This is gonna be one of the most important 00:00:34.08\00:00:35.62 presentations I'm gonna be making 00:00:35.65\00:00:37.33 during the course of this seminars series. 00:00:37.36\00:00:40.14 It's a vital subject and certainly if you were 00:00:40.17\00:00:42.87 with us last night we discovered in our study 00:00:42.90\00:00:46.44 that a cosmic war involving the angelicas of heaven 00:00:46.47\00:00:49.15 broke out in the very presence of God himself. 00:00:49.18\00:00:53.49 And at the head of the forces of evil 00:00:53.52\00:00:55.76 was one of the highest ranking angels. 00:00:55.79\00:00:59.36 Remember, his name as studied it in Isaiah Chapter 14. 00:00:59.39\00:01:03.25 What was his name? 00:01:03.28\00:01:04.49 Lucifer, and in initial conflict Lucifer 00:01:04.52\00:01:07.41 and a third, we discovered from Revelation 12, 00:01:07.44\00:01:10.65 a third of the angels numbering in the tens 00:01:10.68\00:01:14.43 if not in the hundreds of millions were defeated 00:01:14.46\00:01:17.98 and forced to continue their struggle here on planet earth. 00:01:18.01\00:01:21.68 Where they usurp dominion over the planet from the human race. 00:01:21.71\00:01:25.85 God had a problem. 00:01:25.88\00:01:29.25 For now humanity was infected with the spirit of the evil one 00:01:29.28\00:01:34.56 instead to remain true to him 00:01:34.59\00:01:36.37 they had rebelled and accepted Satan's lies. 00:01:36.40\00:01:40.92 And in His love God sort to find a means 00:01:40.95\00:01:45.25 to not only defeat the forces of the evil 00:01:45.28\00:01:48.61 but to save mankind from the ravages of rebellion. 00:01:48.64\00:01:52.82 His solution was to send a powerful magnificent being 00:01:52.85\00:01:56.92 to our planet to engage and defeat the forces of evil. 00:01:56.95\00:02:01.56 And we find a description 00:02:01.59\00:02:03.81 on this extraordinary being in the Book of Revelation. 00:02:03.84\00:02:07.73 In Revelation Chapter 1 and beginning with verse 12 00:02:07.76\00:02:10.25 we're gonna move through verse 18. 00:02:10.28\00:02:12.35 As he appears to John envision 00:02:12.38\00:02:15.23 you will find that in the New Testament, 00:02:15.26\00:02:17.34 the New Testament page 189, 189, Revelation 1 00:02:17.37\00:02:24.42 and as I said we're gonna begin with verse 12 00:02:24.45\00:02:26.99 moving right on down to verse 18. 00:02:27.02\00:02:30.01 And as very typical to Book of Revelation 00:02:30.04\00:02:32.22 we're gonna find that the language is prophetic 00:02:32.25\00:02:35.92 and in many ways symbolic. 00:02:35.95\00:02:38.66 But this is how it reads. 00:02:38.69\00:02:39.95 It says "Then I turned to see the voice 00:02:39.98\00:02:41.80 that was speaking with me. 00:02:41.83\00:02:43.63 And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands 00:02:43.66\00:02:48.19 and in the middle of the lampstands 00:02:48.22\00:02:49.88 I saw one like a son of man, 00:02:49.91\00:02:52.29 clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, 00:02:52.32\00:02:54.25 and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 00:02:54.28\00:02:58.33 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow 00:02:58.36\00:03:02.32 and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 00:03:02.35\00:03:06.28 His feet were like burnished bronze, 00:03:06.31\00:03:08.97 when it has been made to glow in a furnace, 00:03:09.00\00:03:12.40 and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 00:03:12.43\00:03:15.32 And in His right hand He held seven stars, 00:03:15.35\00:03:18.25 and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword 00:03:18.28\00:03:22.38 and His face was like 00:03:22.41\00:03:23.78 the sun shining in its strength." 00:03:23.81\00:03:25.54 I mean this is quite a description isn't it. 00:03:25.57\00:03:28.44 And then it says verse 17 "When I saw Him, 00:03:28.47\00:03:30.36 I fell at His feet like a dead man. 00:03:30.39\00:03:32.73 And He placed His right hand on me, saying, 00:03:32.76\00:03:34.69 'Do not be afraid I am the first and the last, 00:03:34.72\00:03:37.91 and the living one and I was dead, behold 00:03:37.94\00:03:42.22 I am alive forevermore, 00:03:42.25\00:03:44.26 and I have the keys of death and of Hades." 00:03:44.29\00:03:48.37 That is of the grave. 00:03:48.40\00:03:50.49 "I have the keys of death and of Hades." 00:03:50.52\00:03:54.56 Well, who is this being in whose overpowering presence 00:03:54.59\00:03:58.71 John felt prostrate like a dead man. 00:03:58.74\00:04:02.01 Well, the answer tonight will give us 00:04:02.04\00:04:03.90 a thrilling new insight into God's immeasurable love. 00:04:03.93\00:04:07.95 For you see it-- certainly tonight is 00:04:07.98\00:04:10.65 one of love it is through a revelation of God's love 00:04:10.68\00:04:14.90 that the race was to be rescued from the power of the evil one. 00:04:14.93\00:04:19.28 So let us talk about that love, shall we. 00:04:19.31\00:04:22.08 You know, it cost us something to love. 00:04:22.11\00:04:24.80 That always cost us something to love. 00:04:24.83\00:04:27.50 There's always a price to be paid 00:04:27.53\00:04:29.23 when we truly love someone, 00:04:29.26\00:04:30.49 genuine love is a giving of ourselves to another 00:04:30.52\00:04:34.14 and to give ourselves 00:04:34.17\00:04:35.98 to another will costs us something. 00:04:36.01\00:04:39.22 Love is willing to sacrifice, willing to endure hardship, 00:04:39.25\00:04:44.48 dwell in pain for the sake of another, 00:04:44.51\00:04:47.11 as the Apostle Paul put it 00:04:47.14\00:04:48.92 so very beautifully in 1 Corinthians 13. 00:04:48.95\00:04:51.62 Love bears all things, believes all things, 00:04:51.65\00:04:55.93 hopes all things, endures all things, 00:04:55.96\00:04:59.55 love never fails. 00:04:59.58\00:05:02.66 But love must go beyond mere words 00:05:02.69\00:05:04.63 which can be meaningless and empty. 00:05:04.66\00:05:07.12 Love always reveals itself in practical 00:05:07.15\00:05:11.57 and meaningful ways. 00:05:11.60\00:05:13.59 And so we asked the question, 00:05:13.62\00:05:16.14 what did it costs God to love us? 00:05:16.17\00:05:19.41 Remember what Jesus said in John 3:16 00:05:19.44\00:05:23.05 "For God so loved the world, 00:05:23.08\00:05:24.22 that He gave His only begotten Son, 00:05:24.25\00:05:26.61 that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, 00:05:26.64\00:05:29.20 but have eternal life." 00:05:29.23\00:05:32.38 My friend, God's love is measured 00:05:32.41\00:05:34.62 by His gift to us in Jesus. 00:05:34.65\00:05:37.94 And we can appreciate God's love for us 00:05:37.97\00:05:40.50 and that's break the power the evil one over us 00:05:40.53\00:05:43.16 only as we comprehend 00:05:43.19\00:05:45.13 and accept this gift of His love. 00:05:45.16\00:05:47.61 His love was and continues to be manifest 00:05:47.64\00:05:51.38 to us through His Son in giving us His Son 00:05:51.41\00:05:55.72 to come to this earth to live and die among us. 00:05:55.75\00:05:58.89 He was really giving us Himself. 00:05:58.92\00:06:01.96 Who is this Jesus? 00:06:01.99\00:06:04.16 Who is this person who was willing 00:06:04.19\00:06:05.69 to die that we might have life? 00:06:05.72\00:06:08.00 And if you think you've heard it all before you want 00:06:08.03\00:06:11.16 to take a new fresh look with me tonight. 00:06:11.19\00:06:14.23 And interestingly we're going to begin as we get 00:06:14.26\00:06:16.57 to the heart of our subject now. 00:06:16.60\00:06:18.85 We're gonna begin in the Old Testament in the Book of Micah. 00:06:18.88\00:06:22.11 I invite you turn you to turn to the Old Testament page 660. 00:06:22.14\00:06:26.10 Micah 5:2, as we come to Micah 5, 00:06:26.13\00:06:32.66 Micah towards the end of the Old Testament. 00:06:32.69\00:06:36.50 We're going to, beginning with Micah, 00:06:36.53\00:06:38.21 we're going to be looking at a series of prophecies. 00:06:38.24\00:06:41.74 We call them messianic prophecies 00:06:41.77\00:06:44.33 that are embedded in the Old Testament. 00:06:44.36\00:06:48.33 And when we talk about messianic prophecies, 00:06:48.36\00:06:50.64 we are talking about specifically 00:06:50.67\00:06:51.96 those prophecies in the Old Testament 00:06:51.99\00:06:54.55 that predicted the coming of Jesus. 00:06:54.58\00:06:57.50 In fact, our word Christ really is the word Messiah, 00:06:57.53\00:07:03.86 Messiah the anointed one. 00:07:03.89\00:07:05.75 So in actuality when we talk about Jesus Christ 00:07:05.78\00:07:08.72 we actually are saying Jesus the Messiah. 00:07:08.75\00:07:13.18 As we come the Micah 5:2 it says 00:07:13.21\00:07:15.78 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 00:07:15.81\00:07:18.54 too little to be among the clans of Judah, 00:07:18.57\00:07:22.16 from you one will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. 00:07:22.19\00:07:26.51 His goings forth are from long ago, 00:07:26.54\00:07:29.39 the days of eternity." 00:07:29.42\00:07:32.53 That's what the prophecy tells us. 00:07:32.56\00:07:35.23 Now I remind you, I remind you of the story 00:07:35.26\00:07:38.11 of how the wise men came from the east. 00:07:38.14\00:07:40.00 Remember, they were following that star 00:07:40.03\00:07:42.09 they have been studying the prophecies 00:07:42.12\00:07:45.43 and they had comprehended 00:07:45.46\00:07:47.36 that there was going to be a new born king. 00:07:47.39\00:07:50.41 That's why they were following that star. 00:07:50.44\00:07:53.00 And eventually that star led them to Jerusalem 00:07:53.03\00:07:55.55 and then it disappeared. 