Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: HWIS
Program Code: HWIS000006
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00:30 Let's seek the Lord in prayer.
00:33 Our Father and our God, 00:36 what a privilege it is to call You our Father; 00:40 our Father which art in heaven. 00:43 The image that comes to our mind when we mention the word 00:46 "Father" is someone who loves us, who's willing to give 00:50 everything to save us from our sins. 00:54 And Father, as we open Your Word this evening, 00:57 we ask, we implore, for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. 01:02 Give us understanding, not only understanding 01:06 intellectually, but give us understanding in our hearts 01:09 that we might truly and fully receive Jesus 01:14 personally as our Savior and Lord. 01:17 We thank You, Father, for the privilege of prayer 01:19 and thank You for inclining your ear to hear us. 01:23 Because we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 01:30 I'd like to begin by saying that there is a very, very close 01:35 connection between what happened on the cross of Calvary 01:42 and what happened on the day of Pentecost 01:47 several weeks later. 01:50 You say, now what possible connection could there be 01:54 between the cross of Christ and what happened on the 01:58 day of Pentecost? 02:01 The fact is that most Christians, when they 02:04 read the story of Acts chapter 2, which is 02:07 taking place, by the way, 40 days after the 02:10 resurrection of Christ, they focused almost exclusively 02:15 on what happened on earth on the day of Pentecost. 02:19 Tongues of fire were seen, and there was a mighty rushing wind, 02:22 and people were filled with the Spirit, and they spoke 02:25 in other tongues, you know. 02:26 Most of the emphasis is upon what happened 02:30 in the upper room on earth. 02:32 But tonight I want to share with you that really 02:35 the important event on the day of Pentecost 02:38 did not take place on earth at all. 02:41 The important event on the day of Pentecost 02:44 took place in heaven. 02:46 And that event in heaven had an indissoluble connection 02:52 with what Jesus did on the cross of Calvary. 02:57 Now I want to go through several stories, 03:00 primarily from the Old Testament, 03:02 that show us that you have, first of all, a sacrifice 03:06 or an offering, and then after the offering 03:10 you have fire from heaven where God shows His 03:13 approval of that offering. 03:16 Remember, that's the sequence. 03:18 Sacrifice or offering, fire from heaven to show that 03:22 God approved of that sacrifice or that offering. 03:26 The first story that I would like to deal with 03:29 is the story of the sacrifice that was made by Abel. 03:33 Now the Bible doesn't tell us exactly how the sacrifice 03:40 that Abel offered was consumed. 03:43 But in the light of everything that we're going to 03:45 study tonight, there can be no doubt that the way in which 03:48 God showed that He accepted Abel's sacrifice 03:51 was because fire fell from heaven as a result 03:56 of him offering that sacrifice. 03:59 I want to read a statement that we find, a very important 04:02 statement, that we find in "Signs Of The Times," 04:06 February 6, 1879. 04:08 Here, Ellen White writes about how God showed His approval. 04:12 You know, interestingly, several years ago I did some research, 04:16 quite a bit of research, into the book of Genesis. 04:18 And as I read the commentaries, most of the commentators 04:21 said that the way that God showed that He approved 04:24 of Abel's sacrifice was that the smoke of the sacrifice went up. 04:30 The way that God showed that He disapproved of Cain's sacrifice 04:33 was that the smoke went down. 04:35 Now that's an interesting speculation, 04:37 but it totally goes against everything that the 04:39 Bible has to say about how God approves of sacrifice. 04:43 Now Ellen White is not adding here to the Bible. 04:45 She's simply stating what is found in the rest of Scripture. 04:48 Notice what she says. 04:50 "God had respect..." 04:53 That means that He approved. 05:04 How did God show His approval of Abel's sacrifice? 05:07 By raining what? 05:08 Fire from heaven. 05:10 Now let's go to the tabernacle in the wilderness. 05:13 When the tabernacle was inaugurated, 05:15 how did God show that He accepted the sacrifices? 05:19 Let's read Leviticus chapter 9 and verses 22 through 24. 05:24 Leviticus chapter 9 and verses 22 through 24. 05:28 It says here... 05:54 And how did God show His approval of the sacrifices? 06:12 Now let's talk about the time when David offered a sacrifice 06:18 on Ornan's threshing floor. 06:21 This is when the ark was brought. 06:23 Notice 1 Chronicles chapter 21 and verse 26. 06:27 Again, the same idea. 06:28 The sacrifice is accepted by God by God raining fire from heaven. 06:32 Notice 1 Chronicles 21 and verse 26. 06:54 One again, the sacrifice and then the fire 06:57 showing God's approval. 06:59 Now let's talk about the inauguration of the temple 07:02 that was built by Solomon. 07:04 2 Chronicles chapter 7 and verse 1. 07:08 It says there... 07:24 How did God show that He accepted the sacrifices, 07:27 that He approved of them? 07:29 Fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 07:32 Now let's talk about the period of the prophets. 07:35 Go with me to 1 Kings chapter 18 and verse 38. 07:39 How did God show that He approved of Elijah's sacrifice 07:44 that Elijah placed upon the altar? 07:46 Notice 1 Kings chapter 18 and verse 38. 