¤[music ends]¤¤
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>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
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I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
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Standing at the side
of an enormous memorial
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a little more than 30 miles from
the Spanish capital, Madrid,
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is the world's largest cross.
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It's almost 500
feet tall, 150 meters.
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It's about as tall
as a 50-story building.
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The cross stands on top of
a 3,000-foot-tall mountain,
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so it can be
seen from miles away.
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It's part of a complex
called the Valley of the Fallen,
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which features,
among other things,
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a church and a monastery.
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For more than 40 years,
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Spanish dictator Francisco
Franco was buried there.
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Owing to the controversial
nature of Franco's rule--
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estimates say he was responsible
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for the deaths of between
30,000 and 50,000 people--
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Franco's body was
exhumed in 2019 and relocated
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to a cemetery in Madrid,
where he was laid to rest
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a second time, this
time next to his wife.
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Now, while Franco is
gone, that cross remains.
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It's impossible to miss
as it reaches into the sky
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reminding people--well,
reminding people what, exactly?
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The cross is
ubiquitous in Western society.
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It's everywhere.
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And even in the secular
age, it can only mean one thing:
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the death of Jesus, who
2,000 years ago died on a cross.
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His death and
subsequent resurrection
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gave rise to Easter, observed
today in dozens of countries
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around the world.
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Of course, much of what
gets lumped into commemorating
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the death and resurrection
of Jesus has nothing to do
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with either the death or
the resurrection of Jesus.
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Several pagan
customs have been absorbed
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into the Christian
celebration of Easter,
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not surprising,
considering pagan customs
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crept into Christianity itself.
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Eggs and rabbits,
which are totally unrelated
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to the death of Jesus,
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were ancient symbols
of new life and fertility.
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Add commercialism to the mix,
and Easter became an opportunity
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to sell copious
quantities of chocolate
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and other Easter
items, such as hot cross buns,
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while crowding out of the
spotlight the actual event
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that gave rise to Easter.
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And unlike a national
holiday or observance,
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such as the Fourth of
July or Australia Day, say,
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the date of Easter moves.
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Easter Sunday occurs on the
first Sunday after the full moon
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that occurs on or after
the vernal, or spring, equinox.
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That's the day when there's
an almost identical amount
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of darkness and
daylight. [crickets chirp]
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This confusing calculation
is an attempt to associate
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the date of Easter with the
timing of the Jewish Passover.
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Easter is when Christians
commemorate the death of Jesus,
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the crucifixion
of Jesus on a cross,
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which itself has
been used as pagan symbol.
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It's thought that crucifixion
originated with the Assyrians
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and the Babylonians.
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Five or six hundred
years before Christ,
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it was used by the Persians,
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then by the Greeks before
it was perfected by the Romans.
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The thing about crucifixion,
as employed by the Romans,
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wasn't just the pain.
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Oh, crucifixion was
painful, brutally so.
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But beyond the pain, the
cross was akin to the gallows
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or the electric chair.
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It was where
criminals met their fate.
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It was a symbol of
shame, defeat, condemnation.
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And given that crucifixion
victims were executed naked,
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it was a shameful, undignified
way for a person to die.
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It was utter humiliation.
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If you were crucified, you were
the offscouring of the earth.
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And Jesus was crucified.
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So, why the cross for Jesus?
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The Bible says He "did no sin."
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But He got under the
skin of the Jewish leaders
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to the extent that
they wanted Him gone.
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And because they had
no authority, legally,
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to execute anyone, they appealed
to the Roman authorities,
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who sentenced
Him to be executed.
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Even though He
wasn't a criminal,
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certain people wanted Him dead.
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Jesus had swept away the rubbish
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under which
truth had been buried.
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But the religious
leaders felt, in Israel,
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that He was sweeping
away the truth itself.
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And He died as a result.
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But why did Jesus have to die--
from a biblical perspective?
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Let's go back to the
beginning, just after Creation,
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to the first promise ever made.
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It was made by God, and it was
made to you and me, essentially.
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The first promise made in
the Bible was a gospel promise.
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Immediately after Adam and Eve
sinned in the Garden of Eden,
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God spoke to the serpent
that tempted them and said,
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"I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
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"and between your
seed and her Seed;
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"He shall bruise your head,
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and you shall bruise His heel."
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That's Genesis 3:15.
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Now, let's
analyze that a little.
