Well, as we began
last Sabbath morning
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as I shared with you,
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we're going to be doing on
Sabbath mornings a revival.
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Do we need a revival?
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Do I need a
revival? How about you?
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Really, for those
of us who are active in
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or relationship
with Jesus Christ,
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a revival means we have
an opportunity to grow closer
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and go deeper into our
relationship with Jesus.
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And maybe some of us,
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maybe we've just
kind of bend you know,
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just drifting along
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and a revival is a way to spark
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that glow of faith
and love in Jesus Christ.
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And so I have chosen
these subjects quite carefully,
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it may not always be apparent
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but anyway and
I am gonna connect
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with what we've studied
a little bit last weekend
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and I want to
began by saying that
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I believe that this
moment was established,
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was established God had
a purpose for this moment,
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He commissioned this moment
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and He entrusted
us with a message,
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a message that's to be
taken to the whole world.
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A message that by the way,
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unless there be any confusion
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a message that is
centered in Jesus Christ,
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a message that
informs us of Jesus,
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His plans for us.
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We found as we were
in the Book of Peter,
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we found we are
in a time of delay.
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We also found
that as we looked in
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just briefly
looked at Matthew 25
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where it talks
about the 10 virgins.
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Remember, it says,
"While the bridegroom tarried"
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that's the word delayed.
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And by the way,
who is the bridegroom?
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My friends, that's Jesus.
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While He tarried, they
all slumbered and slept.
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Don't miss that point,
the wise virgins as well as
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those who were not so wise,
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they all were
slumbering and sleeping.
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And so I ask the
question because, you know,
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are we ready for
the coming of Jesus?
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My friend, you have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ,
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you know the answer to
that already, don't you?
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Amen.
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You know the
answer to that already.
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But that's what
brings me to this subject,
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the subject of
being-- the subject being
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righteousness by
faith and it is by faith.
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That's where we would put
the emphasis, wouldn't we?
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It's righteousness by faith.
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And as we look back in time,
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it's going back to
the General Conference
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in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Do you know the historical
background of all of this?
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I believe that
we had this message
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but it had been clouded
over with so many other issues
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that the church
was dealing with.
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And I believe that God
was in His divine purpose
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seeking to bring us back
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as a people to the
centrality of our faith
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in Jesus Christ
and His righteousness.
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It's a beautiful message,
it's a beautiful message.
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It's a powerful message
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as we talk about
righteousness by faith.
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And you know, it was
not a part of the agenda
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set for that General Conference.
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It came out of
the devotional period,
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the devotional
period that was put together
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by A.T. Jones and
Dr. E.J. Waggoner.
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You can see the
pictures right here.
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And God moved in a powerful way
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in that General Conference.
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And by the way, do you
remember the history of this?
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Everybody just get onboard,
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was everybody just
jumping up and down saying,
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"this is the most wonderful
thing we've ever heard."
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No, they were
what we would probably
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called the traditionalists
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who said, "Oh,
we've never heard it
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quite this way before.
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We are not so sure about this."
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And you know, truth
can be that way, can it?
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Really, it can be that way.
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No matter how
beautifully portrait Christ was
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in these
presentations of these two men.
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Yeah, there are
those who opposed it.
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And I believe
that God would have us
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come back to and for some of us
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who never really
studied out some of these things
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back to a clear understanding
of righteousness by faith
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and a deeper experience in,
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it is one thing to
know and to understand
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and we must but we
must also be engaged
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spiritually to
experience that which we know.
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The two must go together.
Anybody saying amen out there?
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Amen. All right, good.
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I've got about
handful of you together.
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Let's see if we can
pick up the rest of you
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as we get going a little
bit deeper into the subject.
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Take your
Bibles and turn with me
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to Philippians Chapter 3.
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Philippians Chapter 3,
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and we're gonna
began with verse 4.
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I am gonna share with you a--
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the testimony of a
converted Pharisee.
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And I am talking
about the apostle Paul
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as some of you
already have gather.
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He shared this wonderful
testimony of his experience
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and see if you can relate to it.
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Philippians Chapter 3,
beginning with verse 4,
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I remind you, I am using
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the New Americans
Standard translation.
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And where Paul, where Paul says,
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"Although I myself might have
confidence even in the flesh."
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Here's a Pharisee saying,
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well, I could have
confidence in the flesh.
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I mean, you know, there
is the things of the spirit
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and then there's the things
of the flesh to be in the flesh.