00:07:55.58\00:07:57.42 And so they came into the city 00:07:57.45\00:07:58.90 and they were asking the question where is He. 00:07:58.93\00:08:02.27 And, you know, King Herod finally got word 00:08:02.30\00:08:04.67 that they were these fascinating individuals 00:08:04.70\00:08:08.83 from the east that were creating quite a stir in Jerusalem 00:08:08.86\00:08:12.50 with the questions about where is the new born king 00:08:12.53\00:08:14.89 and they asked him the question, 00:08:14.92\00:08:16.83 where is he to be born. 00:08:16.86\00:08:19.81 And Herod turned to his counselors 00:08:19.84\00:08:23.37 and some of them were Jewish counselors 00:08:23.40\00:08:25.66 and they referred to this specific prophecy. 00:08:25.69\00:08:29.45 They said the prophecy said He will be born in Bethlehem. 00:08:29.48\00:08:32.33 And that's exactly where we found 00:08:32.36\00:08:34.97 but there is something else that is important 00:08:35.00\00:08:36.83 as we're looking at this prophecy 00:08:36.86\00:08:38.99 and it tells us something about where He came from. 00:08:39.02\00:08:42.37 Notice, what it says here. 00:08:42.40\00:08:44.24 "His goings forth are from long ago, 00:08:44.27\00:08:46.81 from the days of" what? 00:08:46.84\00:08:50.70 The days of eternity." 00:08:50.73\00:08:54.32 Now that's just kind of may be a little bit difficult for us 00:08:54.35\00:08:56.93 to wrap our minds around, isn't it, 00:08:56.96\00:08:58.73 this idea of coming from the days of eternity. 00:08:58.76\00:09:02.14 I don't know if you are like me 00:09:02.17\00:09:03.34 that I have much easier time comprehending forever 00:09:03.37\00:09:08.36 into the future that is you'll never die, always existing. 00:09:08.39\00:09:13.37 It's harder for me to grasp the idea 00:09:13.40\00:09:17.01 that there is something or someone in this case 00:09:17.04\00:09:21.37 in the universe that has always existed. 00:09:21.40\00:09:25.09 And I think we struggle with that 00:09:25.12\00:09:26.68 because in our existence everything seems 00:09:26.71\00:09:29.27 to have a beginning, right. 00:09:29.30\00:09:32.85 But nevertheless when we think about it philosophically 00:09:32.88\00:09:35.16 at least we know that there's had 00:09:35.19\00:09:37.27 a there's has to be something that has always been. 00:09:37.30\00:09:41.11 Here, we talked about this a little bit on Friday night 00:09:41.14\00:09:43.26 when we talked about the origins of the universe. 00:09:43.29\00:09:45.66 If we go back in time to when there was nothing 00:09:45.69\00:09:48.48 you can't get something out of nothing. 00:09:48.51\00:09:52.64 There had to be something that was always there. 00:09:52.67\00:09:54.64 It just has to be. 00:09:54.67\00:09:55.83 Science doesn't really have an answer for that 00:09:55.86\00:09:58.08 but the Bible gives us the answer, doesn't it. 00:09:58.11\00:10:00.42 God has always been 00:10:00.45\00:10:02.37 and, my friend, Jesus has always been. 00:10:02.40\00:10:06.35 And we're gonna be looking at part 00:10:06.38\00:10:07.93 at in part again tonight at the preexistence of Jesus. 00:10:07.96\00:10:11.70 And why I say preexistence? 00:10:11.73\00:10:13.06 We're talking about His existence 00:10:13.09\00:10:15.24 before He was born as that baby in Bethlehem 00:10:15.27\00:10:19.39 when He came to this earth. 00:10:19.42\00:10:21.18 It's a fascinating story as we take a look at it. 00:10:21.21\00:10:24.25 Turn with me to Isaiah 7, the Old Testament page 492, 00:10:24.28\00:10:30.25 492 Isaiah 7:14, 00:10:30.28\00:10:34.80 Isaiah is often described as the gospel writer 00:10:34.83\00:10:38.72 of the Old Testament. 00:10:38.75\00:10:41.21 And that's because much of the Book of Isaiah we'll find 00:10:41.24\00:10:45.72 in this book many of these messianic prophecies 00:10:45.75\00:10:49.29 referring to the coming of Jesus. 00:10:49.32\00:10:51.62 And we find one right here 00:10:51.65\00:10:52.81 will be in Isaiah several times tonight 00:10:52.84\00:10:55.83 but we find one of those messianic prophecies 00:10:55.86\00:10:58.09 right here Isaiah 7:14 where it says 00:10:58.12\00:11:01.78 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign Behold, 00:11:01.81\00:11:06.23 a virgin will be with child and bear a son, 00:11:06.26\00:11:09.16 and she will call His name Immanuel." 00:11:09.19\00:11:13.68 Now, we know for certain that these prophecies of Isaiah 00:11:13.71\00:11:19.83 were given 700 years before the coming of Jesus. 00:11:19.86\00:11:25.48 And that was so great fascinating 00:11:25.51\00:11:27.30 as you look at prophecy, were among the things 00:11:27.33\00:11:30.22 that we discover here is that it predicts 00:11:30.25\00:11:32.55 the virgin birth of Jesus 700 years before it happened. 00:11:32.58\00:11:38.31 And it also speaks of a very unique name 00:11:38.34\00:11:41.73 in association with Jesus 00:11:41.76\00:11:43.31 and that is His name would be called Immanuel. 00:11:43.34\00:11:46.95 There are number of names actually associated with Jesus 00:11:46.98\00:11:50.40 as you look at it scripturally 00:11:50.43\00:11:51.83 but this is really an important and vital one. 00:11:51.86\00:11:55.80 Let's compare this passage to Matthew Chapter 1 00:11:55.83\00:11:59.72 that's gonna be the New Testament and page 1. 00:11:59.75\00:12:04.34 Matthew 1:22, 23 00:12:04.37\00:12:10.57 because this prophecy is referred 00:12:10.60\00:12:12.74 to right here in Matthew 1 00:12:12.77\00:12:14.59 and we're given some important insights 00:12:14.62\00:12:18.92 into the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. 00:12:18.95\00:12:22.65 So Matthew 1 and beginning with verse 22 00:12:22.68\00:12:25.47 where it says "Now all this took place 00:12:25.50\00:12:27.72 to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord 00:12:27.75\00:12:29.70 through the prophet Behold, the virgin shall be 00:12:29.73\00:12:33.48 with child and shall bear a Son, 00:12:33.51\00:12:35.88 and they shall call His name" what? "Immanuel." 00:12:35.91\00:12:40.44 There is the reference. 00:12:40.47\00:12:41.67 "Which translated means, 'God with us.'" 00:12:41.70\00:12:48.43 I say it again there are some interesting names 00:12:48.46\00:12:50.97 associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:51.00\00:12:53.40 But this is a unique one as you take a look at it 00:12:53.43\00:12:56.65 because, you know, and the meaning behind the name. 00:12:56.68\00:13:00.05 You know, names particularly in a Jewish economy 00:13:00.08\00:13:04.03 had very deep meanings. 00:13:04.06\00:13:07.82 When a, a Jewish couple when a man and woman anticipated 00:13:07.85\00:13:12.75 the birth particularly at the first born son 00:13:12.78\00:13:15.09 they very carefully considered the name 00:13:15.12\00:13:18.24 that they chose for that first born boy. 00:13:18.27\00:13:21.51 And they often would choose a name with meanings 00:13:21.54\00:13:25.01 that represented the hopes of those parents 00:13:25.04\00:13:27.34 for that child and for its future life. 00:13:27.37\00:13:30.69 I think probably we all of us gone through this. 00:13:30.72\00:13:32.91 I, you know, my wife and I have been married 00:13:32.94\00:13:35.17 some 12 years before we decided 00:13:35.20\00:13:37.67 either we're going to have children or we're not. 00:13:37.70\00:13:40.94 You know we just went put it off. 00:13:40.97\00:13:42.95 You know all the schooling we have to go through 00:13:42.98\00:13:45.51 and getting establishing the ministry 00:13:45.54\00:13:47.98 and but here we found ourselves in our early 30s 00:13:48.01\00:13:51.62 my wife is a couple of years older than I 00:13:51.65\00:13:53.66 so she was beginning to reach here mid 30s 00:13:53.69\00:13:57.14 and we knew either we're gonna have children 00:13:57.17\00:13:59.26 or it just wasn't going, we're just, we're gonna do it. 00:13:59.29\00:14:02.50 And so we made that decision. 00:14:02.53\00:14:03.90 And it was a wonderful decision. 00:14:03.93\00:14:05.50 And it was one of the best decisions that we probably 00:14:05.53\00:14:07.73 have made outside our commitment to Jesus Christ. 00:14:07.76\00:14:11.24 And I remember as we found that Donna 00:14:11.27\00:14:14.40 was expecting our first born 00:14:14.43\00:14:16.87 she had an amniocentesis she is little bit older. 00:14:16.90\00:14:19.80 And you know they want to be sure 00:14:19.83\00:14:22.00 that the child was gonna be all right 00:14:22.03\00:14:24.27 and so we knew it was gonna be a boy 00:14:24.30\00:14:27.64 and so we begin to go through the name books. 00:14:27.67\00:14:31.19 Anybody else gone through the name books 00:14:31.22\00:14:33.34 or this process so you know what I'm talking about. 00:14:33.37\00:14:36.20 So we have got number of name, name books 00:14:36.23\00:14:38.95 and we were going through all of these names. 00:14:38.98\00:14:40.88 And we're looking only name that sounds good 00:14:40.91\00:14:43.22 but we're looking at the meanings of the name. 00:14:43.25\00:14:46.30 And finally, my wife and I agreed that we were 00:14:46.33\00:14:50.40 going to name him David which means beloved. 00:14:50.43\00:14:55.04 And we took this solemn oath 00:14:55.07\00:14:57.08 that it was gonna be David not Dave, 00:14:57.11\00:14:59.98 not Davy it's gonna be David. 