08:15 So how did God show that He accepted the sacrifices 08:18 that were placed on the altar? 08:20 By raining what? 08:22 By raining down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices. 08:28 Now there's another illustration in Scripture. 08:31 It doesn't have to do with fire, but it shows how God 08:35 revealed His approval as to the sacrifice that was offered. 08:40 Now in the Old Testament, we have two rock episodes. 08:45 And I'm going to go through this quickly because we 08:48 don't have a lot of time to dedicate to this. 08:50 But I want you to get the picture. 08:52 The first rock episode is in Exodus chapter 17 08:55 the first several verses. 08:56 There, God told Moses to take His rod... 09:01 By the way, the rod represents judgment. 09:03 Every time that Moses raised his rod, a judgment fell upon Egypt. 09:06 Right? 09:08 So he raised his rod and he was to strike what? 09:11 He was to strike or to smite the rock. 09:14 And when he smote the rock, what did the rock do? 09:18 The rock gave it's what? 09:20 It's water. 09:22 Now what did that rock represent? 09:25 Clearly the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 10 09:29 that the rock was Christ. 09:32 The rock represented Christ. 09:33 Now what is represented by the fact that the rod 09:37 struck the rock and then the rock gave it's water? 09:40 The fact is that Isaiah 53 says that Jesus was stricken 09:45 and smitten by God. 09:48 In other words, Jesus was that rock that was smitten 09:51 by the rod of God's judgment in our place. 09:54 And as a result, what could Jesus pour out 09:57 on the day of Pentecost? 09:58 He could pour out His what? 10:00 His Spirit, because the water represents what? 10:03 It represents the Holy Spirit. That's right. 10:06 You can read that in 1 Corinthians 12 verse 13 10:09 where it says that we have all drunk from one Spirit. 10:12 The water that comes from the rock represents the Holy Spirit. 10:15 Why could Jesus send forth the Holy Spirit? 10:19 Because first He had been what? 10:21 He had been smitten under the judgment of God. 10:24 He took our judgment upon Himself. 10:26 But there's a second rock episode that is found 10:29 in Numbers chapter 20 verses 8 through 11. 10:32 There, Moses is told to go to the rock, 10:36 but not to strike the rock. 10:38 But to what? 10:40 But to speak to the rock. 10:42 So who is He really speaking to, symbolically? 10:46 He's speaking to Christ. 10:48 And instead of speaking to the rock, what did Moses do? 10:52 He smote the rock twice. 10:55 Why did God tell Moses to speak to the rock 10:58 so that the rock would give its water? 11:00 Listen folks, Jesus only had to die once to 11:03 pour out His Holy Spirit. 11:05 If we want His Holy Spirit today, Jesus does not 11:08 have to be stricken again. 11:10 All we have to do is ask for the Holy Spirit 11:14 and the Lord will give us His Holy Spirit. 11:17 And so notice once again, the sacrifice makes it possible 11:21 to pour out what? 11:23 It makes it possible to pour out the Holy Spirit. 11:27 Now let's talk a little bit about the temple geography. 11:31 We noticed first of all that Jesus came and lived 11:34 with us in the camp. 11:36 Then He moved where? 11:38 To the Court. 11:40 He moved to the altar of sacrifice where He 11:42 died for our sins. 11:43 Then He resurrected where? 11:47 He resurrected in the laver, as we studied last night. 11:50 The laver represented His resurrection. 11:54 Now let me ask you, where do you think Jesus 11:58 would go next in His ministry? 12:01 He's following the order of the Sanctuary. 12:03 You would expect the next step to be what? 12:07 Entering the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 12:12 Let me ask you, what happened on the day of Pentecost? 12:15 Jesus had been sacrificed, Jesus had died. 12:17 How did God show that He approved of the 12:20 sacrifice of Christ? 12:21 On the day of Pentecost, God sent what? 12:25 The Holy Spirit. 12:26 And what was seen on the day of Pentecost? 12:29 Tongues as of what? 12:31 Tongues as of fire. 12:33 In other words, the key event on the day of Pentecost 12:36 was that God in heaven by sending the fire 12:39 was saying, "The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the life of 12:43 Jesus Christ, has been accepted." 12:46 And the fire on earth was the announcement 12:49 that the sacrifice had been accepted. 12:51 Let me read you a significant statement from Ellen White. 12:55 I never cease to be amazed at Ellen White. 12:58 She had two and a half years of primary education. 13:01 But she understood these things. 13:03 She had profound perception. 13:05 In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 13:07 we believe that she had the prophetic gift. 13:09 And I have read thousands of pages and I agree 13:13 a hundred percent with that assessment. 13:14 Not because somebody told me so. 13:16 Not because the church taught me so. 13:19 But because I have studied it for myself. 13:22 Notice what she has to say. 13:23 This is in her book, Acts Of The Apostles. 13:27 Acts Of The Apostles, pages.. Actually it's page... 13:32 Not Acts Of The Apostles. It's also there. 13:35 It's Story Of Redemption, page 386. 13:37 And it's repeated in Acts Of The Apostles. 13:39 But I wrote down here, from Story of Redemption, 386. 13:42 Notice what she says. 14:30 What did Jesus go into the Holy Place to do? 14:32 To pour out on earth upon His disciples, what? 14:36 The benefits of His atonement. 14:38 And you say, "Pastor Bohr, what are the benefits 14:41 of His atonement?" 