:06.55 it's the same with the gospel. 00:48:06.58\00:48:07.92 We look in the mirror of God's law 00:48:07.95\00:48:09.72 and it shows us who we are 00:48:09.78\00:48:11.22 but Jesus is the only one that can change us, 00:48:11.25\00:48:13.86 Jesus is the only one that can cleanse us. 00:48:13.92\00:48:16.46 Jesus is the only one that can make us whole... 00:48:16.49\00:48:17.86 that can heal us. 00:48:17.89\00:48:19.83 The everlasting gospel is identified in this verse 00:48:19.86\00:48:23.03 primarily because of the very issue 00:48:23.06\00:48:24.70 we're talking about today. 00:48:24.73\00:48:26.50 This is God's last message for the world, 00:48:26.53\00:48:28.14 Revelation 14 contains what we call the Three Angels Messages 00:48:28.17\00:48:32.47 and this message is going to all the world 00:48:32.51\00:48:35.21 and what is it saying? It's saying, 00:48:35.24\00:48:36.58 "There's only one way anyone ever has been saved 00:48:36.61\00:48:39.15 or will be saved, 00:48:39.18\00:48:40.52 it's the everlasting way of salvation, 00:48:40.55\00:48:41.95 it's the everlasting gospel and that's through Jesus. 00:48:41.98\00:48:44.85 In the Old Testament, God's people looked forward 00:48:44.89\00:48:47.79 from the Old Testament you look forward to the Cross. 00:48:47.82\00:48:50.43 How did they see the Cross in the Old Testament? 00:48:50.46\00:48:52.89 Through the lamb... the sacrifice of the lamb... 00:48:52.93\00:48:55.46 the sacrifices of the lamb in the sanctuary. 00:48:55.50\00:48:57.97 That lamb typified Christ. 00:48:58.00\00:48:59.57 New Testament Christians... we look back at the Cross, 00:48:59.60\00:49:02.37 we look back to what Christ has accomplished for us 00:49:02.40\00:49:05.07 in fulfillment of those typical services in the sanctuary. 00:49:05.11\00:49:08.84 We see the Lamb of God 00:49:08.88\00:49:10.21 just taking away the sins of the world. 00:49:10.25\00:49:12.11 Everyone is looking to the Cross in the Old and the New Testament 00:49:12.15\00:49:15.18 we're all looking to the Cross, 00:49:15.22\00:49:16.65 it's the everlasting gospel. 00:49:16.69\00:49:18.05 Some people will say, "Well, in the Old Testament, 00:49:18.09\00:49:20.16 you know, we're saved by the law 00:49:20.19\00:49:21.86 and that seems to be what you're saying, 00:49:21.89\00:49:23.76 you're saying, "You know, Pastor Rafferty, 00:49:23.79\00:49:25.39 you're saying that we're saved by the law. " 00:49:25.43\00:49:27.03 I'm not saying we're saved by the law, 00:49:27.06\00:49:28.40 I'm telling you, we're not saved by the law. 00:49:28.43\00:49:30.43 Just because God calls us to keep the law... 00:49:30.47\00:49:32.70 just because God calls us in obedience to His law, 00:49:32.73\00:49:35.27 doesn't mean we're saved by that law... 00:49:35.30\00:49:36.64 no, we are saved by grace through faith alone, 00:49:36.67\00:49:39.54 it's not by works lest anyone should boast 00:49:39.57\00:49:42.58 but we are His workmanship created unto good works... 00:49:42.61\00:49:44.98 that God has ordained that we should walk in them, 00:49:45.01\00:49:47.45 you see, we're not to be workers of iniquity... 00:49:47.48\00:49:49.58 we're not to be transgressing God's law 00:49:49.65\00:49:51.45 but we are saved by obedience to the law... 00:49:51.49\00:49:53.25 obedience to God's law is the fruit of our salvation 00:49:53.29\00:49:56.42 and it's the very fruit that's going to be looked at... 00:49:56.46\00:49:59.59 examined in the judgment by God. 00:49:59.63\00:50:01.13 Did they have the fruit? 00:50:01.16\00:50:02.50 Were they really my followers? 