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Speaking to Satan, God
said, there will be "enmity
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between you and the woman,"
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God's people down
through time, the church.
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Saying there would be enmity
between the devil and the church
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was a promise that there was
a way out of sin for sinners.
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Turning their backs on God
and surrendering to temptation
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left Adam and Eve
fundamentally flawed.
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They were broken. Sin
had taken hold of them.
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That was a desperate situation.
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As long as they
were surrendered to God,
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living in connection
with God, they were protected.
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But when they
chose to go it alone
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and follow the suggestions
of the devil, they were altered.
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Connected to the heart of God,
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they were one with God
in purity and holiness.
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But no more.
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And they couldn't remake
themselves or fix themselves.
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They were
created to live forever.
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As long as they remained
connected to God, trusting God,
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they could look
forward to eternity.
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But when they turned
away from God and sinned,
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they forfeited the
gift of eternal life.
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It's as though they said,
"Thanks for creating us, God,
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but we're going to go on
our own way without You."
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But, of course,
there is no other way.
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It's either life with
God or death without God.
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But God offered
Adam and Eve a way out.
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God would provide
a path to repentance.
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He would put enmity
between His people and Satan.
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God said,
"He"--the Seed of the woman--
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"shall bruise your head."
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That's God saying
a descendant of Eve
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would ultimately crush Satan.
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Good news for Adam and Eve--
and good news for the world:
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Satan would
ultimately be defeated.
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But notice God said to Satan,
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"And you shall bruise His heel."
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While Satan would be defeated,
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heaven wouldn't get
out of this unscathed.
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Jesus Christ would be bruised.
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He would die for the
sins of human beings.
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And this was
illustrated shortly after.
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When Adam and Eve
realized that they were naked,
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they stitched together fig
leaves to cover themselves.
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God provided
clothing for them, skins,
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the skins of animals
from the Garden of Eden.
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There hadn't been any
death until that time.
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But now, as a consequence of
sin, death came into the world.
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Genesis 3:21 says,
"For Adam and his wife
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the Lord God made tunics
of skin, and clothed them."
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Something had to die to provide
a covering for Adam and Eve.
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Someone had to die.
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The death of those animals
prefigured the death of Jesus.
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But that's clothing
we're talking about.
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Where's the faith connection?
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When Adam and Eve sinned,
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along with losing what
had covered their nakedness,
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they lost much more:
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They lost their righteousness.
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And that's where we find
ourselves today: unrighteous.
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Paul wrote, "Do you not
know that the unrighteous
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will not inherit
the kingdom of God?"
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He said, "All have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God."
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Jesus died so that we
could receive righteousness.
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We have none of our own.
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The prophet Isaiah wrote
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that "all our righteousnesses
are...filthy rags."
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Sinners are unrighteous.
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Jeremiah showed us the
seriousness of our situation
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when he wrote, "Can the
Ethiopian change his skin,
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"or the leopard his spots?
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Then may ye also do good,
that are accustomed to do evil."
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Sin came into the world.
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And in order for
sinful human beings
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to be
reconnected with a holy God,
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we need righteousness
that we do not have.
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God is inherently pure.
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In order to be happy in His
presence throughout eternity,
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we need to be fundamentally
altered so that our hearts
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and God's heart
beat to the same rhythm.
00:10:01.76\00:10:05.43
That's possible only one way:
00:10:05.47\00:10:08.30
through receiving, by faith,
the righteousness of Jesus.
00:10:08.34\00:10:14.21
In a moment, we'll
find out why being spiritual
00:10:14.24\00:10:18.38
isn't nearly the
same as being saved.
00:10:18.41\00:10:22.12
I'll be right back.
00:10:22.15\00:10:23.02
¤[cheerful music
swells and ends]¤¤
00:10:23.05\00:10:29.12
>>Announcer: The cross
is a symbol of Christianity
00:10:32.36\00:10:34.73
for millions of
people around the world.
00:10:34.73\00:10:36.83
But beyond the symbol,
there is power in the cross,
00:10:36.87\00:10:39.77
power God wants
you to experience.
00:10:39.80\00:10:42.10
Learn more by
requesting today's free offer,
00:10:42.14\00:10:44.74
"The Power of the Cross."