14:42 Very simple. 14:44 The benefits of His atonement are His perfect life 14:48 and His death for sin. 14:50 In other words, Jesus, by living a perfect life, 14:54 now had a life to offer to any and everyone who comes to 14:58 Him in faith and asks Him for that life. 15:01 And by dying on the cross, Jesus now has 15:04 that death to reckon to our account if we receive 15:07 Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 15:10 Those are the benefits of His atonement on earth. 15:13 In other words, Jesus went to heaven. 15:15 And now He has a perfect life and He has a perfect death 15:19 that He can offer to everyone who comes to Him in faith. 15:24 Now the question is, where did Jesus go 15:26 when He ascended to heaven? 15:28 Well if you look at the geography of the Sanctuary, 15:30 it's a no brainer. 15:32 Jesus went where? 15:34 He went into the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 15:37 But we don't have to simply follow the 15:39 sequence of the Sanctuary. 15:41 All we have to do is go to the book of Revelation 15:44 and examine where Jesus was after His ascension. 15:48 Notice what we find in Revelation chapter 4 verse 5. 15:53 This is in heaven now. 15:54 This is after the ascension of Christ. 15:57 Notice Revelation chapter 4 and verse 5. 15:59 And by the way, this is being written in the year 95 AD. 16:04 It's over 60 years after the resurrection of Jesus. 16:07 So we're going to see where Jesus was 16:09 60 years after His resurrection. 16:12 It says there in Revelation chapter 4 and verse 5... 16:29 Let me ask you, where were the seven lamps of fire 16:33 located in the Sanctuary? 16:35 They were located in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 16:39 So where is this throne located? 16:41 It is located in the Holy Place. 16:44 Because it says here that there are seven lamps of fire. 16:48 And what do those seven lamps of fire represent? 16:51 It says here that they represent what? 16:54 The seven Spirits of God. 16:55 Now don't misunderstand. 16:57 There are not seven Holy Spirits. 17:00 The number seven in Scripture represents fullness or totality. 17:06 In other words, seven is a symbolic number. 17:08 It's the totality or fullness of the Spirit. 17:11 Now notice in Revelation 4 verse 5 the lamps are there 17:16 burning before the throne, the seven lamps. 17:18 But then in chapter 5, Jesus arrives. 17:22 And I want you to notice what happens with those 17:24 seven lamps of fire. 17:26 Revelation chapter 5 and let's read verse... 17:32 Let's see here, verse 8 and then we'll go back to verse 6. 17:36 Verse 8. 17:37 "Now when He had taken the scroll," this is Jesus, 17:40 "the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders 17:43 fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, 17:47 and golden bowls..." now listen to this. 17:50 Golden bowls full of what? 17:52 "...full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." 17:56 Question, where was incense offered in the Sanctuary? 18:01 Incense was offered in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary 18:05 at the altar of incense. 18:06 So where is this event taking place in Revelation 18:11 chapter 4 and chapter 5? 18:12 It is taking place in the Holy Place. 18:14 Because there are the seven lamps of fire 18:17 and there also is the altar, the golden altar of incense. 18:21 But now I want us to notice Revelation 5 and verse 6. 18:24 This is a key verse. 18:26 Jesus now arrives on the scene. 18:28 And this is happening in heaven. 18:31 It says there... 18:46 Where is the Lamb located? 18:48 At the ark of the covenant? 18:49 No, He's located where the seven candlesticks are 18:53 and where the altar of incense is. 18:55 And so it says... 18:59 Question, had this Lamb just been slain? 19:02 And had He just ascended to heaven? 19:04 Yes, because this happened in heaven. 19:06 It's after His ascension after His sacrifice. 19:08 But now notice a very interesting little expression. 19:11 It says here... 19:28 In Revelation 4 verse 5, the seven Spirits are what? 19:32 They are there before the throne. 19:34 But in chapter 5 when Jesus arrives, the Lamb arrives, 19:38 what happens with those seven Spirits, 19:40 or the fullness of the Spirit? 19:42 The fullness of the Spirit is sent out into the whole earth. 19:45 Let me ask you, what event was that when the fullness 19:48 of the Spirit was sent out to the earth? 19:50 It was sent out when? 19:52 On the day of Pentecost. 19:53 Do you see here? 19:55 The Lamb slain and then the Holy Spirit is 19:57 poured out in its fullness. 19:59 And so what happened on the day of Pentecost 20:01 was simply God was announcing by the fire on earth 20:05 that in heaven the sacrifice of Jesus Christ 20:08 had been accepted for sin. 20:11 And now the Sanctuary was open for business. 20:16 Now go with me to Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 12. 20:19 And I'm reading from the King James Version because 20:22 the King James Version is most accurate in this verse. 20:25 Remember, we are eclectic in our use of 20:28 translations of the Bible. 20:30 Not any translation is perfect. 20:32 Some have their pros and have their cons, 20:34 and vice versa. 20:36 We need to look for the best translation. 20:38 And here, the Kings James has the best translation. 20:41 Notice what it says. 20:49 This is Jesus. 20:58 Many versions say, "Most Holy Place." 21:00 Mistranslation. 21:12 Now listen careful to what I'm going to say. 21:14 Passover was in the early spring in the Hebrew year. 21:19 In fact, it was at the beginning of spring 21:22 around the time of Easter. 