00:50:02.53\00:50:04.30 Did I really know them? 00:50:04.33\00:50:05.67 Was I really connected with them 00:50:05.70\00:50:07.04 or were they workers of iniquity? 00:50:07.07\00:50:08.40 Their fruit is going to be examined, 00:50:08.44\00:50:09.77 we'll talk more about this in our next presentation, 00:50:09.80\00:50:11.81 so, when you look at the everlasting gospel 00:50:11.84\00:50:14.84 in Revelation chapter 14 and verse 6, 00:50:14.88\00:50:17.21 it's speaking to this very issue because people will say, 00:50:17.25\00:50:19.65 "Oh, if you believe in keeping God's law, 00:50:19.68\00:50:22.22 then, you're Old Testament... you're Old Covenant. 00:50:22.25\00:50:25.42 No, that's not what Revelation 14 verse 6 says, 00:50:25.45\00:50:28.06 Revelation 14:6 says, 00:50:28.09\00:50:29.42 "This is the everlasting gospel. " 00:50:29.46\00:50:30.79 In other words, there has never been a time 00:50:30.83\00:50:33.26 in the Old Testament and in the New Testament 00:50:33.29\00:50:35.96 when people have been saved by the law. 00:50:36.00\00:50:37.33 "Oh, wait... wait... wait a minute, no... no... no... 00:50:37.37\00:50:38.97 in the Old Testament they were saved by the law. " 00:50:39.00\00:50:40.47 No, they were not saved by the law. 00:50:40.50\00:50:41.84 "No, no, no... " you say, 00:50:41.87\00:50:43.20 "all those guys... they... they all made a covenant with God, 00:50:43.24\00:50:46.04 they were supposed to keep His law to be saved. " 00:50:46.07\00:50:47.41 No, that was not the way they were saved in the Old Testament. 00:50:47.44\00:50:49.98 The Old Testament was... 00:50:50.01\00:50:52.48 just as the New Testament is pointing to Jesus Christ, 00:50:52.51\00:50:55.38 the law of God had the same place in the Old Testament 00:50:55.42\00:50:57.92 that it had in the New Testament. 00:50:57.95\00:50:59.75 It was to be the fruit of their obedience 00:50:59.82\00:51:01.29 as they looked to the Lamb for their salvation. 00:51:01.32\00:51:03.86 So, there's no one that ever has been saved 00:51:03.89\00:51:06.39 or ever will be saved by obedience to the Law. 00:51:06.43\00:51:08.90 It's the everlasting gospel, 00:51:08.93\00:51:10.40 that's why the phrase is there, it's the everlasting gospel 00:51:10.43\00:51:12.43 and this gospel has to go to all the world... 00:51:12.47\00:51:14.54 to every nation... kindred... tongue and people 00:51:14.57\00:51:16.60 saying with a loud voice... 00:51:16.64\00:51:18.57 this angel speaks out with a loud voice, 00:51:18.61\00:51:20.08 "Fear God, and give glory to Him; 00:51:20.11\00:51:22.64 for the hour of His judgment is come. " 00:51:22.68\00:51:24.18 Now, you say, "How can the hour of judgement be good news... 00:51:24.21\00:51:27.22 how can it be under the heading of the everlasting gospel?" 00:51:27.28\00:51:30.25 Well, we've just been talking about that 00:51:30.29\00:51:31.82 and we'll continue to talk about that. 00:51:31.85\00:51:33.29 The first reason why we know the everlasting gospel is good news 00:51:33.32\00:51:36.76 is because it leads us to Jesus, right? 00:51:36.83\00:51:42.50 The... the hour of judgment is part of the everlasting gospel 00:51:42.53\00:51:46.53 because it leads us to Jesus 00:51:46.57\00:51:48.27 that we can be justified by Him, the... the hour of judgment 00:51:48.30\00:51:53.27 identifies our condition... our guilt 00:51:53.31\00:51:56.54 and leads us to Christ. 00:51:56.58\00:51:58.15 So, the everlasting gospel contains this phrase, 00:51:58.18\00:52:00.48 "the hour of God's judgment" because 00:52:00.52\00:52:01.85 first and foremost, we need to rely on Jesus for our salvation, 00:52:01.88\00:52:04.65 the everlasting gospel reminds us not to judge other people 00:52:04.69\00:52:07.52 and remember, as we go through this, 00:52:07.56\00:52:08.96 we're not judging others... that is key... number one 00:52:08.99\00:52:12.13 in our... in our understanding of the hour of judgment. 