00:15:00.01\00:15:02.55 Now taking into account that in time 00:15:02.58\00:15:04.72 you know many of his classmates so called him Dave or Davy 00:15:04.75\00:15:09.24 but he is still David to us. 00:15:09.27\00:15:11.73 And we chose for a middle name that name Michael 00:15:11.76\00:15:15.59 which means who is like God. 00:15:15.62\00:15:19.65 Okay, so names, names to us are important. 00:15:19.68\00:15:23.44 In fact, we ask what is in, the name. 00:15:23.47\00:15:26.58 Well, the name comes to stand for the character 00:15:26.61\00:15:29.66 and the personality of the individual, right 00:15:29.69\00:15:34.10 and how true that has to be 00:15:34.13\00:15:35.70 when we talk about this name as it relates to Jesus. 00:15:35.73\00:15:39.61 We find two important things in this name Immanuel. 00:15:39.64\00:15:42.32 First of all, it identifies who He is. 00:15:42.35\00:15:44.87 It identifies Him as God and it identifies 00:15:44.90\00:15:48.23 the purpose for which He would come 00:15:48.26\00:15:49.91 that is He would come to be with us. 00:15:49.94\00:15:52.85 God was not satisfied to love us from afar. 00:15:52.88\00:15:56.31 This was a part of the divine plan that Jesus would come. 00:15:56.34\00:16:01.65 He who was one with God to come 00:16:01.68\00:16:05.31 to represent the God had as He came to this planet 00:16:05.34\00:16:10.95 and to reveal to us what God was really like. 00:16:10.98\00:16:16.48 And that's vitally important as you think about it 00:16:16.51\00:16:19.30 to know who God really is like. 00:16:19.33\00:16:21.07 Take a look at Colossians 2:9 00:16:21.10\00:16:23.40 and you have been looking at your notes 00:16:23.43\00:16:24.97 you know we are gonna covering some territory 00:16:25.00\00:16:27.37 in the meaning tonight, aren't we. 00:16:27.40\00:16:29.67 In Colossians 2:9 it says, of Jesus 00:16:29.70\00:16:32.06 "For in him dwelleth 00:16:32.09\00:16:33.81 all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." 00:16:33.84\00:16:39.56 In bodily form we call this the incarnation. 00:16:39.59\00:16:44.21 This process by which God in the person of Jesus 00:16:44.24\00:16:49.29 took upon himself our humanity, this was, 00:16:49.32\00:16:56.74 you know, this was well part of the divine plan 00:16:56.77\00:16:58.93 in which God determined to identify himself 00:16:58.96\00:17:02.52 very specifically with us in our need. 00:17:02.55\00:17:06.59 And in the midst of this tragedy 00:17:06.62\00:17:08.56 that it overcome us this matter of sin. 00:17:08.59\00:17:12.40 And I would add to this Hebrews Chapter 1 00:17:12.43\00:17:15.30 turn with me to the New Testament page 169 to Hebrews 1 00:17:15.33\00:17:21.12 and we are gonna be looking at verses 1-3. 00:17:21.15\00:17:26.30 Hebrews 1, we're gonna find this 00:17:26.33\00:17:30.04 to be a fascinating book in nights to come. 00:17:30.07\00:17:34.21 It's a book I find that many Christians 00:17:34.24\00:17:36.02 really haven't spent much time in 00:17:36.05\00:17:38.02 but here we are, 00:17:38.05\00:17:39.30 we are looking at Hebrews Chapter 1 00:17:39.33\00:17:40.84 as I said we're gonna be looking at verses 1-3. 00:17:40.87\00:17:44.32 Where it says, "God, after He spoke long ago 00:17:44.35\00:17:47.54 to the fathers in the prophets 00:17:47.57\00:17:50.08 in many portions and in many ways, 00:17:50.11\00:17:52.66 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son." 00:17:52.69\00:17:58.57 And it's true. 00:17:58.60\00:17:59.79 I mean we have the record of the prophets 00:17:59.82\00:18:01.91 and the things that will reveal to them by God. 00:18:01.94\00:18:04.71 That's what we're studying as we open 00:18:04.74\00:18:06.17 the Word of God night by night. 00:18:06.20\00:18:07.75 But it says in verse 2 00:18:07.78\00:18:09.07 that God now has spoken to us in His Son. 00:18:09.10\00:18:11.85 That is that God has a message for us in the person of Jesus 00:18:11.88\00:18:18.08 when He came to this planet of ours. 00:18:18.11\00:18:21.48 And it goes on to speak of Jesus 00:18:21.51\00:18:23.42 "Whom He appointed heir of all things, 00:18:23.45\00:18:25.79 through whom also He made the world. 00:18:25.82\00:18:28.21 And He is the radiance of His glory." 00:18:28.24\00:18:31.93 This is speaking of the relationship 00:18:31.96\00:18:33.39 between the Father and the Son. 00:18:33.42\00:18:35.39 Jesus "is the radiance of His glory 00:18:35.42\00:18:38.26 and the exact representation of His nature." 00:18:38.29\00:18:45.09 And I want to prattle little bit at this matter 00:18:45.12\00:18:47.11 of the relationship between God 00:18:47.14\00:18:50.28 as we call Him God the Father and God the Son." 00:18:50.31\00:18:55.01 He is the radiance of His glory and immediate illustration 00:18:55.04\00:18:59.15 that comes to mind is that of the sun. 00:18:59.18\00:19:02.14 The sun, you know, some 93 million miles away 00:19:02.17\00:19:05.99 from this planet traveling at a speed of light 00:19:06.02\00:19:08.64 186,000 miles a second. 00:19:08.67\00:19:10.37 It takes a beam of like eight and a half minutes 00:19:10.40\00:19:13.00 to reach the earth 00:19:13.03\00:19:14.56 ones it leaves that, that heavenly body. 00:19:14.59\00:19:17.90 So that is a long distance out there. 00:19:17.93\00:19:20.43 Now here is the question 00:19:20.46\00:19:21.49 how do we know that the sun is out there. 00:19:21.52\00:19:25.06 That's not tricky question. 00:19:25.09\00:19:28.25 How do we know that it's out there 00:19:28.28\00:19:31.01 because it emanates light, right. 00:19:31.04\00:19:35.58 It provides light. 00:19:35.61\00:19:37.21 And further more, light radiates 00:19:37.24\00:19:40.89 particularly in the summer time heat. 00:19:40.92\00:19:44.29 As that ray stands in relationship to the sun 00:19:44.32\00:19:49.84 so Jesus stands in relationship to the Father. 00:19:49.87\00:19:54.34 He is the radiance of His glory. 00:19:54.37\00:19:58.58 He is the Revelation of the person of God. 00:19:58.61\00:20:02.00 He is the Revelation of what is 00:20:02.03\00:20:04.07 within the heart of God towards us as sinners. 00:20:04.10\00:20:08.42 And that is the message it's a vital one. 00:20:08.45\00:20:12.01 In 1 Timothy 3:16 its says of Jesus 00:20:12.04\00:20:14.64 "He was revealed in the flesh." 00:20:14.67\00:20:18.00 He came and took our humanity upon Himself 00:20:18.03\00:20:20.24 and as I mentioned we call this the incarnation, 00:20:20.27\00:20:23.64 the process by which God took upon Himself 00:20:23.67\00:20:26.19 the lamentations of our humanity. 00:20:26.22\00:20:29.47 And I don't think you and I can be really begun 00:20:29.50\00:20:31.79 to appreciate what God was willing to do, 00:20:31.82\00:20:35.28 God in giving his Son and God the Son as we know Him. 00:20:35.31\00:20:40.95 What it meant for them to put into place 00:20:40.98\00:20:44.97 the plan of salvation that required Jesus 00:20:45.00\00:20:48.38 to come down here to this earth 00:20:48.41\00:20:51.06 and to take our form upon Him. 00:20:51.09\00:20:54.71 Probably the best illustration I could share with you 00:20:54.74\00:20:57.04 is the story about Marilyn Laszlo 00:20:57.07\00:21:00.17 and that may not be name that your acquainted with 00:21:00.20\00:21:01.91 but Marilyn and this is story 00:21:01.94\00:21:03.27 that happened just in recent times. 00:21:03.30\00:21:04.79 But Marilyn as a young person had this burning desire 00:21:04.82\00:21:09.57 to get involved in missionary work. 00:21:09.60\00:21:12.62 And she made the determination 00:21:12.65\00:21:14.53 I'm not sure how that all came about. 00:21:14.56\00:21:16.37 She made the determination 00:21:16.40\00:21:17.67 that she was going to go specifically 00:21:17.70\00:21:19.45 to this epic one tribe in Papua New Guinea 00:21:19.48\00:21:25.00 and she spent the next 20 years among this primitive people. 00:21:25.03\00:21:30.97 She had this burning desire 00:21:31.00\00:21:32.17 to share the love of God with them. 00:21:32.20\00:21:34.28 And in the process she determined 00:21:34.31\00:21:36.86 that she was going to put the Bible, 00:21:36.89\00:21:39.63 translate the Bible into their language. 00:21:39.66\00:21:42.73 Now that was gonna be a tough thing to do 00:21:42.76\00:21:44.76 because among the other things she had to do 00:21:44.79\00:21:46.63 she had to learn the language and furthermore 00:21:46.66\00:21:50.01 they didn't have a written, they have the alphabet, 00:21:50.04\00:21:54.10 they didn't have a written language. 00:21:54.13\00:21:56.38 She had to spend time to develop a written language 00:21:56.41\00:21:59.85 which also met that if she was going to translate 00:21:59.88\00:22:02.75 the Bible into that, that language 00:22:02.78\00:22:05.32 she was going to have to teach them 00:22:05.35\00:22:07.29 how to read that language. 00:22:07.32\00:22:09.30 Think of, think of the dedication 00:22:09.33\00:22:12.30 and the commitment that, that meant for her. 00:22:12.33\00:22:15.50 In fact it was in 1990 that it was published 00:22:15.53\00:22:21.14 the Bible in the language of this people. 00:22:21.17\00:22:23.77 But think what she was, 00:22:23.80\00:22:25.14 think about what she was willing to do. 00:22:25.17\00:22:27.37 She was willing uproot herself from her culture. 