21:25 Pentecost was in the late spring around our month of May. 21:33 Now could Jesus have entered the Most Holy Place 21:36 upon His ascension? 21:38 No. Let me explain why. 21:40 Because the Most Holy Place came to view 21:43 what season of the year? 21:46 The Most Holy Place came into view in the fall. 21:53 And Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. 21:57 Which is when? In the spring. 21:59 So how could Jesus enter in a spring feast 22:03 into the Most Holy Place, which took place at the 22:06 time of the fall feast? 22:08 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 22:10 So in other words, Jesus Christ could not have entered 22:14 the Most Holy Place upon His ascension 22:16 to pour out the Holy Spirit because that did not happen 22:19 on the Day of Atonement which happened in the fall. 22:21 It happened when? 22:23 In the spring at the feast of Pentecost. 22:28 Now allow me to give you an illustration so you understand 22:31 what Jesus went to heaven to do. 22:33 I want you to imagine the owner of a bank. 22:38 This owner of this bank, out of mercy and grace, 22:42 says, "I feel so sorry for those earthlings. 22:47 They're so much in debt with their mortgage, and their 22:50 credit cards and department stores, educational bills, 22:53 and auto loans. 22:55 So what I'm going to do is I'm going to deposit 22:58 in a bank enough money to pay every person's debt 23:03 on planet earth. 23:04 It doesn't matter whether it's mortgage, credit cards, 23:07 department stores, educational bills, auto loans. 23:10 I'm going to deposit in that bank enough capital so that 23:13 everybody's bills can be paid." 23:17 And he sends out the announcement. 23:21 There's only one catch. 23:23 And that is that you have to come to the bank personally 23:26 and ask for the money. 23:30 Are you with me? 23:31 What happens if you fail to come to the bank 23:34 and ask for the money? 23:35 You will still be what? 23:37 You will still be in debt. 23:40 When Jesus lived His life He deposited, so to speak, 23:44 enough currency in the bank of heaven to pay everyone's debt 23:48 on planet earth. 23:50 No one needs to be indebted by sin. 23:52 Nobody needs to have sin against them. 23:55 Because when Jesus lived and died, His life and His death 23:58 was enough capital to forgive everyone's sins on planet earth. 24:03 Those who have lived, are living, and will live. 24:05 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 24:07 But what do people have to do? 24:08 They have to come in faith to Jesus Christ, 24:12 who is ministering in the Holy Place, 24:14 in repentance confessing sin and trusting in Him, 24:18 and saying, "Jesus, please take Your life and 24:22 put it to my account. 24:23 Please, Jesus, take Your death and put it to my account." 24:27 And when I personally and individually do this, 24:30 then my sins are forgiven and God looks upon me 24:33 as if I had never sinned. 24:36 Now you're saying, "Pastor, give me proof." 24:39 Let's look at what the Bible has to say about this. 24:42 Most Christians think that Jesus finished His work 24:45 at the cross. 24:47 And it's true that the provision for salvation was finished 24:51 at the cross when Jesus said, "It is finished." 24:54 But my question is, if salvation was finished at the cross, 24:58 what has Jesus been doing the last 2000 years? 25:02 Most Christians can't answer that. 25:05 What Jesus has been doing, He opened the Holy Place. 25:08 He's open for business for people to come and claim 25:12 what He did on earth, what He did in the Court. 25:17 Now allow me to read you some statements 25:19 on what Jesus is doing in heaven. 25:21 This is so clear. 25:22 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verses 5 and 6. 25:26 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verses 5 and 6. 25:28 And notice the tense of the verbs. 25:31 It says here... 25:36 What tense is the verb "is?" 25:37 Present. 25:48 So do we need a Mediator? 25:51 Yes we do. 25:52 Now notice... 25:55 What tense is the verb "gave?" 25:57 Past. Okay? 26:09 Let me ask you, when is it that the testifying began 26:12 about what Jesus did when He died on the cross? 26:15 It began when the Holy Spirit was poured out and the apostles 26:19 began preaching Jesus Christ on the day of Pentecost. 26:22 Are you with me? 26:24 Let's continue reading. 26:25 So it says... 26:26 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, 26:31 the Man Christ Jesus who gave Himself..." 26:34 That's His sacrifice. 26:36 "...a ransom for all..." 26:37 And now notice what needs to happen as a 26:39 result of what He did. 26:41 "...to be..." What? "...testified in due time..." 26:44 That is on the day of Pentecost. 26:45 And then the apostle Paul explains. 26:47 He says, "..for which I was appointed a..." What? 26:59 Do you know what the preaching of the apostles was? 27:02 It was calling the world to say, "Jesus lived for you 27:04 and Jesus died for you. 27:06 You come in faith to Him, you trust in Him, 27:08 you repent, you confess your sins, you trust in His merits, 27:11 and He will take His life and He will take His death, 27:14 and He will place those to your account. 27:16 That was the apostolic preaching. 27:18 Notice 1 John chapter 2 and verse 1. 27:21 1 John chapter 2 and verse 1. 27:35 So what is Jesus doing now? 27:38 He is our what? 27:39 Our Advocate before the Father. 27:42 Notice Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 25. 