00:52:12.16\00:52:15.30 Under the gospel... the everlasting gospel... 00:52:15.33\00:52:18.43 the everlasting gospel has to go to every kindred, nation, 00:52:18.47\00:52:21.20 people and tongue... 00:52:21.24\00:52:22.60 the hour of God's judgment calls us not to judge others 00:52:22.67\00:52:24.97 but it calls us to be guilty before God 00:52:25.04\00:52:27.34 so that we can have freedom from Matthew chapter 7:21-23 00:52:27.38\00:52:31.41 and find justification in Jesus Christ. 00:52:31.48\00:52:34.18 "Worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the seas, 00:52:34.22\00:52:36.28 and the fountains of waters... " 00:52:36.32\00:52:37.65 so, then it goes on here and the parallel is amazing 00:52:37.69\00:52:40.59 between Romans 3 and Revelation 14. 00:52:40.62\00:52:43.12 It goes on here to describe the fall of Babylon... 00:52:43.16\00:52:46.90 the fall of this false system and in Revelation or excuse me, 00:52:46.93\00:52:50.50 Romans chapter 3 it goes on to describe the uselessness 00:52:50.53\00:52:53.64 of being justified by our works. 00:52:53.70\00:52:55.44 It goes on to describe... Paul says, 00:52:55.47\00:52:57.17 "There's no way you can be justified by your works, 00:52:57.21\00:52:59.31 there's no way you can be saved by your works, 00:52:59.34\00:53:00.68 you've got to go to Jesus 00:53:00.71\00:53:02.38 and so, when you parallel the two, 00:53:02.41\00:53:04.38 Babylon's fall is synonymous with the idea 00:53:04.41\00:53:08.55 of being saved by your works 00:53:08.58\00:53:10.52 and all of that coming to an end. 00:53:10.59\00:53:11.92 I don't know how many of you have experienced that 00:53:11.95\00:53:14.12 where you've tried to do your best, 00:53:14.16\00:53:16.26 you've tried to merit God's favor by your works, 00:53:16.29\00:53:19.29 Martin Luther went through that experience, 00:53:19.33\00:53:20.70 he was... he was whipping himself... 00:53:20.73\00:53:22.23 climbing the stairs on his knees, 00:53:22.26\00:53:23.70 and many of God's people in times past... 00:53:23.73\00:53:27.00 through the Dark Ages 00:53:27.04\00:53:28.37 and even today many people try to merit God's favor, 00:53:28.40\00:53:30.54 they try to do good things to get on God's good side, 00:53:30.61\00:53:32.97 it doesn't work... doesn't work, 00:53:33.01\00:53:34.81 all of the is going to fall when the gospel is preached. 00:53:34.84\00:53:37.15 We can't merit God's favor. 00:53:37.18\00:53:38.98 You come to Him just the way you are. 00:53:39.01\00:53:40.68 There's nothing good you can do, 00:53:40.72\00:53:42.32 you can't be on probation for a while and try to say, 00:53:42.35\00:53:44.52 "Well, you know, I've done X... Y and Z... 00:53:44.55\00:53:46.42 maybe God likes me now. " 00:53:46.45\00:53:47.79 No, God loves you... He loves you and always has loved you 00:53:47.82\00:53:51.13 and He wants you to come to Him just the way you are 00:53:51.16\00:53:54.46 and it's His glory to just encircle you 00:53:54.50\00:53:56.23 in the arms of faith and to heal your wounds 00:53:56.26\00:53:58.10 and bind up your wounds 00:53:58.13\00:53:59.47 and heal you through... through the merit of Jesus, 00:53:59.50\00:54:02.20 but then it goes on... 00:54:02.24\00:54:03.81 it's really powerful here, 00:54:03.84\00:54:05.34 it goes on to identify in Revelation chapter 14 verse 12, 00:54:05.37\00:54:09.51 those who keep the commandments of God. 00:54:09.54\00:54:11.58 "Here is the patience of the saints, 00:54:11.61\00:54:13.58 here are they that keep the commandments of God 00:54:13.62\00:54:15.68 and have the faith of Jesus. " 00:54:15.72\00:54:17.62 So, we see the parallels here as you move through 00:54:17.65\00:54:20.49 Romans chapter 3 and Revelation chapter 14, 00:54:20.52\00:54:24.06 as you move through them here, 00:54:24.09\00:54:25.43 you're going to find that they are basically the same. 00:54:25.46\00:54:28.43 They are calling the whole world into judgment... 