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You know, we're talking about
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the corruptive
element of sin in ones life
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when we talk about
being in the flesh,
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being dominated by the
flesh and its fleshly desires.
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Paul is talking
about these kind of things,
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is that what he's talking about?
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"Although I myself might have
confidence even in the flesh.
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If anyone else has a mind
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to put confidence in
the flesh, I far more."
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Now we'll see
when he's talking about
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putting confidence in the flesh,
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he is talking about
it in a religious context
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which is quite fascinating
as you look at this statement
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that religious things can relate
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to this matter of
being in the flesh.
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Think about that, think
that through a little bit
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because it goes
on in verse 5 to say,
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"Circumcised the eighth day."
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That's what was
required by the Mosaic Law.
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It was a sign of
the special relationship
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between the Jews and
God, it was all of that.
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"Of the nation of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
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a Hebrew of Hebrews, as
to the Law, a Pharisee."
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It was all of that.
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I mean, these are pretty,
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I mean these are on surface
it very religious things.
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What a heritage
he's talking about,
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"The nation of
Israel, tribe of Benjamin."
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That was a renowned tribe.
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The first king of
Israel by the way,
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came from the tribe of Benjamin.
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They were renowned
warriors among the Israelites.
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They could use this sling
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with either the
right or the left hand.
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You know, those were
the missiles of that day.
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And so they were
really quite renounce.
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So he was on one hand
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proud of his
religious heritage, wasn't he?
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We can translate
that into modern terms.
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You know, I can
be a baptized member
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of the
Seventh-day Adventist church
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and more than that a
third generation Adventist,
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maybe even a fourth
generation Adventist.
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And I can have
had the best education
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that the Adventist
system can possibly offer.
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I may be an
officer of the church
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and zealous for the truth
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and yet, based upon
Paul's teaching here,
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yet be in the flesh.
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That's kind of disturbing
to hear that, isn't it?
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It is kind of
disturbing to hear that
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but the Paul is
really bearing witness
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to his
pre-conversion experience.
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It was deeply
religious on one hand.
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But there was one
thing that was missing.
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What was that one
thing that was missing
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in Paul and Saul's experience?
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What was missing? Jesus.
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In a word, there was Jesus
that was missing, wasn't it?
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And I'll tell you,
we can have it all,
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we can have been raised in it,
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we can be comfortable
with the Adventist culture
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and be culturize Adventist
and yet without the relationship
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without Jesus be more than
just something we know about
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but we're experiencing
it is really nothing.
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Really it's nothing.
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And I am not down playing
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importance of the fellowship
in church and all of the things
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that go with being a
part of this wonderful moment.
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I take you on in
Philippians Chapter 3
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and we're looking at verse 6.
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Verse 6, he asks--
he says, "As to zeal,
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a persecutor of the church,
as to the righteousness,"
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now we're getting to the issue
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that we're going to
be studying this morning.
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"As to the righteousness
which is in the Law,
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in the Ten
Commandments, found blameless."
00:10:00.44\00:10:05.86
Well, from a human stand point
00:10:05.89\00:10:08.11
and in his
pre-conversion experience,
00:10:08.14\00:10:11.19
he thought he was
on track, didn't he?
00:10:11.22\00:10:14.72
He thought that he was blameless
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when he kept the commandments.
00:10:17.17\00:10:20.53
But my friend, I tell you,
00:10:20.56\00:10:22.07
we'll see it when
he found Jesus Christ
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he began to see things
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from a totally
different perspective.
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And he began to see
his previous experience
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for what it really was.
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It was a Christless experience.
And so it will be for us.
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You know, we can
all of to this things,
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we could be a part of the system
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but it's not until
we come to Jesus Christ
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that we really began to see
ourselves in a different light.
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Jesus gives us
perspective, doesn't He? Amen.
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He always gives us perspective.
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And let me tell you,
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if there's anybody
that hasn't really found it,
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I mean, it's more
than just a doctrine,
00:11:01.28\00:11:03.28
knowing about the
doctrine of salvation,
00:11:03.31\00:11:05.56
knowing that
Jesus died for sins.
00:11:05.59\00:11:07.39
It means a personal
engagement in a relationship,
00:11:07.42\00:11:11.79
a committed
relationship to Jesus Christ.
00:11:11.82\00:11:14.85
And so having
the knowledge of it
00:11:14.88\00:11:16.63
without the
engaged relationship,
00:11:16.66\00:11:20.89
my friend, we will always have--
we will not have the perspective
00:11:20.92\00:11:24.75
to see things for
what they truly are.