00:10:44.77\00:10:46.61
To receive "The
Power of the Cross,"
00:10:46.64\00:10:48.71
call 800-253-3000
00:10:48.74\00:10:51.21
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:10:51.25\00:10:54.22
Experience "The
Power of the Cross."
00:10:54.25\00:10:56.99
Call 800-253-3000
00:10:57.02\00:10:59.52
or visit iiwoffer.com.
00:10:59.55\00:11:01.96
>>John Bradshaw: Thanks for
joining me on It Is Written.
00:11:03.19\00:11:06.53
As I drove along a
certain street, I was intrigued
00:11:06.56\00:11:09.96
to see a spiritual
center in a row of stores.
00:11:10.00\00:11:14.70
A spiritual center--that's
where you can buy items
00:11:14.74\00:11:17.74
which help you to be spiritual.
00:11:17.77\00:11:20.48
No, not Bibles,
00:11:20.51\00:11:21.98
but crystals and
incense and jewelry.
00:11:22.01\00:11:25.78
The spiritual center
claims to deal with healing
00:11:25.81\00:11:28.08
and offers reiki
and clairvoyance,
00:11:28.12\00:11:30.75
as well as mediums
and tarot card readings.
00:11:30.79\00:11:35.02
A "spiritual" center.
00:11:35.06\00:11:37.63
Of course, there's nothing
Christian about all that,
00:11:37.66\00:11:39.89
and none of it can help you
one bit in terms of eternity.
00:11:39.93\00:11:43.93
The Bible says
God's law is spiritual.
00:11:43.97\00:11:46.94
It speaks about spiritual songs,
00:11:46.97\00:11:48.54
how a spiritual person
should seek to restore a sinner,
00:11:48.57\00:11:52.04
and about spiritual gifts.
00:11:52.07\00:11:54.41
The spiritual
center had nothing to do
00:11:54.44\00:11:57.61
with the
spirituality of the Bible.
00:11:57.65\00:12:01.35
The problem human beings face
is not that we're not spiritual,
00:12:01.38\00:12:06.22
but that we're not righteous.
00:12:06.25\00:12:08.16
It seems it's more common
now for people to talk about
00:12:08.19\00:12:10.06
how they're not
Christian but spiritual.
00:12:10.09\00:12:13.76
But a faith journey
oriented towards heaven
00:12:13.80\00:12:16.67
isn't a quest to be
spiritual in a general sense
00:12:16.70\00:12:20.74
or even to be a good person,
00:12:20.77\00:12:22.54
because there's honestly no
such thing in biblical terms.
00:12:22.57\00:12:26.31
Every human being
alive is a sinner,
00:12:26.34\00:12:29.64
and the only one
who is good is God.
00:12:29.68\00:12:33.35
What sinners need is
righteousness, cleansing,
00:12:33.38\00:12:36.82
forgiveness.
00:12:36.85\00:12:38.55
And the only place to obtain
that is through faith in Jesus.
00:12:38.59\00:12:43.76
Second Corinthians 5:21 says,
00:12:43.79\00:12:46.09
"For He made Him who
knew no sin to be sin for us,
00:12:46.13\00:12:51.40
that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:12:51.43\00:12:55.80
Jesus' death opened
up to us the opportunity
00:12:55.84\00:12:58.41
to triumph over
sin and its penalty,
00:12:58.44\00:13:01.41
in fact, even over its
power and its presence.
00:13:01.44\00:13:05.45
When Adam and Eve fell into sin,
00:13:07.12\00:13:09.12
their very
nature became corrupted.
00:13:09.15\00:13:12.12
In and of themselves they
would have neither the power
00:13:12.15\00:13:14.62
nor the desire to resist evil.
00:13:14.66\00:13:18.69
And that, of course,
extends to their posterity.
00:13:18.73\00:13:22.16
After eating of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil,
00:13:22.20\00:13:24.90
they would have
the knowledge of evil.
00:13:24.93\00:13:27.74
They'd given Satan
access to their hearts,
00:13:27.77\00:13:29.97
and he would be able to tempt
them from that time onwards.
00:13:30.01\00:13:33.14
They would know anxiety
and grief and pain--and death.
00:13:33.17\00:13:38.81
They were sinners now.
00:13:38.85\00:13:40.65
That one sin that
seemed so small in Eve's eyes
00:13:40.68\00:13:43.69
opened the floodgates
of misery to the world.
00:13:43.72\00:13:47.19
But the cross
would stand against that.