27:45 Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25. 27:48 It says here... 27:54 Now who is He able to save? 27:56 Did He save everybody at the cross? 27:58 Listen carefully. 28:09 Because He's the Mediator. 28:15 Who is "them?" 28:17 Those who come to God through Him. 28:21 Now I want you to notice Romans chapter 8 verses 33 to 34. 28:25 Once again, Jesus is spoken of as the Mediator. 28:28 We can come to Him in faith? 28:29 And we can claim what Jesus did by His life and by His death. 28:33 Romans 8 and verse 33. 28:58 Now let me ask you this question. 29:00 Were all sins forgiven at the cross? 29:04 If you ask most Christians that question, they would say, 29:07 "Yes, all sins were forgiven at the cross." 29:10 Listen, all sins were not forgiven at the cross. 29:14 I'm going to prove it biblically. 29:16 Because listen, listen careful to what I'm going to say. 29:19 Forgiveness is a personal thing. 29:23 It is an individual thing. 29:25 The life and death of Jesus was corporate. 29:29 The life was for everyone. 29:31 His death was for everyone. 29:34 But only those who individually and personally claim it 29:38 will be benefited by what Jesus did. 29:41 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 29:43 Critically important what Jesus is doing in the Holy Place. 29:47 Most Christians are oblivious. 29:48 Most Christians say, "Oh, the cross, the cross. 29:51 Jesus died on the cross. Hallelujah. 29:53 Everyone is saved." 29:55 But then what about Jesus. 29:57 What has He been doing for the last 2000 years 29:59 in the Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary? 30:01 Now I want to read several texts that speak about forgiveness. 30:05 Notice what we find in the gospel of Luke 30:08 chapter 24 and verses 46 and 47. 30:12 Here is where Jesus is speaking about what His apostles 30:15 should preach, what the message of the apostles should be. 30:18 What present truth for that day and age was. 30:22 Luke 24 and verses 46 and 47. 30:26 This is in the upper room the evening of the resurrection. 30:39 Are you seeing this? 30:41 Jesus died and He what? Resurrected. 30:44 That's the altar of sacrifice and what? 30:47 And the laver. 30:48 Now notice. 31:00 The word "remission," don't be confused by that. 31:02 It simply means forgiveness. 31:03 It's translated in many versions, forgiveness. 31:06 Remission is forgiveness. 31:08 And so it says... 31:17 What was the message that the apostles were suppose to preach? 31:21 They were suppose to preach what? 31:23 Repentance and what else? 31:25 And forgiveness of sins. 31:28 That was present truth. 31:29 Now let's see if the apostles obeyed what Jesus said. 31:32 Go with me to Acts chapter 2 and verse 38. 31:34 Here, the apostle Peter is preaching on the 31:37 day of Pentecost. 31:38 After His sermon many, many men come and they say to Peter, 31:42 "What do we need to do in the light of what you have said? 31:45 That Jesus has ascended to the right hand of God. 31:47 He has become the Prince of His people now. 31:50 He's up there ministering for His people. 31:54 What are we suppose to do?" 31:56 Notice what Peter had to say in Acts 2 verse 38. 32:06 Ah, so repent and be what? 32:10 Baptized. 32:13 And as we've seen when we're baptized in the name of 32:16 Jesus Christ, we're include in Him, right? 32:18 That's when His life becomes our life. 32:20 That's when His death becomes our death. 32:22 Because in baptism, I am dying and I am 32:25 resurrecting in Him. 32:27 And so it says... 32:38 Were all sins remitted or forgiven at the cross? 32:41 No, because it says repent and be baptized 32:43 for the remission of sins. 32:45 And then notice it also says... 32:51 Notice Acts chapter 5 and verse 31. 32:54 Acts chapter 5 and verse 31. 32:57 Once again, let's see when it is that God forgives sin. 33:01 It says there in Acts chapter 5 and verse 31, 33:04 speaking about Jesus... 33:14 Where did Jesus go according to what we've studied? 33:17 To the right hand of God on the throne. 33:20 And where is that throne? 33:22 See, some people assume the throne is always 33:23 in the Most Holy Place. 33:25 No, there's also a throne in the Holy. 33:26 We're going to study this in our seminar. 33:29 And so notice it says... 33:42 Does forgiveness of sins come after the 33:44 ascension of Jesus Christ? 33:47 Or does it come when He died on the cross? 33:49 It's after He's exalted to be what? 33:51 Prince and Savior to give repentance and to give 33:55 forgiveness of sins. 33:56 Notice Acts chapter 10 and verse 43. 33:59 The testimony of Scripture is uniform on this. 34:02 Acts chapter 10 and verse 43. 34:05 Speaking about Jesus, it says... 34:18 What does "whoever" means? 34:20 Is that individual or is that corporate? 34:23 Individual. 34:25 Did you notice in Acts 2 verse 38 that Peter says, 34:29 "repent and be baptized every one of you," 34:33 he says there in Acts 2 verse 38? 34:35 What does Acts 10 verse 43 say? 34:51 Were their sins remitted at the cross, 34:53 forgiven at the cross? 34:55 No. Clearly not. 34:57 It says here in Acts 10:43 that whoever believes in Him; 35:02 whoever, individually, believes in Him 35:04 will receive forgiveness of sins. 35:08 Notice Acts chapter 8 verses 20 to 23. 35:11 This is speaking about Simon Magus who wanted to 35:14 buy the gift of the Holy Spirit. 35:16 And Peter firmly rebuked him. 35:19 Notice what it says in Acts chapter 8 and verse 20. 35:43 What did he need to do? 35:45 Repent of his wickedness. 