00:11:24.78\00:11:27.11
Now, I would guess
probably most of us this morning
00:11:27.14\00:11:30.46
know something
about what it means to be
00:11:30.49\00:11:32.60
in a committed relationship.
00:11:32.63\00:11:36.60
If you are
married, among other things,
00:11:36.63\00:11:39.83
you are in a
committed relationship.
00:11:39.86\00:11:42.67
How many of you are in a
committed relationship? Okay.
00:11:42.70\00:11:47.58
Well, there are some parallels
from the human experience
00:11:47.61\00:11:51.12
as we talk by
committed relationship.
00:11:51.15\00:11:54.16
To the committed
relationship on this--
00:11:54.19\00:11:56.02
in this spiritual realm
there are some correlation,
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aren't there?
00:11:59.57\00:12:01.39
And there, you know,
00:12:01.42\00:12:02.74
it's something that
goes fairly, fairly deep.
00:12:02.77\00:12:05.73
So anyway, as he came to Jesus,
00:12:05.76\00:12:08.60
he gained a
totally new perspective.
00:12:08.63\00:12:11.78
He thought he
was self-satisfied.
00:12:11.81\00:12:16.27
That was the term,
wasn't it? Self-satisfied.
00:12:16.30\00:12:19.05
In his religious experience
he felt the need of nothing
00:12:19.08\00:12:25.43
until one day he found
Jesus for what He really was.
00:12:25.46\00:12:30.39
In Titus 3:5, it says,
talking about righteousness,
00:12:30.42\00:12:34.82
"Not by works of righteousness
which we have done,
00:12:34.85\00:12:40.75
but according to
His mercy He saved us."
00:12:40.78\00:12:47.62
And my friend, you can be
00:12:47.65\00:12:49.29
an excellent Christian
committed on a certain level
00:12:49.32\00:12:54.23
but again without
that committed relationship
00:12:54.26\00:12:56.40
to Jesus Christ,
00:12:56.43\00:12:59.10
my friend, all that you
00:12:59.13\00:13:00.52
and I can do will
always come up short.
00:13:00.55\00:13:07.00
We are not saved.
00:13:07.03\00:13:08.48
I hope, I believe that
probably 90% of us here
00:13:08.51\00:13:12.06
this morning are
fairly clear of this,
00:13:12.09\00:13:14.24
clear on this intellectually.
00:13:14.27\00:13:17.37
It's not by our
works of righteousness
00:13:17.40\00:13:19.59
that by we were
saved, it's by what?
00:13:19.62\00:13:23.17
What's the key word
here? It's by His mercy.
00:13:23.20\00:13:28.11
It is through His love,
00:13:28.14\00:13:30.49
it is through His
grace that we are saved.
00:13:30.52\00:13:34.51
And so it's not
based on our performance,
00:13:34.54\00:13:37.29
it's not based on anything
that we could do outside
00:13:37.32\00:13:40.60
our making--
and it's a response.
00:13:40.63\00:13:42.94
It's God that
took the first steps,
00:13:42.97\00:13:44.57
it is response of faith
00:13:44.60\00:13:47.78
to embrace Jesus
as a personal Savior
00:13:47.81\00:13:50.76
and to enter into a
committed relationship
00:13:50.79\00:13:53.16
this is what will prepare
00:13:53.19\00:13:55.41
each one of us for
the comic of Jesus.
00:13:55.44\00:13:59.76
Right?
00:13:59.79\00:14:01.18
Oh, you are a quite--
00:14:01.21\00:14:02.45
we need a few African-Americans
here this morning, don't we?
00:14:02.48\00:14:06.52
They always add a little flavor
to the fellowship of the church.
00:14:06.55\00:14:11.10
But anyway, you
know us littlie white,
00:14:11.13\00:14:14.18
maybe I shouldn't say,
this is after all being taped.
00:14:14.21\00:14:16.99
Us littlie white
proper Anglo-Saxons
00:14:17.02\00:14:20.91
you know, you know how we are,
00:14:20.94\00:14:23.69
we just-- we feel
these things at heart.
00:14:23.72\00:14:26.98
We are just nice
demonstrative of these things
00:14:27.01\00:14:29.15
as our black
brother and sisters.
00:14:29.18\00:14:32.01
But I like some of their
enthusiasm, don't you? Amen.