00:13:47.22\00:13:50.63
Jesus' appointment with the
cross was thousands of years
00:13:50.66\00:13:53.76
in the making.
00:13:53.80\00:13:54.63
The Bible says that Jesus was
00:13:54.66\00:13:56.13
"the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world"
00:13:56.16\00:13:58.40
in Revelation 13:8.
00:13:58.43\00:13:59.80
He was born to die.
00:13:59.83\00:14:01.60
And His death on
the cross was predicted.
00:14:01.64\00:14:04.04
David wrote, "They
divided my garments among them,"
00:14:04.07\00:14:07.18
and "they pierced my
hands and my feet" in Psalm 22.
00:14:07.21\00:14:12.45
David wrote about the
agony of Christ's death
00:14:12.48\00:14:14.65
when he penned these words:
00:14:14.68\00:14:16.22
"I am poured out like water, and
all my bones are out of joint;
00:14:16.25\00:14:19.92
my heart is like wax;
it has melted within me."
00:14:19.95\00:14:23.02
Psalm 22 again.
00:14:23.06\00:14:24.53
Isaiah wrote, "He was
wounded for our transgressions,
00:14:24.56\00:14:27.93
He was bruised
for our iniquities."
00:14:27.96\00:14:29.70
There's that word "bruised,"
00:14:29.73\00:14:31.03
which we saw in
Genesis, chapter 3.
00:14:31.07\00:14:33.13
"The chastisement for
our peace was upon Him,
00:14:33.17\00:14:35.77
and by His
stripes we are healed."
00:14:35.80\00:14:39.61
He described Jesus as being
00:14:39.64\00:14:40.94
like "a lamb [led] to
the slaughter," saying,
00:14:40.98\00:14:43.48
"He was cut off from
the land of the living."
00:14:43.51\00:14:46.31
He wrote that "it
pleased the Lord to bruise Him."
00:14:46.35\00:14:49.22
Notice again: "bruise."
00:14:49.25\00:14:51.12
And that "He poured
out His soul unto death,
00:14:51.15\00:14:53.66
"and He was numbered
with the transgressors,
00:14:53.69\00:14:55.39
"and He bore the sin of
many, and made intercession
00:14:55.42\00:14:58.66
for the transgressors."
00:14:58.69\00:14:59.76
It's all from
Isaiah, chapter 53.
00:14:59.79\00:15:02.36
And in Isaiah 53 the prophet
got to the crux of the matter
00:15:02.40\00:15:05.40
when he wrote
about the life of Jesus
00:15:05.43\00:15:07.24
being "an offering for sin."
00:15:07.27\00:15:10.97
And that's why Jesus
died: as an offering for sin,
00:15:11.01\00:15:15.54
for your sins.
00:15:15.58\00:15:17.21
Okay, but couldn't God
have worked it out another way?
00:15:17.25\00:15:20.32
Why should Jesus die at
all? Let's work this through.
00:15:20.35\00:15:24.85
In the Garden of Eden, God told
our original grandparents that
00:15:26.35\00:15:29.96
eating the fruit of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil
00:15:29.99\00:15:32.49
would cause death. Disobedience
would lead to death.
00:15:32.53\00:15:36.60
Here's why. John
wrote in 1 John 5:12,
00:15:36.63\00:15:40.70
"He who has the Son has life;
00:15:40.74\00:15:43.61
he who does not have the
Son of God does not have life."
00:15:43.64\00:15:47.81
Now, that's not a rule imposed
by God; it's a fixed law.
00:15:47.84\00:15:52.98
God gave life
in the first place.
00:15:53.01\00:15:55.85
He then said, "I want you
to retain this gift of life.
00:15:55.88\00:15:59.15
"Therefore, stay
surrendered to me. Stay with me.
00:15:59.19\00:16:02.69
Stay connected to me."
00:16:02.72\00:16:05.03
Adam and Eve
severed that connection
00:16:05.06\00:16:07.50
and became subject to death.
00:16:07.56\00:16:11.00
The earth that was created
perfect was now tainted by sin.
00:16:11.03\00:16:16.00
Even the ground was cursed.
00:16:16.04\00:16:18.54
But that promise in Genesis 3,
00:16:18.57\00:16:20.71
in there was the
plan of salvation.
00:16:20.74\00:16:23.98
But why did Jesus have to
die for the sins of the world?