00:22:27.40\00:22:30.61 From, you know, from the United States 00:22:30.64\00:22:32.65 she was willing to go 00:22:32.68\00:22:34.78 and live in a very primitive society. 00:22:34.81\00:22:39.96 And I tell you, that's a represents our power 00:22:39.99\00:22:42.12 for motivation doesn't it. 00:22:42.15\00:22:44.34 But my friend, that is just a faith representation 00:22:44.37\00:22:48.20 of what Jesus did for us when He left the courts of glory 00:22:48.23\00:22:52.20 and came down to this earth. 00:22:52.23\00:22:56.45 He did that of course because He loves us. 00:22:56.48\00:23:00.71 Now while we are still in Hebrews in chapter 1 00:23:00.74\00:23:03.19 and if you've missed and watch your place 00:23:03.22\00:23:05.98 it's a New Testament page 169 we find in Hebrews 1:5 00:23:06.01\00:23:11.73 it says "For to which of the angels did He ever say, 00:23:11.76\00:23:15.58 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You?' 00:23:15.61\00:23:19.47 And again, 'I will be a Father to Him 00:23:19.50\00:23:21.37 and He shall be a Son to Me?'" 00:23:21.40\00:23:25.06 Now this idea of Jesus being the only begotten of the Father. 00:23:25.09\00:23:30.63 This phrase we find several times in the New Testament. 00:23:30.66\00:23:33.37 This idea of the only begotten Son 00:23:33.40\00:23:36.73 that He is the Son, He God is the Father 00:23:36.76\00:23:40.84 is one that has been confusing for lot of people. 00:23:40.87\00:23:44.24 I have to mean even in my early ministry 00:23:44.27\00:23:46.04 I still was pondering this even though 00:23:46.07\00:23:47.89 I knew in the Greek the word actually meant the unique one 00:23:47.92\00:23:51.24 and He is very unique but this idea that began 00:23:51.27\00:23:54.66 because just a suffice reading of it seems 00:23:54.69\00:23:57.86 to give the impression that He had a beginning of days 00:23:57.89\00:24:02.71 and there is some take that position. 00:24:02.74\00:24:05.70 But then as I, you know in time it began 00:24:05.73\00:24:09.26 to become clearly this is talking about 00:24:09.29\00:24:12.14 when Jesus came to this earth and was incarnated. 00:24:12.17\00:24:17.77 When He was born that helpless baby in Bethlehem 00:24:17.80\00:24:22.02 taking our human nature upon Himself. 00:24:22.05\00:24:24.66 He was begotten of the Father in that sense. 00:24:24.69\00:24:28.83 And that just pulled up on 00:24:28.86\00:24:30.93 you know it just cleared up the whole issue for me. 00:24:30.96\00:24:33.65 And that's what it is talking about 00:24:33.68\00:24:35.77 because as we already read in Micah 5:2 00:24:35.80\00:24:38.70 He comes from the days of eternity 00:24:38.73\00:24:40.86 I mean that's the dimension of time 00:24:40.89\00:24:42.56 without beginning or end. 00:24:42.59\00:24:45.89 Because again as we know He is always existed. 00:24:45.92\00:24:49.26 Another text I would share with you is here on the screen 00:24:49.29\00:24:52.60 Philippians Chapter 2 and beginning with verse 5. 00:24:52.63\00:24:56.35 As we try to take some measurement 00:24:56.38\00:24:59.19 of what it meant for Jesus to come. 00:24:59.22\00:25:02.61 It says "Have this attitude in yourselves 00:25:02.64\00:25:05.00 which was also in Christ Jesus, 00:25:05.03\00:25:07.45 who, although He existed in the form of God, 00:25:07.48\00:25:10.37 did not regard equality with God 00:25:10.40\00:25:12.70 a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself." 00:25:12.73\00:25:15.84 Just think about that phrase. 00:25:15.87\00:25:16.94 Jesus was willing empty Himself empty Himself 00:25:16.97\00:25:19.88 of all of those prerogatives that were His by nature. 00:25:19.91\00:25:24.72 Those prerogatives that have belong to God alone. 00:25:24.75\00:25:27.56 And it goes on say, 00:25:27.59\00:25:28.63 "Taking the form of a bondservant, 00:25:28.66\00:25:32.00 and being made in the likeness of men." 00:25:32.03\00:25:37.81 Interesting term, in the likeness of men 00:25:37.84\00:25:39.84 because there is something again very unique about Jesus. 00:25:39.87\00:25:43.47 Yes, He had our humanity. 00:25:43.50\00:25:46.22 He took our humanity but He was human 00:25:46.25\00:25:50.52 but yet He was God. 00:25:50.55\00:25:54.73 So it took "the likeness of men. 00:25:54.76\00:25:56.37 And being found in appearance as a man, 00:25:56.40\00:25:58.64 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient 00:25:58.67\00:26:00.87 to the point of death, even death on a cross." 00:26:00.90\00:26:06.00 Oh, my friend, there is sense 00:26:06.03\00:26:07.64 in which the incarnation of Jesus 00:26:07.67\00:26:09.47 must always remain a mystery for how can we explain 00:26:09.50\00:26:14.01 how the all powerful eternal God 00:26:14.04\00:26:16.87 could take upon Himself the lamentations of human flesh. 00:26:16.90\00:26:21.45 But that's exactly what He did. 00:26:21.48\00:26:23.30 Think of what He was willing to do out of His love for us. 00:26:23.33\00:26:26.16 Think of it being conceived in the womb of Mary 00:26:26.19\00:26:29.79 that nine-month gestation period as His human body was forming. 00:26:29.82\00:26:34.26 This is God and then to be born to be that 00:26:34.29\00:26:39.00 and as I've said several times that help us little baby. 00:26:39.03\00:26:43.12 You know did He need to have diapers changed? 00:26:43.15\00:26:46.19 Do they have diapers back then? 00:26:46.22\00:26:48.46 Well, he must have something. 00:26:48.49\00:26:51.00 And to be as totally depended upon His parents 00:26:51.03\00:26:53.98 as any other little baby this was God. 00:26:54.01\00:26:57.76 And again we ask the question what was the motivation 00:26:57.79\00:27:01.47 that God will be willing to do that for you and for me? 00:27:01.50\00:27:04.93 And, my friend, it is in one word it is out of love 00:27:04.96\00:27:08.92 that He was willing to do that. 00:27:08.95\00:27:11.70 And then to grow and mature and then finally you know, 00:27:11.73\00:27:16.74 finally they took Him and crucified Him 00:27:16.77\00:27:19.23 and put Him to death. 00:27:19.26\00:27:22.28 It just kind of takes your breath away 00:27:22.31\00:27:23.54 when you begin to really think about it. 00:27:23.57\00:27:25.84 So how far is it from sitting in throne 00:27:25.87\00:27:28.88 the majesty of the universe 00:27:28.91\00:27:30.67 to be in that little baby in Bethlehem? 00:27:30.70\00:27:33.45 Well, my friend, it is immeasurable 00:27:33.48\00:27:36.24 and yet it is the measure of God's love 00:27:36.27\00:27:38.73 for the human race. 00:27:38.76\00:27:40.50 It is the measure of God's love for you and for me. 00:27:40.53\00:27:45.60 My friend, nobody has ever loved us 00:27:45.63\00:27:47.31 as fully and as completely as God has loved us. 00:27:47.34\00:27:51.13 And its humbling its, its breathtaking, 00:27:51.16\00:27:54.17 its hard to really wrap on minds around that God, 00:27:54.20\00:27:58.71 the eternal one, all powerful one 00:27:58.74\00:28:01.03 that He would love me that I would manner 00:28:01.06\00:28:04.12 that He would be willing to sacrifice 00:28:04.15\00:28:06.00 and give off Himself as only He could do 00:28:06.03\00:28:09.56 and as He has done and continues to do. 00:28:09.59\00:28:13.43 I'll tell you its understanding that, 00:28:13.46\00:28:15.80 that wins so many hearts over 00:28:15.83\00:28:20.74 because as I have been saying it's a revelation of love. 00:28:20.77\00:28:23.06 Take a look at John 1, the New Testament page 71. 00:28:23.09\00:28:27.63 John 1:18. 00:28:27.66\00:28:31.33 Another interesting, I will tell you the Bible 00:28:31.36\00:28:33.25 is just full of interesting truths and revelations. 00:28:33.28\00:28:38.92 And one of the things we're gonna be discovering 00:28:38.95\00:28:40.86 and may be you have discovered already. 00:28:40.89\00:28:42.59 This book is such a dynamic book. 00:28:42.62\00:28:46.05 You can spend a lifetime studying this book 00:28:46.08\00:28:48.48 and yet there will be new, new answers and new revelations 00:28:48.51\00:28:53.36 that will come as the Holy Spirit 00:28:53.39\00:28:56.09 opens our understanding about what God, 00:28:56.12\00:29:01.41 who God is and what He has done for us. 00:29:01.44\00:29:03.55 Here in John 1:18, 00:29:03.58\00:29:05.81 we find this verse, this statement. 00:29:05.84\00:29:09.09 "No one has seen God at any time, 00:29:09.12\00:29:11.87 the only begotten God 00:29:11.90\00:29:13.86 who is in the bosom of the Father, 00:29:13.89\00:29:16.02 He has explained Him." 00:29:16.05\00:29:19.66 You see because of sin we were separated from God. 00:29:19.69\00:29:24.58 And sin, you know, sin always does us, 00:29:24.61\00:29:27.90 sin always separates. 00:29:27.93\00:29:30.33 And so God became, you know, I share with you 00:29:30.36\00:29:33.31 in Genesis Chapter 3 00:29:33.34\00:29:35.09 when Adam and Eve sinned the first thing 00:29:35.12\00:29:37.03 that we'd know that took place is their whole view about God 00:29:37.06\00:29:40.21 went through a fundamental change. 00:29:40.24\00:29:42.83 When we remember when they heard God 00:29:42.86\00:29:44.07 coming into the garden in the cool part of the day 00:29:44.10\00:29:47.09 they found themselves running from Him. 00:29:47.12\00:29:49.46 They would overcome with fear. 00:29:49.49\00:29:53.65 And so God, you know, this whole misapprehension 00:29:53.68\00:29:57.28 of who God is, 00:29:57.31\00:29:58.58 God seems so distant and so far removed. 