00:54:28.46\00:54:32.67 they're calling the whole world to be convicted of sin, 00:54:32.70\00:54:36.34 they're calling the whole world to put their reliance on Christ 00:54:36.37\00:54:39.34 they're calling the whole world to be justified by His grace 00:54:39.37\00:54:42.31 and they're calling the whole world 00:54:42.34\00:54:44.15 to keep the commandments of God. 00:54:44.18\00:54:45.88 This is the... the final verse that we're going to look at here 00:54:45.91\00:54:49.18 in Revelation 14:12 00:54:49.22\00:54:51.19 and it's the same thing in Romans chapter 3, 00:54:51.22\00:54:53.49 Paul says, "God forbid that we should make void the law. " 00:54:53.52\00:54:57.03 We shouldn't make void the law, we ought to keep the law... 00:54:57.06\00:55:00.66 the law of God is vital... a vital part of our salvation, 00:55:00.70\00:55:04.30 it's a vital part of the process of our salvation. 00:55:04.33\00:55:06.84 So, in closing, let's just look at this... 00:55:06.90\00:55:09.04 in summary, let's just look at this, 00:55:09.07\00:55:11.64 another reason for the gospel is because 00:55:11.67\00:55:13.84 first of all, there are fake Christians, 00:55:13.88\00:55:15.74 we know that... 00:55:15.78\00:55:17.31 we ourselves have been fake Christians 00:55:17.35\00:55:18.68 and there's only one remedy for a fake Christian 00:55:18.71\00:55:21.22 and it's not to try harder... 00:55:21.25\00:55:22.58 it's not to feel overwhelmed with your guilt 00:55:22.62\00:55:25.42 and go into a guilt trip, 00:55:25.45\00:55:26.79 it's not to put ourself in a situation 00:55:26.82\00:55:28.99 where you just turn away from Christ 00:55:29.02\00:55:30.83 and to walk back out into the world. 00:55:30.86\00:55:32.59 When you realize you're a fake Christian, 00:55:32.63\00:55:34.53 all of us are going to feel that way from time to time, 00:55:34.56\00:55:36.83 when you realize you're a fake Christian, 00:55:36.87\00:55:39.00 the thing to do is to flee to Jesus... 00:55:39.03\00:55:41.10 it's to go to Jesus... it's to let that law 00:55:41.14\00:55:44.01 which is more than just even... it's broader in principle 00:55:44.07\00:55:47.38 than these ten precepts... the Ten Commandments 00:55:47.41\00:55:50.18 because they go much deeper than... 00:55:50.21\00:55:52.15 you know, Jesus said, "You know, you've heard, 00:55:52.21\00:55:54.25 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,' 00:55:54.28\00:55:55.62 but I say... and if you look at a woman to lust after, 00:55:55.65\00:55:58.22 you've heard that you should not kill or murder, 00:55:58.25\00:56:00.46 but I say unto you, 00:56:00.49\00:56:01.82 'If you hate your brother in your heart... '" 00:56:01.86\00:56:03.19 see... they go much deeper than even those outward actions, 00:56:03.22\00:56:06.09 and when we realize, "Man, I lust after women... " 00:56:06.13\00:56:08.40 "Man, I lust after men... " 00:56:08.43\00:56:09.86 "Man, you know, I hate people 00:56:09.90\00:56:11.27 even though I'm not killing people, I hate people... " 00:56:11.33\00:56:13.30 and we judge people because they murdered someone 00:56:13.34\00:56:14.77 and we ourselves have hatred in our heart... 