00:16:24.01\00:16:27.75
Why death?
00:16:27.78\00:16:29.52
The law of God had been broken,
00:16:29.55\00:16:32.65
and as Paul wrote
in the New Testament,
00:16:32.69\00:16:34.66
"The wages of sin is death."
00:16:34.69\00:16:37.43
He wrote in Galatians
about "the curse of the law"
00:16:37.46\00:16:39.93
and how Jesus would assume
the penalty of breaking the law,
00:16:39.96\00:16:43.40
becoming "a curse for us."
00:16:43.43\00:16:46.53
Sin brings death--
00:16:46.57\00:16:47.74
not just death in this world,
death from a heart attack,
00:16:47.77\00:16:50.61
not just that kind of death.
00:16:50.64\00:16:52.37
Sin brings the second
death, the eternal death.
00:16:52.41\00:16:57.08
People created
in the image of God
00:16:57.11\00:16:59.58
could now only
look forward to death.
00:16:59.61\00:17:04.39
So how could they be
saved from the penalty
00:17:04.42\00:17:06.49
that accompanies sin?
00:17:06.52\00:17:08.99
There was only one way.
00:17:09.02\00:17:11.03
Instead of Adam and Eve
dying the second death for sin,
00:17:12.23\00:17:16.43
Jesus volunteered
to die in their place.
00:17:16.46\00:17:20.34
He couldn't set
aside the penalty for sin,
00:17:20.37\00:17:23.64
but He could assume it Himself.
00:17:23.67\00:17:25.97
That way the penalty
could still be levied,
00:17:26.01\00:17:28.24
the sanctity of God's
law could still be respected,
00:17:28.28\00:17:31.08
justice could be served,
00:17:31.11\00:17:33.31
yet mercy could still be
offered to sinful humans.
00:17:33.35\00:17:36.85
And Jesus could die
for the breaking of the law
00:17:36.89\00:17:39.15
because it was His
law. He was the Lawgiver.
00:17:39.19\00:17:42.49
He is as sacred
as the law itself,
00:17:42.52\00:17:45.43
and so He could redeem people
00:17:45.46\00:17:46.73
from the penalty
of breaking God's law.
00:17:46.76\00:17:49.53
He didn't have to.
00:17:49.56\00:17:50.80
Jesus didn't have to die
for sinners and their sin.
00:17:50.83\00:17:54.00
He could simply have
left humanity to itself.
00:17:54.04\00:17:57.91
So why did He choose to die?
00:17:57.94\00:18:00.51
Well, the well-known
Bible verse tells us:
00:18:00.54\00:18:02.98
"For God so loved the world,
00:18:03.01\00:18:04.95
"that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:18:04.98\00:18:07.78
"that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish,
00:18:07.82\00:18:11.42
but have everlasting life."
00:18:11.45\00:18:13.19
John 3:16.
00:18:13.22\00:18:15.36
How do you fully
understand that kind of love?
00:18:15.39\00:18:18.99
At this side of eternity
you don't fully understand it,
00:18:19.03\00:18:23.30
but you behold it
and meditate on it.
00:18:23.33\00:18:26.07
You ponder it
and wrestle with it
00:18:26.10\00:18:27.80
and try to comprehend
that unfathomable love
00:18:27.84\00:18:30.27
revealed by the death
of Jesus on the cross.
00:18:30.31\00:18:33.58
The weight of the sins of the
entire world rested upon Jesus
00:18:33.61\00:18:37.21
as He went to the cross.
00:18:37.25\00:18:38.31
¤[soft orchestral music]¤
00:18:38.35\00:18:39.31
And He did it for you.
00:18:39.35\00:18:43.22
So what do you do
00:18:43.25\00:18:44.49
about the love demonstrated by
the death of Jesus on the cross?
00:18:44.52\00:18:49.66
Let's consider
that in just a moment.
00:18:49.69\00:18:52.66
¤[cheerful music
swells and ends]¤¤
00:18:52.69\00:18:59.67
>>Announcer: The cross
is a symbol of Christianity
00:19:01.67\00:19:03.94
for millions of
people around the world.
00:19:03.97\00:19:06.11
But beyond the symbol,
there is power in the cross,
00:19:06.14\00:19:09.21
power God wants
you to experience.
00:19:09.24\00:19:11.35
Learn more by
requesting today's free offer,
00:19:11.38\00:19:13.98
"The Power of the Cross."