00:29:58.61\00:30:03.16 And that's one of the fundamental reasons 00:30:03.19\00:30:05.79 why God had to act to reveal and Satan was throwing 00:30:05.82\00:30:09.57 all of these lies out of who God was, 00:30:09.60\00:30:12.60 all of these misrepresentations about God 00:30:12.63\00:30:15.68 that He was a stern judge and He was harsh 00:30:15.71\00:30:18.45 and all of these things and arbitrary. 00:30:18.48\00:30:22.29 And so part of why Jesus came was 00:30:22.32\00:30:24.06 to set the records straight about who really God is 00:30:24.09\00:30:28.17 and what He is like and how He relates to you 00:30:28.20\00:30:31.15 and how He relates to me as marvelous revelation. 00:30:31.18\00:30:36.12 "No one has seen God at any time the only begotten God 00:30:36.15\00:30:40.89 who is in the bosom of the Father." 00:30:40.92\00:30:42.80 That's speaking of the intimate relationship 00:30:42.83\00:30:46.41 between God the Father as we know Him and God the Son. 00:30:46.44\00:30:51.26 "Has explained Him." 00:30:51.29\00:30:52.74 In the King James Version you will find 00:30:52.77\00:30:54.58 that it says "The only begotten Son." 00:30:54.61\00:30:56.97 And I'm gonna share a little bit up with you 00:30:57.00\00:30:58.44 about the Greek and Hebrew. 00:30:58.47\00:31:00.63 You know, back and they didn't have xerox machines 00:31:00.66\00:31:02.90 they didn't have printers they had scribes. 00:31:02.93\00:31:07.05 This was a profession that was dedicated 00:31:07.08\00:31:09.52 producing documents in a secular setting 00:31:09.55\00:31:12.81 and in a religious setting, 00:31:12.84\00:31:14.78 the scribes were used to copy the scriptures, 00:31:14.81\00:31:18.63 the words of the prophets. 00:31:18.66\00:31:21.02 And so what we really have 00:31:21.05\00:31:22.61 when we go back to look the original languages 00:31:22.64\00:31:25.44 what we really have our copies of copies of copies. 00:31:25.47\00:31:29.66 And in the process of time, inadvertently no matter 00:31:29.69\00:31:32.43 how carefully they were encopying the scriptures 00:31:32.46\00:31:36.43 inadvertently and they were some changes, 00:31:36.46\00:31:38.53 there were some differences not changes, 00:31:38.56\00:31:40.27 they were some differences 00:31:40.30\00:31:41.95 as you compare some of the manuscripts. 00:31:41.98\00:31:44.48 And I will tell you when you go through this 00:31:44.51\00:31:46.26 it doesn't fundamentally affect the message 00:31:46.29\00:31:50.05 that we find in the Bible whatsoever. 00:31:50.08\00:31:52.47 And this is gonna be good illustration of it. 00:31:52.50\00:31:54.51 Five hundred years ago when the King James translators 00:31:54.54\00:31:57.11 where going through this text 00:31:57.14\00:31:58.86 as they were seeking to translate it. 00:31:58.89\00:32:00.79 The very best manuscripts of that day 00:32:00.82\00:32:03.70 seem to point to the fact that the word in the Greek 00:32:03.73\00:32:06.17 was probably originally the word huios 00:32:06.20\00:32:09.16 that we translate son and so it went 00:32:09.19\00:32:11.26 into the King James Version as the only begotten son. 00:32:11.29\00:32:16.17 However in 500 years we have made further discoveries 00:32:16.20\00:32:21.18 of other manuscripts that are considered 00:32:21.21\00:32:24.06 to be even more accurate and in those manuscripts 00:32:24.09\00:32:28.89 the word is the word theos the word we translate God 00:32:28.92\00:32:33.37 our word theology comes from this, 00:32:33.40\00:32:35.06 from this word God. 00:32:35.09\00:32:36.86 It's the study of God 00:32:36.89\00:32:39.14 that's the theology is the study of God. 00:32:39.17\00:32:42.07 And so that's what the New American Standard translates 00:32:42.10\00:32:44.76 it the only begotten God that says something 00:32:44.79\00:32:52.38 because only He who was one with God 00:32:52.41\00:32:56.43 in that you know not only new God 00:32:56.46\00:32:58.74 but He was God could come 00:32:58.77\00:33:01.85 to explain or reveal Him to us, right. 00:33:01.88\00:33:08.55 Now could have angels been sent to this earth 00:33:08.58\00:33:11.64 to reveal something towards about God, 00:33:11.67\00:33:13.36 would they have anything to say towards about who God is? 00:33:13.39\00:33:16.19 Of course, they you know, they didn't have Him, 00:33:16.22\00:33:19.05 they know Him face to face. 00:33:19.08\00:33:21.47 They certainly would have something to reveal 00:33:21.50\00:33:23.38 but they're not one with God in the sense 00:33:23.41\00:33:25.61 that Jesus is one with God. 00:33:25.64\00:33:29.43 So whether it's to be only begotten God 00:33:29.46\00:33:31.67 or the only begotten Son, 00:33:31.70\00:33:32.88 does it make a fundamental difference. 00:33:32.91\00:33:35.29 No we know its talking about Jesus 00:33:35.32\00:33:37.21 whichever whatever term that you use. 00:33:37.24\00:33:40.92 But again the point is only He who was one with God to come 00:33:40.95\00:33:44.76 and really reveal what was in the heart of God 00:33:44.79\00:33:47.67 that's the point that we are making. 00:33:47.70\00:33:50.29 And I will take you on to John 14:8, 9 on the screen. 00:33:50.32\00:33:56.73 Where it says "Thomas said to Him." 00:33:56.76\00:33:59.16 Remember Thomas we call him doubting Thomas 00:33:59.19\00:34:01.36 but "Thomas said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, 00:34:01.39\00:34:04.89 and it is enough for us.' 00:34:04.92\00:34:07.28 And 'Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, 00:34:07.31\00:34:10.46 and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? 00:34:10.49\00:34:13.44 He who has seen Me has'" seen whom. 00:34:13.47\00:34:17.11 "Has seen the Father how do you say, 00:34:17.14\00:34:19.75 'Show us the Father'"? 00:34:19.78\00:34:21.70 Again it's an understanding of the fundamental mission 00:34:21.73\00:34:25.47 that brought Jesus to this earth. 00:34:25.50\00:34:28.46 "For God so loved the world 00:34:28.49\00:34:29.60 that He sent his only begotten son." 00:34:29.63\00:34:33.98 He was a divine emissary sent from heaven 00:34:34.01\00:34:38.11 to this earth with a message to all of us. 00:34:38.14\00:34:42.94 And Jesus said it "if you've seen Me 00:34:42.97\00:34:44.74 you have seen the Father." 00:34:44.77\00:34:46.65 If you want to know what the God the Father 00:34:46.68\00:34:48.49 is like my friend, 00:34:48.52\00:34:49.55 get acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:34:49.58\00:34:52.03 And if you know anything about Jesus 00:34:52.06\00:34:53.43 you know something about what is within the heart of God. 00:34:53.46\00:34:56.59 Because what we see revealed in Jesus 00:34:56.62\00:34:58.66 is love and compassion and mercy and tenderness, 00:34:58.69\00:35:02.81 patience and kindness, 00:35:02.84\00:35:05.18 right, is that what we find in Jesus. 00:35:05.21\00:35:08.12 My friend, that comes straight out of the heart of God. 00:35:08.15\00:35:12.95 God is exactly like that which means 00:35:12.98\00:35:19.74 that it could have been God the Father 00:35:19.77\00:35:22.27 as we know Him that came to the earth 00:35:22.30\00:35:25.07 and God the Son, Jesus that remained in heaven 00:35:25.10\00:35:28.69 and if that had happened would the Revelation have been 00:35:28.72\00:35:31.59 any different than what it is in the person of Jesus? 00:35:31.62\00:35:36.92 Of course, not 00:35:36.95\00:35:39.96 because it's all about who He is. 00:35:39.99\00:35:42.76 And my friend, if we truly understand this 00:35:42.79\00:35:46.85 whatever doubts we have about God in His attitude 00:35:46.88\00:35:49.34 of towards us are to be cleared this, 00:35:49.37\00:35:53.05 this shadow of misapprehension about God 00:35:53.08\00:35:55.56 ought to be removed when we truly understand 00:35:55.59\00:35:58.56 the relationship between the Father and the Son 00:35:58.59\00:36:01.57 and the divine mission 00:36:01.60\00:36:03.54 that brought Jesus to this planet. 00:36:03.57\00:36:07.65 And by the way remember the title of the subject 00:36:07.68\00:36:10.31 Revelation Cosmic Warrior. 00:36:10.34\00:36:12.17 Who would the Revelations Cosmic Warrior be? 00:36:12.20\00:36:15.38 The son of God. 00:36:15.41\00:36:17.91 Remember, I mean again we were just saying last night 00:36:17.94\00:36:20.73 this whole mess begin in heaven, 00:36:20.76\00:36:22.35 this conflict broke out there in heaven, 00:36:22.38\00:36:24.76 this rebellion, this sin. 00:36:24.79\00:36:26.62 It came down to this earth. 00:36:26.65\00:36:28.81 It's a God to human race. 00:36:28.84\00:36:31.17 He was defeated in heaven. 00:36:31.20\00:36:32.81 He was forced out, He was forced down 00:36:32.84\00:36:34.53 to this earth but my friend, 00:36:34.56\00:36:36.32 God was not content just to let this thing play out 00:36:36.35\00:36:41.86 without His intervention. 00:36:41.89\00:36:43.77 God stepped right in the middle of the situation 00:36:43.80\00:36:46.98 and that is one of the fundamental reasons 00:36:47.01\00:36:48.79 why Jesus came to this earth to deal with it on our behalf. 00:36:48.82\00:36:54.42 And in the end to bring an end to it. 00:36:54.45\00:36:56.69 My friend, He was defeated in heaven 00:36:56.72\00:36:58.52 and let me tell you it is a given 00:36:58.55\00:37:02.08 because of the victory that Jesus gained 00:37:02.11\00:37:04.02 at the Cross of Cavalry 00:37:04.05\00:37:05.49 He is going to be defeated 00:37:05.52\00:37:07.24 in the end here upon this planet. 