00:56:14.80\00:56:16.50 when we realize that... 00:56:16.54\00:56:18.17 when we realize the fakeness of our experience, 00:56:18.21\00:56:20.61 we take that to Jesus... 00:56:20.64\00:56:22.31 we have to take that to Jesus 00:56:22.34\00:56:23.88 and as we take that to Jesus, 00:56:23.91\00:56:25.41 He cleanses us... He cleanses us, 00:56:25.45\00:56:27.78 so, we don't do away with the law, 00:56:27.82\00:56:30.12 that's the second part of our sermon... 00:56:30.15\00:56:31.99 fake Christians do away with the law, 00:56:32.02\00:56:33.86 we can't do away with the law... 00:56:33.89\00:56:35.22 the law has to be established 00:56:35.26\00:56:36.59 because the law is the thing 00:56:36.62\00:56:37.96 that leads us to our need of Jesus, 00:56:37.99\00:56:39.83 the law is the thing that... that... 00:56:39.86\00:56:41.66 that is the... the... the principle... 00:56:41.70\00:56:43.43 the standard that leads us again and again to Jesus Christ 00:56:43.47\00:56:46.50 and so, that's the final point 00:56:46.53\00:56:48.24 that we want to look at here 00:56:48.27\00:56:49.94 and that is, Galatians 3 verse 24 in our summary 00:56:49.97\00:56:53.11 leads us to Jesus. 00:56:53.14\00:56:54.51 Fake Christians need the law of God 00:56:54.54\00:56:57.51 to lead them to Jesus. 00:56:57.55\00:56:58.91 The world needs the law of God 00:56:58.95\00:57:00.95 to lead them to Jesus. 00:57:00.98\00:57:02.32 All of us need the law of God to lead us to Jesus. 00:57:02.35\00:57:05.35 Satan's attack against God's law is a subtle attack 00:57:05.39\00:57:08.42 against the Gospel... 00:57:08.46\00:57:09.86 seeking to undermine the Gospel 00:57:09.89\00:57:11.69 and stop us from finding Jesus... 00:57:11.73\00:57:13.96 it's time for us to lift up the law 00:57:14.00\00:57:16.20 as a standard in the judgment 00:57:16.23\00:57:17.57 so, that we can find Jesus at the end of that law 00:57:17.60\00:57:20.54 so that we can be convicted... 00:57:20.57\00:57:21.94 find ourselves as sinners... 00:57:21.97\00:57:23.30 find ourselves justified and forgiven by a Savior 00:57:23.34\00:57:26.14 who longs to cleanse us... 00:57:26.17\00:57:27.51 longs to embrace us... longs to justify us 00:57:27.54\00:57:29.48 and longs to have us in the kingdom with Him. 00:57:29.51\00:57:32.41 Let's pray together as we close up, 00:57:32.45\00:57:34.88 "Father in heaven, thank you so much 00:57:34.92\00:57:36.42 for helping us to understand 00:57:36.45\00:57:38.15 the place of the law in the judgment. 00:57:38.19\00:57:39.52 Thank you for identifying what it means to be a fake Christian. 00:57:39.55\00:57:42.26 I know that many of us who are listening to this message, 00:57:42.29\00:57:45.46 myself included have found ourselves 00:57:45.49\00:57:47.60 in that situation. 00:57:47.63\00:57:48.96 We found ourselves hollow inside 00:57:49.00\00:57:52.30 and in need of the righteousness of Jesus Christ 00:57:52.33\00:57:54.64 and we're so thankful for the gospel that... 00:57:54.67\00:57:56.64 that we don't stand before the law without a mediator... 00:57:56.67\00:57:59.57 that we can come directly to Christ 00:57:59.61\00:58:01.88 that if we confess our sins, 00:58:01.91\00:58:03.24 He's faithful and just to forgive us of our sins 00:58:03.28\00:58:05.35 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:58:05.38\00:58:07.58 Father, may we not deceive ourselves... 00:58:07.62\00:58:10.02 may we not call You a liar 00:58:10.05\00:58:11.45 but may we honestly recognize what sin is... 00:58:11.52\00:58:14.92 transgression of Your law... the Ten Commandments... " 00:58:14.96\00:58:16.93