00:14:32.04\00:14:35.81
I have a
statement from Ellen White
00:14:35.84\00:14:37.03
that I want to share with you
00:14:37.06\00:14:38.09
that really fits into
what we were talking about.
00:14:38.12\00:14:40.51
It's Letter 48, 1903,
take a good look at what the--
00:14:40.54\00:14:45.56
and remember from Revelation 12,
00:14:45.59\00:14:47.98
it describes is as
the testimony of Jesus.
00:14:48.01\00:14:50.72
This is I believe
Jesus speaking to us.
00:14:50.75\00:14:53.18
It says this,
all the work done--
00:14:53.21\00:14:56.12
"All the work
done, however excellent
00:14:56.15\00:14:57.94
it may appear to be."
00:14:57.97\00:15:00.78
And my friends, you know,
let's examine our experience.
00:15:00.81\00:15:02.99
All the things that
we may do in the church,
00:15:03.02\00:15:04.56
all the things we
may do in a community,
00:15:04.59\00:15:07.13
all the things
that we were doing
00:15:07.16\00:15:08.36
in this six weeks seminar
and there's a lot of effort
00:15:08.39\00:15:11.46
and there's a lot of
work that's involved in it.
00:15:11.49\00:15:14.04
At least for some us there is.
00:15:14.07\00:15:15.85
All of the
things that we can do,
00:15:15.88\00:15:18.29
notice it says, "Is
worthless if not done" How?
00:15:18.32\00:15:25.44
"In the love of Jesus."
00:15:25.47\00:15:28.77
Let me tell you something,
I think you probably know this
00:15:28.80\00:15:32.67
but do you know
with God motivation
00:15:32.70\00:15:36.51
is most often
more important to God
00:15:36.54\00:15:40.33
in what we do than
what we actually do.
00:15:40.36\00:15:45.01
We can do the
right things from wrong
00:15:45.04\00:15:49.30
and selfish and self-interested
motivations, right?
00:15:49.33\00:15:54.99
We can do that.
00:15:55.02\00:15:56.95
And so it's more than
just what we are doing,
00:15:56.98\00:15:59.71
that's the exterior,
it's how it correlates
00:15:59.74\00:16:02.98
to what's within the heart
that's he crucial question.
00:16:03.01\00:16:07.96
Is it self in throne
or is Christ in throne.
00:16:07.99\00:16:12.33
That's central to it all.
00:16:12.36\00:16:14.09
"Is worthless if not
done in the love of Jesus."
00:16:14.12\00:16:18.01
What we do here this morning
00:16:18.04\00:16:20.01
as we gathered
together as God's people,
00:16:20.04\00:16:21.79
the songs we sing, the
things that's being preached
00:16:21.82\00:16:25.07
all of the activities that
are going on here in this place
00:16:25.10\00:16:28.26
and beyond in our outreach
into the community again,
00:16:28.29\00:16:31.90
is absolutely worthless
00:16:31.93\00:16:33.90
if it is not done
in the love of Jesus.
00:16:33.93\00:16:38.54
And I tell you all of
the preaching that I can do
00:16:38.57\00:16:40.57
or the Pastor Gale
can do through the years
00:16:40.60\00:16:43.09
and I am gonna be doing
quite a bit of preaching
00:16:43.12\00:16:44.98
in the next six weeks,
five weeks now of this series.
00:16:45.01\00:16:48.44
I am gonna do a
lot of preaching,
00:16:48.47\00:16:49.64
I am gonna be doing a
lot of those kinds of things
00:16:49.67\00:16:51.33
but if it is not
done in the love of Jesus
00:16:51.36\00:16:54.40
it is worthless.
00:16:54.43\00:16:57.27
We wasted our time,
we wasted our money.
00:16:57.30\00:17:01.88
And I don't know about you
00:17:01.91\00:17:03.33
there's a lot of demands
on us when it comes to time.
00:17:03.36\00:17:05.90
I don't have
time. I don't have time.
00:17:05.93\00:17:08.29
You don't have time to waste it
00:17:08.32\00:17:13.18
and just kind of
playing the game.
00:17:13.21\00:17:16.16
You know what I
am talking about?
00:17:16.19\00:17:18.16
And we can do
this, I can do this.
00:17:18.19\00:17:21.37
This was always
a good text for me,
00:17:21.40\00:17:23.39
this always keeps
this in sharp focus for me.