00:37:07.27\00:37:09.71 Amen. 00:37:09.74\00:37:10.77 And so Jesus came, came to reveal 00:37:10.80\00:37:13.78 you know again to set a record straight about who God was. 00:37:13.81\00:37:17.55 Jesus came to remove, remove this misapprehension 00:37:17.58\00:37:21.64 about God this shadow 00:37:21.67\00:37:23.63 that keeps from really understanding 00:37:23.66\00:37:25.86 who God is and He came and He removed the shadow 00:37:25.89\00:37:30.70 by the Revelation of God's incomprehensible love. 00:37:30.73\00:37:35.75 And my friend, its promise to come in our hearts 00:37:35.78\00:37:37.54 and remove that shadow misapprehension 00:37:37.57\00:37:39.51 about who God really is. 00:37:39.54\00:37:41.58 He will do that for us. 00:37:41.61\00:37:43.42 And that's why it says in 2 Corinthians 5:19 00:37:43.45\00:37:46.10 "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself." 00:37:46.13\00:37:50.57 And let me tell you God took the first steps. 00:37:50.60\00:37:52.90 Sin had separated us 00:37:52.93\00:37:54.44 God stepped right into the breach. 00:37:54.47\00:37:56.86 He said this is not going to stand. 00:37:56.89\00:37:59.21 I'm gonna intervene in this whole situation. 00:37:59.24\00:38:01.99 You guess because remember He could not let you and me go. 00:38:02.02\00:38:07.89 Amen. 00:38:07.92\00:38:10.59 It's fantastic when you really begin to take, 00:38:10.62\00:38:13.16 again the measure of it. 00:38:13.19\00:38:15.06 And so much that could be really said about this 00:38:15.09\00:38:17.81 and yet we just fall short of really, 00:38:17.84\00:38:20.37 you know, I think we'll spend the ages of eternity, 00:38:20.40\00:38:24.41 you know, deepening our understanding 00:38:24.44\00:38:27.16 of what God has done for us. 00:38:27.19\00:38:29.03 Take a look at Isaiah 40 the Old Testament page 513, 00:38:29.06\00:38:35.11 513, we're gonna be looking 00:38:35.14\00:38:36.78 at another messianic prophecy right here. 00:38:36.81\00:38:40.14 Isaiah 40, I told you we're gonna be in Isaiah 00:38:40.17\00:38:43.92 several times tonight 00:38:43.95\00:38:46.06 and this is an interesting prophecy 00:38:46.09\00:38:48.50 as you will see the 40th chapter that we're coming to, 00:38:48.53\00:38:54.01 and verse 3 this is what we find. 00:38:54.04\00:38:56.81 It says "A voice is calling, 00:38:56.84\00:38:59.30 'Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness, 00:38:59.33\00:39:02.59 make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.'" 00:39:02.62\00:39:07.63 Now I want you take a look at the word LORD. 00:39:07.66\00:39:10.69 Take a look at it. 00:39:10.72\00:39:12.06 Notice that the letters are all uppercase. 00:39:12.09\00:39:17.02 Whenever in the Old Testament 00:39:17.05\00:39:19.13 in the New American Standard or in the King James 00:39:19.16\00:39:22.76 when you see the word LORD written that way 00:39:22.79\00:39:26.10 know that in the original language it would be Hebrew 00:39:26.13\00:39:29.49 the word is actually the word Jehovah, 00:39:29.52\00:39:32.83 one of the unique names associated with God. 00:39:32.86\00:39:36.16 Probably, better pronounced, Jehovah. 00:39:36.19\00:39:40.62 So again it's talking about 00:39:40.65\00:39:42.54 "A voice is heard, clear the way for Jehovah," 00:39:42.57\00:39:47.76 His voice is heard in the wilderness. 00:39:47.79\00:39:49.51 "Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God." 00:39:49.54\00:39:52.58 Compare this now to John 1 00:39:52.61\00:39:55.11 we will find this in the New Testament page 71, 00:39:55.14\00:39:57.93 page 71, John 1:21. 00:39:57.96\00:40:03.05 Now as we come to this chapter and to this text 00:40:03.08\00:40:06.46 the background of this is a story of John the Baptist 00:40:06.49\00:40:10.12 and I will tell you this spirit filled man preaching a message 00:40:10.15\00:40:15.49 of repentance with creating quite a stir 00:40:15.52\00:40:19.44 among the people of God. 00:40:19.47\00:40:21.68 And finally a delegation was set by the leaders 00:40:21.71\00:40:25.21 there in Jerusalem out into the wilderness 00:40:25.24\00:40:27.16 they saw John the Baptist out 00:40:27.19\00:40:28.71 and they had some questions for him. 00:40:28.74\00:40:30.41 Who are you anyway and what you're about? 00:40:30.44\00:40:33.56 And I want you to notice how he responded 00:40:33.59\00:40:36.05 as we come to verse 23, he said. 00:40:36.08\00:40:39.06 This is what he said to them 00:40:39.09\00:40:40.36 "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 00:40:40.39\00:40:43.10 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' 00:40:43.13\00:40:45.20 as Isaiah the prophet said." 00:40:45.23\00:40:47.69 John clearly understood that his mission 00:40:47.72\00:40:50.45 was a fulfillment of this prophecy 00:40:50.48\00:40:52.78 that we just read in Isaiah 40. 00:40:52.81\00:40:56.02 And then we drop on down 00:40:56.05\00:40:57.34 in context of verse 27 because it goes on. 00:40:57.37\00:41:00.95 He bears witness to them 00:41:00.98\00:41:03.28 "It is He who comes after me, 00:41:03.31\00:41:05.35 the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." 00:41:05.38\00:41:09.67 It says "These things took place in Bethany 00:41:09.70\00:41:11.42 beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 00:41:11.45\00:41:14.47 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, 00:41:14.50\00:41:17.18 'Behold, the Lamb of God 00:41:17.21\00:41:18.93 who takes away the sin of the world.' 00:41:18.96\00:41:20.87 This is He on behalf of whom I said, 00:41:20.90\00:41:24.22 'After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, 00:41:24.25\00:41:28.02 for He existed before me.' 00:41:28.05\00:41:30.36 I did not recognize Him, 00:41:30.39\00:41:32.63 but so that He might be manifested to Israel, 00:41:32.66\00:41:36.25 I came baptizing in water." 00:41:36.28\00:41:39.60 Clearly John when he saw Jesus 00:41:39.63\00:41:43.10 he recognized the uniqueness of Jesus. 00:41:43.13\00:41:46.46 He recognized Him as the Lamb of God. 00:41:46.49\00:41:50.18 He recognized that this was the reason 00:41:50.21\00:41:52.52 why He was sent with this message to His people. 00:41:52.55\00:41:56.34 It was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. 00:41:56.37\00:41:59.89 And when you put these two verses together 00:41:59.92\00:42:03.31 my friend, it clearly identifies Jesus as Jehovah God. 00:42:03.34\00:42:09.64 Right, absolutely. 00:42:09.67\00:42:11.70 A name which we usually associate with God the Father 00:42:11.73\00:42:14.84 that often these names are actually 00:42:14.87\00:42:16.72 used interchangeably in the Godhead. 00:42:16.75\00:42:20.01 He is Jehovah God that came down to this earth 00:42:20.04\00:42:26.07 as we have already noted 00:42:26.10\00:42:28.83 on this divine mission on our behalf. 00:42:28.86\00:42:31.74 In Hebrews 2:14 it says 00:42:31.77\00:42:34.90 "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, 00:42:34.93\00:42:37.84 He Himself likewise also partook of the same, 00:42:37.87\00:42:40.59 that through death He might render powerless him 00:42:40.62\00:42:43.52 who had the power of death, that is, the devil." 00:42:43.55\00:42:47.27 And my friend, this is one of the fundamental reasons 00:42:47.30\00:42:49.81 another that is given to us in the scriptures 00:42:49.84\00:42:52.07 why Jesus took our humanity upon Himself. 00:42:52.10\00:42:54.52 It was for the purpose of the fact 00:42:54.55\00:42:56.29 that as a representative of the human race 00:42:56.32\00:43:00.65 that He would die as the divine substitute in our place. 00:43:00.68\00:43:06.37 He will take the consequences of sin upon Himself 00:43:06.40\00:43:09.63 so that we might have life. 00:43:09.66\00:43:11.24 But the problem was God 00:43:11.27\00:43:13.50 in His divinity cannot die, right. 00:43:13.53\00:43:19.47 God cannot die. 00:43:19.50\00:43:20.99 It is again one of the fundamental reasons 00:43:21.02\00:43:23.69 why He took our humanity upon Himself. 00:43:23.72\00:43:27.14 It was in our humanity that He offered up 00:43:27.17\00:43:31.39 His life as a sacrifice on Cavalry. 00:43:31.42\00:43:35.00 This is really fantastic stuff 00:43:35.03\00:43:37.24 that has been revealed to us in the Word of God. 00:43:37.27\00:43:39.72 And then I take you back to John 1 back 00:43:39.75\00:43:41.91 because we were there just on Friday night 00:43:41.94\00:43:44.57 in the different context as you may remember. 00:43:44.60\00:43:47.07 But in John 1 it says that 00:43:47.10\00:43:48.30 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 00:43:48.33\00:43:51.40 and the Word was God. 00:43:51.43\00:43:52.97 He was in the beginning with God." 00:43:53.00\00:43:54.97 And then it says "All things came into being by Him," by Him 00:43:55.00\00:44:01.79 "and apart from Him nothing came into being 00:44:01.82\00:44:03.92 that has come into being." 00:44:03.95\00:44:04.98 And remember, we dropped down to verse 14 00:44:05.01\00:44:06.76 as we are gonna do again 00:44:06.79\00:44:08.22 because it identifies who the word is this, 00:44:08.25\00:44:11.69 you know, all things came into be by Him it says. 00:44:11.72\00:44:14.99 It says "And the Word became flesh, 00:44:15.02\00:44:16.89 and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, 00:44:16.92\00:44:19.76 glory as of the only begotten from the Father, 00:44:19.79\00:44:22.36 full of grace and truth." 