35:47 And then what else? 35:48 "...pray God..." 35:51 In the name of whom? 35:53 We've already noticed that we come to God through Him. 36:04 Was Simon Magus forgiven at the cross? 36:08 No. 36:09 He had to repent and pray to God. 36:11 And then he would be what? 36:14 And then he would be forgiven. 36:17 Are you catching the picture? 36:18 What did Jesus go to heaven to do? 36:21 Has He been on vacation for 2000 years? 36:23 Just sitting there doing nothing, twiddling His thumbs? 36:26 I don't want to be sacrilegious. 36:29 But no. 36:30 Jesus has been receiving individual clients. 36:35 Through repentance. 36:37 Through confession. 36:39 And through trusting in Jesus we can now claim the benefits 36:44 of the life of Jesus and His death on the cross of Calvary. 36:49 Now let's talk for a few minutes about the conditions 36:53 for sin to be forgiven. 36:55 You know, some people simply say, "Receive Jesus Christ 36:58 and all is well." 37:00 That's not what the New Testament teaches. 37:03 There are conditions for receiving forgiveness. 37:06 And I'm going to mention five clear conditions that are 37:09 mentioned in the New Testament. 37:11 The first of these is repentance. 37:14 Let me read you some verses of the Bible. 37:17 Acts 2 verse 38. 37:18 We've already read it, let's read it again. 37:35 What is the condition for receiving forgiveness? 37:38 Repentance, the apostle Peter says. 37:42 Notice Luke 17 and verses 3 and 4. 37:46 Luke 17 and verses 3 and 4. 37:49 Notice once again the idea of repentance and forgiveness, 37:53 repentance and forgiveness. 37:54 Is repentance corporate or is repentance an individual thing? 37:58 It is individual. 38:00 Notice... 38:10 Is there a condition for receiving forgiveness? 38:12 Yes. If he repents, forgive him. 38:15 And now comes the difficult part. 38:27 And of course, the immediate question is, 38:28 how do you know that his repentance is genuine? 38:32 The fact is, that's not for you to determine. 38:36 That's the reason for the judgment that we're 38:38 going to talk about. 38:40 You see, the judgment will reveal if repentance 38:43 was genuine or not. 38:45 That is one of the purposes of the judgment. 38:47 Which we'll deal with a little bit later one. 38:51 Now let's talk about true and counterfeit repentance. 38:55 Is there such a thing as counterfeit repentance? 38:58 Sure. 38:59 Counterfeit repentance is when I'm sorry for the consequences 39:04 that sin produces. 39:07 You say, "Now what does that mean?" 39:08 Let me give you an illustration. 39:10 The Lord blessed me with three sisters. 39:12 No brothers. 39:14 So it was three against one. 39:16 And sometimes I would fight with my sisters, 39:19 tooth and nail. 39:20 And my dad would come and he would say, 39:22 "Steve, you're going to go without dessert." 39:28 That was torture. 39:30 And do you know what I would say? 39:32 I'd say, "Dad, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Dad." 39:37 Do you think I was sorry because I had fought with my sisters? 39:40 Are you kidding? 39:41 I was sorry because I wasn't going to get any cake. 39:46 That is counterfeit repentance. 39:48 It's repenting because of the consequences that your sin 39:51 will produce and not that you're sorry because of the sin itself. 39:57 Now listen carefully. 39:58 We cannot repent. 40:03 Repentance is a gift that God gives us. 40:06 You say, "Now wait a minute." 40:07 You're saying, "I can't repent?" 40:09 No. In fact, you know what? 40:10 I don't want to repent. 40:13 If God did not give me repentance, 40:15 I would never repent. 40:16 So even repentance comes from Him. 40:18 You say, where does the Bible say that? 40:19 Let's read two verses. 40:21 Go with me to Acts chapter 5 verse 31, which we already read. 40:24 But now let's look at it in a different context. 40:27 Acts chapter 5 verse 31, let's read it carefully. 40:31 Speaking about Christ, it says... 40:47 Who is it that gives repentance? 40:49 God gives repentance. 40:52 We don't come up with it naturally. 40:55 Now what is it about God that gives us repentance? 40:59 What causes us to repent? 41:01 Notice Romans chapter 2 and verse 4. 41:04 Romans chapter 2 and verse 4. 41:07 Here it says... 41:28 So you know, when I see that I'm wicked 41:30 and I'm evil, and I'm no good, and I got angry 41:34 and I lost my temper, and then I look at Jesus and say, 41:37 "Oh Jesus, You're so perfect and You're so 41:40 immaculate and so wonderful. 41:42 You never lost Your temper. 41:43 I'm a miserable man." 41:45 And then I say, "But You died on the cross for me." 41:49 What do I do? 41:51 I repent. 41:53 I say, "Jesus, I'm sorry that my sin caused You 41:56 to go to the cross, that I made you suffer." 42:00 The goodness of Jesus, His willingness to forgive me, 42:03 is what leads me to what? 42:05 Is what leads me to repentance. 42:06 Do you know when Adam and Eve really repented? 42:09 Did they repent immediately after their sin? 42:11 Are you kidding? 42:13 They were trying to justify it. 42:15 They weren't sorry. 42:17 Do you know when they were sorry? 42:19 When they had to sacrifice the first animal. 42:23 And God explained to them, "That lamb represents Jesus Christ. 42:28 Your sin is going to kill Jesus." 42:32 Do you think that they felt differently about sin now? 42:34 They no longer tried to excuse sin. 42:36 See, when we catch a glimpse of the cross, 42:39 the perfection of Christ and what it did to Jesus, 42:42 that will show the goodness of God. 42:44 And it will lead us to what? 42:46 It will lead us to repentance. 42:49 So what is true repentance? 