00:19:14.02\00:19:15.85
To receive "The
Power of the Cross,"
00:19:15.88\00:19:17.95
call 800-253-3000
00:19:17.99\00:19:20.62
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:19:20.66\00:19:23.49
Experience "The
Power of the Cross."
00:19:23.53\00:19:26.03
Call 800-253-3000
00:19:26.06\00:19:28.80
or visit iiwoffer.com.
00:19:28.83\00:19:31.33
>>John Bradshaw:
Crystals, yoga, Ouija boards,
00:19:32.37\00:19:35.04
witchcraft are back in vogue.
00:19:35.07\00:19:38.11
What the Fox sisters popularized
is now part of pop culture.
00:19:38.14\00:19:42.38
Books and movies
about witchcraft, wizardry,
00:19:42.41\00:19:44.71
and magic are everywhere.
00:19:44.75\00:19:47.25
What's often said to
be just entertainment
00:19:47.28\00:19:49.65
is part of something
much larger and darker.
00:19:49.68\00:19:53.46
Don't miss "Dancing With
the Devil," where we'll explore
00:19:53.49\00:19:56.79
the rise of the occult,
and you'll meet a young woman
00:19:56.83\00:19:59.83
who overcame her
involvement with the occult
00:19:59.86\00:20:02.06
through the power of God.
00:20:02.10\00:20:04.73
In a world where the media is
saturated with occult imagery,
00:20:04.77\00:20:08.30
in a society where
ghosts and demons are treated
00:20:08.34\00:20:10.97
as trivial and fun, it's
never been more important
00:20:11.01\00:20:13.91
to discern between the
sacred and the profane.
00:20:13.94\00:20:16.71
In "Dancing With the Devil,"
00:20:16.75\00:20:18.35
you'll learn there's
nothing new under the sun
00:20:18.38\00:20:20.88
and that the roots
of what we see today
00:20:20.92\00:20:22.58
go all the way back
to the origin of sin.
00:20:22.62\00:20:26.32
"Dancing With the Devil,"
00:20:26.35\00:20:28.02
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:20:28.06\00:20:30.69
>>John Bradshaw: You
can see crosses on churches
00:20:32.69\00:20:34.73
and hanging around necks to
the point that the cross today
00:20:34.73\00:20:37.53
is little more than
an architectural feature
00:20:37.57\00:20:40.07
or a fashion accessory--
00:20:40.10\00:20:42.40
not quite what
Jesus had in mind.
00:20:42.44\00:20:44.91
For the believer in Jesus,
00:20:44.94\00:20:46.24
the cross is where
salvation became real.
00:20:46.27\00:20:50.21
It's where Jesus voluntarily
gave His life, as He said,
00:20:50.25\00:20:54.28
"for the life of the world."
00:20:54.32\00:20:57.49
So what do you do about it,
00:20:57.52\00:20:59.79
about the single most powerful,
most dramatic demonstration
00:20:59.82\00:21:05.03
of love for the world the
universe has ever witnessed?
00:21:05.06\00:21:08.90
The cross was God
showing humanity that His love
00:21:08.93\00:21:12.73
is beyond our
ability to even imagine.
00:21:12.77\00:21:16.64
Who would expect that the
divine Son of God would take it
00:21:16.67\00:21:19.37
upon Himself to give His life
for a planet full of rebels?
00:21:19.41\00:21:24.48
"But God demonstrates
His own love toward us,
00:21:24.51\00:21:27.62
in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us."
00:21:27.65\00:21:32.69
Romans 5, verse 8.
00:21:32.72\00:21:35.06
At the cross God
demonstrated His love for you.
00:21:35.09\00:21:39.46
There's no doubt now;
00:21:39.49\00:21:41.23
the cross shows you how much
you mean to the heart of God.
00:21:41.26\00:21:45.10
Heaven would do
whatever necessary
00:21:45.13\00:21:46.84
to reconcile a
sinful world to itself,
00:21:46.87\00:21:50.24
to give sinners the
opportunity to be saved.
00:21:50.27\00:21:54.08
John wrote in 1 John 4:19,
00:21:54.11\00:21:57.25
"We love Him,
because He first loved us."
00:21:57.28\00:22:01.75
What else are you going to do?