00:44:22.39\00:44:24.95 And currently we understand that the word was Jesus. 00:44:24.98\00:44:29.01 But verse 3 again indicates that all things 00:44:29.04\00:44:32.24 came into being by Him. 00:44:32.27\00:44:35.07 And apart from Him nothing came into being into existence 00:44:35.10\00:44:40.70 that exists which means He is the Creator, 00:44:40.73\00:44:44.49 that's the point we made on Friday night. 00:44:44.52\00:44:47.22 It means that He is the source of our life 00:44:47.25\00:44:52.25 which helps us to comprehend how it could be 00:44:52.28\00:44:55.50 that the forfeiture of that life on the Cross of Cavalry 00:44:55.53\00:44:59.01 could stand in substitution for the billions 00:44:59.04\00:45:01.84 that would inhabit this planet. 00:45:01.87\00:45:04.32 My friend, it was not a mere man 00:45:04.35\00:45:06.41 that hung upon the Cross of Cavalry it was God. 00:45:06.44\00:45:10.02 It was He who was the source of all life 00:45:10.05\00:45:12.98 that you led up Himself upon the Cross of Cavalry. 00:45:13.01\00:45:16.00 That is powerful, isn't it? Amen. 00:45:16.03\00:45:18.85 The life giver yielding up His life for us 00:45:18.88\00:45:22.54 and again the depths of love that it speaks of in 1 John 3:8. 00:45:22.57\00:45:28.47 It says "The Son of God appeared for this purpose, 00:45:28.50\00:45:31.37 that He might destroy the works of the devil." 00:45:31.40\00:45:36.66 Again on they are just really we could spend a couple hours 00:45:36.69\00:45:40.86 really going into this even into greater detail 00:45:40.89\00:45:43.69 looking on what the Bible reveals to us 00:45:43.72\00:45:46.25 about why Jesus came. 00:45:46.28\00:45:48.05 But it is fundamental He came to destroy 00:45:48.08\00:45:50.77 the works of the devil. 00:45:50.80\00:45:53.60 Satan has come into this world and he sowed all of these, 00:45:53.63\00:45:57.37 you know, the seeds of sin 00:45:57.40\00:45:59.13 and disruption and rebellion upon this planet. 00:45:59.16\00:46:02.18 Jesus followed, He came to this planet 00:46:02.21\00:46:06.06 and He sowed the seeds of love, 00:46:06.09\00:46:08.09 than of truth and of revelation of who God really is. 00:46:08.12\00:46:11.56 And my friend, the consequences of what Jesus 00:46:11.59\00:46:15.27 has done for us had been reverberating down 00:46:15.30\00:46:18.73 through the ages of time to our own day 00:46:18.76\00:46:22.31 and will continue I believe to do so 00:46:22.34\00:46:24.67 down to the ages of eternity. 00:46:24.70\00:46:28.97 Let me take you to Hebrews 3 00:46:29.00\00:46:30.64 you're gonna find this to be an interesting passage. 00:46:30.67\00:46:32.74 Hebrew, Hebrews 3 the New Testament page 170 00:46:32.77\00:46:37.20 beginning with verse 14. 00:46:37.23\00:46:38.73 We're gonna be looking at verses 14-17. 00:46:38.76\00:46:42.08 Now, you know, I think most of us 00:46:42.11\00:46:43.84 know this,by the way when we study the Bible 00:46:43.87\00:46:47.08 there are just some verses they're so clear, 00:46:47.11\00:46:49.67 you know, the gems in truth 00:46:49.70\00:46:50.73 you can just pick them up 00:46:50.76\00:46:52.50 and then there're other passages of scriptures 00:46:52.53\00:46:54.76 you have to do a little bit of digging. 00:46:54.79\00:46:57.22 You have to, you know, examine it 00:46:57.25\00:46:59.00 in light of, what the Bible has taught 00:46:59.03\00:47:00.64 and I tell you when you dig and really find out 00:47:00.67\00:47:04.08 what really is been taught often. 00:47:04.11\00:47:06.11 You know just these wonderful revelations 00:47:06.14\00:47:08.24 and I think you will find this to be one of those verses. 00:47:08.27\00:47:11.55 So Hebrews 3:14 it says 00:47:11.58\00:47:14.90 "For we have become partakers of Christ." 00:47:14.93\00:47:19.42 And notice the object here right off is who, is Christ. 00:47:19.45\00:47:24.97 Okay, I want you to follow this. 00:47:25.00\00:47:27.36 "For we have become partakers of Christ, 00:47:27.39\00:47:28.89 if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance 00:47:28.92\00:47:31.71 firm until the end, while it is said 00:47:31.74\00:47:35.14 'Today if you hear His voice,'" 00:47:35.17\00:47:38.55 whose voice would that be? 00:47:38.58\00:47:40.29 Has the object changed? 00:47:40.32\00:47:43.34 So it's speaking of whose voice? 00:47:43.37\00:47:45.92 Of Christ voice, Jesus voice. 00:47:45.95\00:47:48.05 "'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, 00:47:48.08\00:47:51.46 as when they provoked Me.'" 00:47:51.49\00:47:54.11 Again the object has not changed 00:47:54.14\00:47:56.70 and then take a look at verse 16 talking about provocation. 00:47:56.73\00:48:00.83 "For who provoked Him." Who can them be? 00:48:00.86\00:48:05.34 Again the object has not changed has it, 00:48:05.37\00:48:07.27 it still is talking about Jesus about Christ. 00:48:07.30\00:48:09.75 "For who provoked Him when they had heard?" 00:48:09.78\00:48:12.39 Now what is this talking about? 00:48:12.42\00:48:14.05 "Indeed, did not all those 00:48:14.08\00:48:15.82 who came out of Egypt led by Moses?" 00:48:15.85\00:48:21.33 Jesus had something to do with those Israelites 00:48:21.36\00:48:27.43 that had been locked in Egyptian bondage 00:48:27.46\00:48:30.36 and delivering them from bondage 00:48:30.39\00:48:33.43 that's exactly what the text is indicating 00:48:33.46\00:48:37.97 and it is verified, its verified as we go to statement 00:48:38.00\00:48:43.16 that Paul makes in his letter 00:48:43.19\00:48:44.76 to the Corinthians, the first letter. 00:48:44.79\00:48:46.93 Its chapter 10 and beginning with verse 1 00:48:46.96\00:48:49.64 now this is what Paul says. 00:48:49.67\00:48:50.70 "For I do not want you to be unaware, 00:48:50.73\00:48:52.94 brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud." 00:48:52.97\00:48:56.20 Remember, as they were traveling through the wilderness 00:48:56.23\00:48:58.67 say have gone through the Red Sea, 00:48:58.70\00:49:00.36 the path had been opened the Egyptians had tried 00:49:00.39\00:49:03.03 to follow through and then, 00:49:03.06\00:49:04.87 you know, the waters engulfed them 00:49:04.90\00:49:06.61 and the whole army was destroyed. 00:49:06.64\00:49:09.15 And so they are out into the desert, 00:49:09.18\00:49:11.74 interesting they-- it calls the desert of sin. 00:49:11.77\00:49:15.34 Hot dreary place and there was this cloud 00:49:15.37\00:49:18.71 that God provided for them as they were traveling 00:49:18.74\00:49:21.45 some two million of them 00:49:21.48\00:49:23.15 on their way to the Promise Land. 00:49:23.18\00:49:25.76 The cloud provided shade, a cover for them, okay. 00:49:25.79\00:49:31.64 So that's what he is talking about. 00:49:31.67\00:49:32.70 "Our fathers were all under the cloud 00:49:32.73\00:49:34.55 and all passed through the sea." 00:49:34.58\00:49:36.54 The Red Sea. 00:49:36.57\00:49:37.98 "And all drank the same spiritual." 00:49:38.01\00:49:40.47 the same spiritual rock. 00:49:40.50\00:49:43.87 "For they were drinking from a spiritual rock 00:49:43.90\00:49:46.22 which followed them." 00:49:46.25\00:49:47.28 Remember that when they needed water, 00:49:47.31\00:49:49.15 you know, they began to complaint of Moses 00:49:49.18\00:49:51.37 and he took the staff the first time 00:49:51.40\00:49:53.04 and struck the rock and water followed out for them. 00:49:53.07\00:49:56.15 Well, Paul is making his spiritual application here. 00:49:56.18\00:49:59.85 "Were drinking from a spiritual rock 00:49:59.88\00:50:01.32 which followed them and the rock was" 00:50:01.35\00:50:04.09 Whom? "Was Christ." 00:50:04.12\00:50:06.48 So who was with His people in the wilderness 00:50:06.51\00:50:10.13 as they were wandering on their way to the Palestine? 00:50:10.16\00:50:13.12 It was Jesus which brings up some fascinating views 00:50:13.15\00:50:19.34 as we put this all together from the Word of God. 00:50:19.37\00:50:22.84 Jesus was the appointed agency 00:50:22.87\00:50:25.86 through which God interacted with creation. 00:50:25.89\00:50:29.62 When it came to the creation of this planet 00:50:29.65\00:50:31.54 it was through Jesus that God acted. 00:50:31.57\00:50:35.60 And so with the universe when it came to creation 00:50:35.63\00:50:37.68 of the universe because all things came into being 00:50:37.71\00:50:39.64 by Him and it was through Jesus that God acted. 00:50:39.67\00:50:42.78 As we just read when we came to bringing His people 00:50:42.81\00:50:45.51 and delivering the mount of Egyptian bondage 00:50:45.54\00:50:47.67 it was through Jesus that God acted. 00:50:47.70\00:50:50.64 When it came to the salvation 00:50:50.67\00:50:52.28 and the redemption of the human race 00:50:52.31\00:50:53.97 it was through Jesus that God acted. 00:50:54.00\00:50:57.13 When it comes to the destruction of sin and rebellion 00:50:57.16\00:50:59.81 and darkness and pain and suffering 00:50:59.84\00:51:02.44 it is through Jesus that God will act. 00:51:02.47\00:51:05.79 When it comes to the establishment 00:51:05.82\00:51:07.51 of the everlasting kingdom 00:51:07.54\00:51:09.47 it is through Jesus that God will act. 00:51:09.50\00:51:13.13 And one more messianic prophecy again back to Isaiah Chapter 33 00:51:13.16\00:51:19.77 and we're gonna be looking at verse 22. 