42:51 True repentance is saying "I'm sorry," 42:55 or being sorry with no ifs, buts, or maybes. 43:00 Repentance means that you're not repenting 43:03 because you're afraid of receiving a punishment 43:06 or you want to gain a reward. 43:08 Simply, you realize that what you did was wrong. 43:12 That you broke the heart of Jesus through your sin. 43:16 Are you understanding what repentance is? 43:19 It's sorrow for sin because of what it did to our Friend, 43:23 Jesus Christ. 43:25 So the only way that we repent is by looking at the 43:27 goodness of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. 43:30 What He was willing to go through to forgive our sins. 43:33 Then our heart is broken and we truly repent. 43:37 Second condition for receiving forgiveness. 43:41 First of all, repentance. 43:42 Second condition is confession. 43:45 You see, repentance means simply being sorry for sin. 43:50 Confession means saying that you are sorry for sin. 43:54 Notice Daniel chapter 9 and verses 4 and 5 43:59 where Daniel is uttering this magnificent prayer 44:01 that we're going to study later on in this seminar. 44:04 The people of God are in captivity because of their sins, 44:08 and notice what he says. 44:15 See, he's confessing it with his lips. 44:17 He's not only sorry inside. He's saying it. 44:20 It continues saying... 44:39 Any excuses being offered by Daniel at all? 44:42 No excuses. 44:44 Is he openly with his lips confessing his sin 44:47 and the sin of his people? 44:48 Absolutely. 44:50 Notice Psalm 32. 44:51 This is the psalm that David wrote after he committed 44:54 adultery with Bathsheba. 44:56 Psalm 32, it's called a penitential psalm, and verse 5. 45:01 Here David says... 45:25 Notice Psalm 38 and verse 18. 45:27 Psalm 38 and verse 18. 45:30 Here once again the psalmist says... 45:32 "For I will declare my iniquity..." 45:35 Notice, confession with the lips audibly. 45:45 You remember the story of the prodigal son? 45:49 You know, he left home and lived it up. 45:51 He dishonored his father. 45:53 And while he was still afar off, he repented of what he had done. 45:57 And he's drawn back home by the love of his father. 46:00 He said, "Even the servants in my father's house 46:03 live better than I'm living now." 46:04 He's drawn by the love of his father. 46:07 And when he comes home, what does he say? 46:10 Does he simply not say anything? 46:11 He comes back unrepentant and doesn't say anything? 46:14 No, he says what? 46:15 "I have sinned against heaven and against you. 46:18 And I'm not worthy to be called you son." 46:21 And what does the father do? 46:22 The father takes the best robe and covers him 46:25 with the best robe. 46:26 That's justification, being covered with the righteousness 46:29 of Jesus Christ. 46:31 But he confessed his sin and he repented while he was afar off. 46:35 You remember the story of the Pharisee and the publican? 46:38 They both go to the temple and pray. 46:40 The Bible says that the Pharisee prayed to himself, 46:43 "Lord, I'm thankful that I'm not like other men. 46:46 Especially like this miserable sinning publican." 46:50 What did the publican say? 46:52 The Bible says that he stood afar off. 46:55 And he wouldn't even dare look to heaven. 46:58 And he beat his breast. 47:00 And what did he say? 47:02 He said, "Lord, be merciful to me..." What? 47:06 "...a sinner." 47:07 And the Bible says that the publican went home justified. 47:12 Which basically means that he went home forgiven. 47:17 Notice Acts chapter 19 and verses 18 and 19. 47:20 This is talking about a group of people who are very wicked. 47:24 You know, they were involved in spiritualism. 47:26 And they were converted to Jesus Christ. 47:28 And notice what they did as a result. 47:30 Acts 19 and verses 18 and 19. 47:43 It's a public confession. 48:02 Notice Romans chapter 10 and verse 10. 48:04 We're still talking about the second condition, confession. 48:08 Here it says... 48:17 You're all acquainted with that very famous verse. 48:19 You can repeat it from memory. 48:21 1 John chapter 1 and verse 9. 48:24 It says, "If we..." What? 48:26 Is there a condition for receiving forgiveness? 48:29 Yes. 48:40 Must we confess in order to receive forgiveness? 48:43 And must we repent in order to confess? 48:46 Absolutely. 48:47 One more text that deals with confession. 48:50 Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 13. 48:53 Proverbs 28 and verse 13. 49:03 And now this is the bridge to our next condition. 49:14 Now let's go quickly to the third condition 49:16 for receiving forgiveness. 49:19 We must believe in Christ. 49:21 We must trust in His merits. 49:23 We must trust that He will be willing to take His life 49:26 and His death and to place them to our account. 49:30 When we have repented, we've confessed our sin, 49:32 now we say to Jesus, "Lord Jesus, I'm a miserable sinner. 49:36 I confess it with my lips. 49:38 I can feel it in my heart. 49:40 But please, Jesus, I believe and trust in You. 49:43 Take Your life, please, and put it to my account, 49:47 take Your death and put it to my account, 49:49 so that You can look at me as if I'd never sinned." 49:52 And when I trust in Jesus that way, Jesus will do just that. 49:57 Notice Acts chapter 10 and verse 43. 50:00 We're talking about trusting or believing in Jesus. 50:03 It says there in Acts chapter 10 and verse 43, 50:06 speaking about Jesus... 