00:22:01.78\00:22:04.42
You can't ignore the
cross where a dying Savior
00:22:04.45\00:22:07.46
yielded His life
to take your sin.
00:22:07.49\00:22:10.56
Look at the sanctuary
service in ancient Israel.
00:22:10.59\00:22:12.73
The burnt
offering represented Jesus,
00:22:12.76\00:22:15.16
an offering where everything was
given as a sacrifice for sin.
00:22:15.20\00:22:19.17
Jesus gave all He had.
00:22:19.20\00:22:21.64
He gave Himself on
account of sin--your sin.
00:22:21.67\00:22:26.31
You can have faith in Jesus
as the offering for your sin.
00:22:26.34\00:22:31.65
As Paul wrote in Romans 7,
00:22:32.81\00:22:34.68
"O wretched man that I am!
00:22:34.72\00:22:37.35
Who shall deliver me
from the body of this death?"
00:22:37.39\00:22:40.09
He answered, "I thank God
through Jesus Christ [my] Lord."
00:22:40.12\00:22:44.63
Romans 7:24 and 25.
00:22:44.66\00:22:46.90
Who shall deliver me?
00:22:46.93\00:22:48.50
Jesus delivered me.
00:22:48.53\00:22:50.33
And when did He do that?
00:22:50.37\00:22:52.10
When He died
for me at the cross.
00:22:52.13\00:22:55.87
"Herein is love," John
wrote, "not that we loved God,
00:22:55.90\00:22:59.64
"but that He loved
us, and sent His Son
00:22:59.67\00:23:02.41
to be the
propitiation for our sins."
00:23:02.44\00:23:04.78
First John 4, verse 10.
00:23:04.81\00:23:06.65
So, the cross,
like nothing else,
00:23:06.68\00:23:10.29
enables you to
see the love of God.
00:23:10.32\00:23:13.05
Gone are any arguments that
suggest God does not love you.
00:23:13.09\00:23:17.53
At the cross we saw, in
fact, we see the love of God.
00:23:17.56\00:23:22.80
And that love urges
you to love God in return.
00:23:22.83\00:23:27.07
How can you not when you see
so clearly that God loves you?
00:23:27.10\00:23:31.41
The love displayed at Calvary
urges you to love others.
00:23:31.44\00:23:34.44
John wrote, "Hereby
perceive we the love of God,
00:23:34.48\00:23:38.01
"because He laid
down His life for us:
00:23:38.05\00:23:40.75
and we ought [also] to lay down
our lives for the brethren."
00:23:40.78\00:23:44.99
That means that the
cross is so powerful
00:23:45.02\00:23:48.56
that it not only convinces
you of the love of God for you,
00:23:48.59\00:23:52.43
but it'll move you
00:23:52.46\00:23:53.56
to demonstrate the
love of God to others.
00:23:53.60\00:23:57.30
Paul wrote to the
church in Philippi,
00:23:57.33\00:23:59.27
"Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus:
00:23:59.30\00:24:02.70
"who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery
00:24:02.74\00:24:05.74
"to be equal with God:
00:24:05.77\00:24:07.21
"but made
Himself of no reputation,
00:24:07.24\00:24:09.38
"and took upon Him
the form of a servant,
00:24:09.41\00:24:11.25
"and was made in
the likeness of men:
00:24:11.28\00:24:13.48
"and being found
in fashion as a man,
00:24:13.52\00:24:16.15
"He humbled Himself, and
became obedient unto death,
00:24:16.18\00:24:19.82
even the death of the cross."
00:24:19.85\00:24:22.96
The Bible writer says,
emulate the mind of Christ.
00:24:22.99\00:24:27.40
Allow God to produce in your
life the character of Jesus.
00:24:27.46\00:24:33.10
And there's something
more. Paul wrote this:
00:24:33.13\00:24:35.97
"Always bearing
about in the body
00:24:36.00\00:24:38.04
"the dying of the Lord Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus
00:24:38.07\00:24:42.11
might be made
manifest in our body."
00:24:42.14\00:24:43.98
That's 2
Corinthians 4, verse 10.
00:24:44.01\00:24:46.48
In other words, He died for
us so that He might live in us.
00:24:46.51\00:24:53.52
So the death of Jesus secures
us forgiveness for our sins
00:24:54.66\00:24:58.86
and opens up to us the
gift of everlasting life.
00:24:58.89\00:25:01.26
Sin brings death.