00:51:19.80\00:51:24.20 And this one is packed full we're going to see 00:51:24.23\00:51:26.85 the corresponding text in the New Testament 00:51:26.88\00:51:29.92 but Isaiah 33 and here it is as we come to verse 22. 00:51:29.95\00:51:34.29 And again notice how the word Lord is written here. 00:51:34.32\00:51:37.14 The word is actually Jehovah Yahweh. 00:51:37.17\00:51:39.52 It says "For the Lord is our judge, 00:51:39.55\00:51:41.71 the Lord is our lawgiver, 00:51:41.74\00:51:44.09 the Lord is our king, He will save us." 00:51:44.12\00:51:48.67 So let's take those elements 00:51:48.70\00:51:49.90 and look at the corresponding text in the New Testament. 00:51:49.93\00:51:53.76 The Lord beginning with the Lord is our judge 00:51:53.79\00:51:55.87 take a look at John 5, the New Testament page 75, 00:51:55.90\00:51:59.50 page 75 John 5:22. 00:51:59.53\00:52:03.70 It's a statement that Jesus makes. 00:52:03.73\00:52:06.34 It is astounding this statement that Jesus makes. 00:52:06.37\00:52:12.01 John the 5th chapter 00:52:12.04\00:52:14.22 make your way right down there to verse 22 00:52:14.25\00:52:17.30 where he says "For not even the Father judges anyone." 00:52:17.33\00:52:22.93 Did you know that statement was in the Bible? 00:52:22.96\00:52:26.93 It's not the God the Father that's going to judge us. 00:52:26.96\00:52:30.39 Jesus says that clearly for he it says, 00:52:30.42\00:52:33.66 has given all judgment to whom? 00:52:33.69\00:52:38.20 To the Son. 00:52:38.23\00:52:39.34 So you see the one who created us 00:52:39.37\00:52:41.90 is the one who died for us. 00:52:41.93\00:52:43.93 And is the one, who in the end who will judge us. 00:52:43.96\00:52:48.03 And my friend, does that term 00:52:48.06\00:52:49.21 because that gives us a deeper understanding 00:52:49.24\00:52:51.93 about the judgment. 00:52:51.96\00:52:54.08 My friend, do we need to worry 00:52:54.11\00:52:56.09 and concern ourselves about the judgment? 00:52:56.12\00:52:58.59 Oh, my friend, if He loved us enough 00:52:58.62\00:53:00.82 to give up His life for us 00:53:00.85\00:53:02.73 we can trust Him that He is going 00:53:02.76\00:53:05.30 to take us through the judgment. 00:53:05.33\00:53:08.13 And then remember it says "the Lord is out judge. 00:53:08.16\00:53:10.31 The Lord is our lawgiver." 00:53:10.34\00:53:11.70 I am sorry. 00:53:11.73\00:53:12.82 Take a look at that one as turn to James 4:12 00:53:12.85\00:53:17.14 the New Testament page 178, 178 James 4. 00:53:17.17\00:53:22.83 It's just past the Book of Hebrews 00:53:22.86\00:53:24.90 where we were earlier. 00:53:24.93\00:53:27.96 And notice what we find here James 4:12 it says 00:53:27.99\00:53:34.17 "There is only one Lawgiver and" what? 00:53:34.20\00:53:39.51 "Judge." What does that mean? 00:53:39.54\00:53:41.03 There's only one lawgiver and judge. 00:53:41.06\00:53:43.33 It means that one and the same. 00:53:43.36\00:53:45.73 So who is the judge? Jesus would be the judge. 00:53:45.76\00:53:49.70 Which means who was the Lawgiver? 00:53:49.73\00:53:52.09 Jesus. 00:53:52.12\00:53:53.15 It was Jesus. 00:53:53.18\00:53:54.21 It's because of the transgression of the law 00:53:54.24\00:53:57.56 that is on that basis that we'll be judged. 00:53:57.59\00:54:00.24 "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, 00:54:00.27\00:54:01.77 the One who is able to save and to destroy." 00:54:01.80\00:54:06.34 The power of the description 00:54:06.37\00:54:07.91 of our God came down upon that mountain 00:54:07.94\00:54:09.98 the hosts of Israelites who gathered around Mount Sinai 00:54:10.01\00:54:13.46 that talks about how the mountain 00:54:13.49\00:54:15.11 just shook at the presence of God. 00:54:15.14\00:54:17.29 How the rocks and the mountains melted in His presence. 00:54:17.32\00:54:21.73 And then God spoke one of the most unique things 00:54:21.76\00:54:24.51 that have ever happened in history. 00:54:24.54\00:54:26.04 God audibly spoke to His people 00:54:26.07\00:54:28.88 and what He gave them as He spoke was 00:54:28.91\00:54:31.04 what we called the Ten Commandments, right. 00:54:31.07\00:54:34.23 And then He wrote them on tablets of stone 00:54:34.26\00:54:36.57 with His own finger, who was it. 00:54:36.60\00:54:40.00 My friend, it was Jesus. 00:54:40.03\00:54:44.63 This is, you know, I said again 00:54:44.66\00:54:46.67 it's just a powerful thing 00:54:46.70\00:54:47.85 when you study this from the Bible. 00:54:47.88\00:54:50.26 And then let's look at Revelation 19, 00:54:50.29\00:54:52.16 the New Testament page 199, Revelation 19:16 for it say 00:54:52.19\00:54:57.45 "The Lord is our king." 00:54:57.48\00:55:00.58 And I know, you know, where I'm going with this 00:55:00.61\00:55:02.16 but lets, lets get the passage together revelation 19:16 00:55:02.19\00:55:06.20 where it says "And on His robe" 00:55:06.23\00:55:08.61 its speaking of Jesus " 00:55:08.64\00:55:09.77 and on His thigh He has a name written, 00:55:09.80\00:55:12.68 'King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.'" 00:55:12.71\00:55:16.76 Indeed, He is our King. 00:55:16.79\00:55:18.96 And then He is one that will save us 00:55:18.99\00:55:20.78 and when I think about that I think of Acts 4:12 00:55:20.81\00:55:23.56 where it says "There is no other name under 00:55:23.59\00:55:26.04 having given among men." 00:55:26.07\00:55:27.44 Speaking of Jesus "by which we must be saved." 00:55:27.47\00:55:32.12 He is the only name that is been given 00:55:32.15\00:55:34.54 to us by which we must be saved that worthy name of Jesus. 00:55:34.57\00:55:41.99 You see my friend, it is Jesus from Genesis 00:55:42.02\00:55:45.48 to Revelation from that first record of creation, 00:55:45.51\00:55:49.14 well, without him was about anything made 00:55:49.17\00:55:51.89 to the closing promise in Revelation 22 00:55:51.92\00:55:54.38 "Behold I come." 00:55:54.41\00:55:55.65 Quickly we're reading of His words 00:55:55.68\00:55:57.98 and missing to His voice. 00:55:58.01\00:56:00.32 It was Jesus the one who in the very beginning 00:56:00.35\00:56:03.52 created this world in His primeval beauty 00:56:03.55\00:56:06.31 and lovingly and tenderly breeding the man 00:56:06.34\00:56:08.91 the breath of light that yielding in Himself 00:56:08.94\00:56:11.39 as an atonement for sins 00:56:11.42\00:56:13.32 so that we might have life though Him. 00:56:13.35\00:56:15.96 It is Jesus one with the Father 00:56:15.99\00:56:17.91 that led His people from Egyptian bondage. 00:56:17.94\00:56:21.51 Who were yet deliver His people from the slavery of sin. 00:56:21.54\00:56:26.55 It was Jesus who descendant upon Sinai 00:56:26.58\00:56:29.61 in awesome glory to record the commandments 00:56:29.64\00:56:32.61 on tablets of stone with His own finger 00:56:32.64\00:56:34.80 who then returned again to this earth 00:56:34.83\00:56:37.29 to reveal those principles through His life 00:56:37.32\00:56:42.89 who finally died on the Cross of Cavalry 00:56:42.92\00:56:47.87 because of the consequences of our transgressions. 00:56:47.90\00:56:51.36 It is this Jesus both Lawgiver and Savior 00:56:51.39\00:56:55.45 who will at last damned as judge of all of the earth. 00:56:55.48\00:56:59.35 It is Jesus that one who declared 00:56:59.38\00:57:01.63 that if you have seen Me you have seen the Father. 00:57:01.66\00:57:05.84 They're laid aside the regal robes of the sovereignty. 00:57:05.87\00:57:09.93 The diatom of His glory to be born a helpless baby 00:57:09.96\00:57:14.16 in Bethlehem to trot this earth the lovely son of a carpenter 00:57:14.19\00:57:19.63 and finally to submit Himself to the cruel mockings 00:57:19.66\00:57:22.57 of the people that He come to save 00:57:22.60\00:57:25.14 who ended His life on the Cross of Cavalry. 00:57:25.17\00:57:28.11 It is the same Jesus who will return in all power 00:57:28.14\00:57:32.01 and glory to this earth to destroy sin and rebellion 00:57:32.04\00:57:36.46 and to establish the everlasting kingdom. 00:57:36.49\00:57:39.83 So what did it cost God to love us and to save us? 00:57:39.86\00:57:44.84 And my friend, the answer clearly 00:57:44.87\00:57:46.08 is it cost Him His very self. 00:57:46.11\00:57:49.08 For in giving Jesus He was giving us Himself. 00:57:49.11\00:57:52.30 Notice what it says in 1 John 4:9, 10 00:57:52.33\00:57:55.90 "By this the love of God was manifested in us, 00:57:55.93\00:57:59.61 that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world 00:57:59.64\00:58:03.02 so that we might live through Him. 00:58:03.05\00:58:05.43 In this is love, not that we loved God, 00:58:05.46\00:58:08.24 but, that He loved us 00:58:08.27\00:58:10.03 and sent His Son to be the propitiation." 00:58:10.06\00:58:13.04 The sacrifice, the substitution if you please. 00:58:13.07\00:58:16.37 "For our sins." 00:58:16.40\00:58:18.99 And then I would add 1 John 3:16 00:58:19.02\00:58:22.19 "We know love by this, 00:58:22.22\00:58:25.50 that He laid down His life for us." 00:58:25.53\00:58:28.77 Amen. 00:58:28.80\00:58:29.97 And so my friend, the question is do we know Him tonight? 00:58:30.00\00:58:34.18 That's the question to be answered, 00:58:34.21\00:58:35.46 do we trust Him, do we love Him? 00:58:35.49\00:58:38.63 And so I invite you, 00:58:38.66\00:58:41.17 I invite you to look into the face of Jesus. 00:58:41.20\00:58:43.76 If I not only a loving and dependable friend 00:58:43.79\00:58:47.41 but a compassionate and understanding God. 00:58:47.44\00:58:50.22