50:21 Now of course you know that famous verse, 50:23 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 50:28 that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish 50:34 but have everlasting life." 50:35 Just like in the Old Testament, Israel, those who looked 50:40 and beheld the serpent raised in the wilderness were saved. 50:44 So as we look upon Jesus and trust in His life 50:48 and in His death we can have the assurance of forgiveness. 50:52 1 John chapter 2 and verse 1, we've read it before. 51:05 The reason why it says, "Jesus Christ the righteous," 51:07 is because He can come to the Father and can say, 51:09 "Father, Pastor Bohr has just repented because He's seen 51:14 our goodness, and he has confessed his sin, 51:17 and he has trusted in My merits. 51:18 You know, his life isn't worth ten cents. 51:21 You would have to destroy him. 51:22 But he has claimed Me as his Savior. 51:24 So Father, take My righteousness and place it to his account." 51:28 That's why it's important for Jesus Christ, the righteous One, 51:32 to represent me before God. 51:34 Allow me to read you very quickly a few statements here 51:37 from Ellen White the little book, Faith And Works. 51:40 I recommend that you get it. It's phenomenal. 51:44 Page 106, she says... 52:23 Isn't that good news? 52:25 In the devotional book by Ellen White, The Faith I Live By, 52:29 page 107, she says... 53:02 Is that good news? 53:03 See, Ellen White believed in justification by faith 53:06 that when we receive Jesus, we can have the assurance 53:11 of salvation, not in us, but in Him. 53:15 Let's go to our fourth condition. 53:18 The faith or the trust that we have in Jesus 53:20 must produce good works. 53:23 Now notice we're not saved by works, 53:26 we are saved for works. 53:29 A genuine faith will work. 53:32 A faith that does not work is counterfeit faith. 53:36 Some people say, "Only believe." 53:38 Well the Bible says that the devil believes. 53:41 The demons believe in their brains, in their head, 53:45 that Jesus died, He was buried, He resurrected, 53:48 and He's in heaven at the right hand of God. 53:50 But if your faith and trust in Jesus does not translate 53:54 into a changed life, it is a counterfeit relationship 53:57 with Christ. 53:59 We read Proverbs 28 verse 13. 54:01 "He who covers his sins will not prosper..." 54:11 John the Baptist said that we're suppose to produce fruits 54:14 that flow from repentance. 54:16 He says, fruits that are meat for repentance. 54:20 That means, fruits that reveal that repentance is real. 54:24 And you know that Jesus once said, "By their faith 54:27 ye shall know them." 54:29 Oh thank you very much. 54:30 Jesus did not say, "By their faith you shall know them." 54:33 He said, "By their..." What? 54:34 "By their fruits you shall know them." 54:37 And James, in James chapter 2... 54:39 And I'm not going to read it because we don't have time. 54:42 James chapter 2 verses 14 through 25. 54:45 There James, the brother of Jesus, who was a half brother. 54:48 A son of Joseph from a previous marriage. 54:50 Because Joseph was married before. 54:53 He says that faith without works is what? 54:57 Faith without works is dead. 54:58 Let me ask you, can a dead faith save you? 55:01 No. 55:03 Now what relationship is there between faith and works? 55:06 Faith is the propelling power, and works follow faith. 55:12 It's like when you start your car and you put it in drive. 55:15 Let me ask you, which wheels move first, 55:17 the front wheels or the back wheels? 55:20 Usually people ask, "Well is it front wheel drive 55:22 or back wheel drive?" 55:24 It doesn't make any difference. 55:26 Because if it's back wheel drive, when the back 55:28 wheels propel, the front wheels follow. 55:31 That's the relationship between faith and works. 55:33 Faith is the propelling power and works are the 55:36 result of the faith. 55:37 And if there are no works, if the life doesn't change, 55:40 if we continue living like the devil, 55:42 how can we say that we are following Jesus Christ 55:46 as our Savior and as our Lord. 55:48 Jesus said that when we are connected to the vine, 55:51 we bear not just fruit. 55:53 We bear what? 55:54 Much fruit. 55:57 And so if our relationship with Jesus does not change our life, 56:01 it is a counterfeit faith. 56:03 So we need to repent, we need to confess, 56:06 we need to trust in the merits of Jesus, 56:08 and we need to have a trust and a faith that 56:11 translates into a changed life. 56:13 Let me mention very briefly the final condition. 56:16 And that is baptism. 56:18 You remember that Peter said, "Repent and be..." What? 56:22 "...be baptized, everyone of you." 56:24 Baptism is a condition for receiving justification. 56:28 As we've noticed, Jesus Christ lived, He died, 56:33 He was buried, and He resurrected. 56:36 Now how am I included in what Jesus did? 56:40 How does God look at me as dead, buried, and resurrected 56:44 in Christ? 56:45 It's through the ceremony of baptism. 56:48 You see, when I am baptized, I am incorporated into Christ. 56:53 In Galatians chapter 3, the apostle Paul says 56:57 that those who have accepted Jesus Christ 57:00 have been baptized into Christ. 57:02 They have put on Jesus Christ. 57:05 And so now because I am in Christ Jesus, 57:08 Jesus comes before the Father and He says, 57:10 "Father, I have a new brother." 57:13 And the Father says, "Oh really, what's his name?" 57:15 "Pastor Bohr." 57:16 And so the Father says, "Oh, Pastor Bohr is your brother? 57:18 Well if he's your brother, he's My son too." 57:22 That's what Jesus meant when He said that we are 57:25 accepted through Him. |
Revised 2014-12-17