That's an unalterable law.
00:25:01.30\00:25:04.80
But when death came
to the human family,
00:25:04.83\00:25:07.70
Jesus stepped in
and took our death
00:25:07.74\00:25:10.54
so that we may have His life.
00:25:10.57\00:25:13.31
As 1 Corinthians 15:3 says,
"Christ died for our sins."
00:25:13.34\00:25:19.15
The cross
reveals the love of God,
00:25:19.18\00:25:21.82
inspiring you to love God
in return--and to love others.
00:25:21.85\00:25:25.49
And the cross urges you to allow
Jesus to live His life in you.
00:25:25.52\00:25:29.09
That's the key
to everlasting life:
00:25:29.12\00:25:30.99
surrendering to Jesus so
that His will can be done
00:25:31.03\00:25:33.86
in your life, in your heart.
00:25:33.90\00:25:36.80
So let me ask you:
00:25:36.83\00:25:37.67
¤[soft piano music]¤
00:25:37.70\00:25:38.67
Are you willing to
allow the power of the cross,
00:25:38.70\00:25:41.80
the impact of the cross, the
love of the cross to impact you?
00:25:41.84\00:25:47.84
It's one thing to
hear about the love of God,
00:25:48.84\00:25:51.15
the sacrifice Jesus made, but
it's another to allow that love
00:25:51.18\00:25:55.65
to fill you, to accept
the death of Jesus for you.
00:25:55.68\00:26:01.06
Will you do that today?
00:26:01.09\00:26:03.12
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:26:03.16\00:26:04.16
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:26:04.69\00:26:06.59
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:26:06.63\00:26:10.00
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:26:10.03\00:26:13.23
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:26:13.27\00:26:17.51
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:26:17.54\00:26:18.97
to the address on your screen,
00:26:19.01\00:26:20.44
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:20.48\00:26:24.28
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:26:24.31\00:26:27.12
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:26:27.15\00:26:31.29
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:31.32\00:26:34.32
Let's pray together now.
00:26:35.56\00:26:37.33
Our Father in heaven,
we remember the cross,
00:26:37.36\00:26:40.33
and we thank You for what Jesus
did in giving His life for us.
00:26:40.36\00:26:44.20
That word, "thanks," it
just seems so inadequate
00:26:44.23\00:26:46.97
when we consider the
immensity of the sacrifice
00:26:47.00\00:26:49.80
that Jesus made, leaving heaven
behind to become a human being
00:26:49.84\00:26:53.07
and live among men,
00:26:53.11\00:26:54.48
to die for us that we
might receive His righteousness.
00:26:54.51\00:26:58.41
We thank You that
Jesus took our sin.
00:26:58.45\00:27:00.55
He died that brutal death
00:27:00.58\00:27:02.82
that we might live a
glorious everlasting life.
00:27:02.85\00:27:05.82
My friend, would you accept
the death of Jesus for you?
00:27:05.85\00:27:08.92
You may be
discouraged right now.
00:27:08.96\00:27:11.03
You may look at
yourself and not believe
00:27:11.06\00:27:12.83
there's anything worth
saving, but God looks at you,
00:27:12.86\00:27:15.66
and He sees what you
may be through Jesus.
00:27:15.70\00:27:18.23
He sees you forgiven and
cleansed because you claim
00:27:18.27\00:27:20.57
the forgiveness and
cleansing that Jesus offers.
00:27:20.60\00:27:23.14
Would you accept that right now?
00:27:23.17\00:27:24.47
Would you say,
"Jesus, be my Savior;
00:27:24.51\00:27:27.28
Heavenly Father, let
the cross count for me"?
00:27:27.31\00:27:29.98
Friend, you may believe
that Jesus' death was for you
00:27:30.01\00:27:34.22
so that you right now
may be freed and forgiven
00:27:34.25\00:27:38.39
and cleansed and justified.
00:27:38.42\00:27:40.89
Father, we thank You for it,
00:27:40.92\00:27:41.89
and we believe
it, don't we, friend?
00:27:41.92\00:27:43.22
We believe it, and
we pray in Jesus' name.
00:27:43.26\00:27:47.50
Amen.
00:27:47.56\00:27:48.90
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:48.93\00:27:50.27
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:50.30\00:27:52.20
Until then, remember:
00:27:52.23\00:27:53.97
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:54.00\00:27:57.37
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
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