00:17:23.42\00:17:27.14
It goes on to say,
"One may go through
00:17:27.17\00:17:28.77
the whole round of
religious activity,
00:17:28.80\00:17:31.54
and yet unless Christ is
woven into all that he says
00:17:31.57\00:17:36.00
and does, he" now
notice the word is will,
00:17:36.03\00:17:39.28
not maybe or possibly, will.
00:17:39.31\00:17:42.02
"He will work for" whose
glory? "For his own glory."
00:17:42.05\00:17:47.68
So unless Christ is
woven into everything
00:17:47.71\00:17:51.95
that he does
and says or she does
00:17:51.98\00:17:56.02
and say we will end up
working for his own glory.
00:17:56.05\00:18:00.31
And those of us who
are in public ministry,
00:18:00.34\00:18:02.03
this is a particular concern
that we ought to be aware of
00:18:02.06\00:18:05.91
because self is so insidious,
it's so easy for self to be in
00:18:05.94\00:18:09.56
and define ourselves
we're doing good things,
00:18:09.59\00:18:11.50
we're preaching good things
and to find out in the end
00:18:11.53\00:18:14.19
and the end to find
out how tragic it would be,
00:18:14.22\00:18:16.73
in the end to discover
that we've been working
00:18:16.76\00:18:18.93
for our own, our reputations,
00:18:18.96\00:18:21.29
for our own interest
00:18:21.32\00:18:23.49
and it's really
been very much about self
00:18:23.52\00:18:27.33
and what people think about me,
00:18:27.36\00:18:29.78
and what I am doing
and what I am saying.
00:18:29.81\00:18:33.75
And my friend, it is
truly the spirit of God
00:18:33.78\00:18:36.06
that is at work.
00:18:36.09\00:18:37.37
It is not about me,
00:18:37.40\00:18:40.05
it's not really
about you, is it?
00:18:40.08\00:18:43.14
It's about Him. Amen.
00:18:43.17\00:18:46.82
And that's my
desire, purpose and prayer
00:18:46.85\00:18:51.14
for the time
that we spend together
00:18:51.17\00:18:53.36
in what we are doing during
the six weeks of this seminar.
00:18:53.39\00:18:56.81
I want it and
it's gonna happened
00:18:56.84\00:18:59.50
because we
desired and it will come
00:18:59.53\00:19:01.32
as a result of all of us
participating in this desire,
00:19:01.35\00:19:06.01
this prayer that it
is truly about Jesus
00:19:06.04\00:19:09.19
that He is the
one that is present,
00:19:09.22\00:19:11.36
that He is the one that
is speaking through His word,
00:19:11.39\00:19:14.34
through the songs
that were singing,
00:19:14.37\00:19:16.20
working to touch
and affect hearts.
00:19:16.23\00:19:18.64
Which means those of us
who are the instruments,
00:19:18.67\00:19:21.09
our hearts and
our minds must be open
00:19:21.12\00:19:24.79
and we must be touched
with His love and grace. Amen.
00:19:24.82\00:19:30.64
You know, I've been
doing this 26 years plus,
00:19:30.67\00:19:34.41
that's' a long time.
00:19:34.44\00:19:35.88
There are few of you here,
00:19:35.91\00:19:37.19
there are more than a
few of you here today,
00:19:37.22\00:19:39.34
26 years, you
haven't lived 26 years.
00:19:39.37\00:19:43.87
And my friend, those of
us who have been at this
00:19:43.90\00:19:45.62
for a very long time this
can become a kind of route.
00:19:45.65\00:19:49.24
We've done
this, we've said this,
00:19:49.27\00:19:50.89
this is the way we
do it, this is how we
00:19:50.92\00:19:53.62
you know, do our thing in church
00:19:53.65\00:19:55.42
and we just-- in the end
00:19:55.45\00:19:57.00
we're just kind of going
through the motions of it.
00:19:57.03\00:19:59.31
My friend, we don't have time
00:19:59.34\00:20:01.71
to just go through
the motions of that.
00:20:01.74\00:20:04.41
I don't have time for that.
00:20:04.44\00:20:07.39
You know, I am
spending a good part of my time
00:20:07.42\00:20:09.50
away from my family
00:20:09.53\00:20:11.10
and I think most of
you would think about,
00:20:11.13\00:20:12.94
that would be
pretty tough lifestyle.
00:20:12.97\00:20:15.46
I don't have time
just to play games
00:20:15.49\00:20:18.42
and just go through the motions.
00:20:18.45\00:20:21.35
If I am going to
be leaving my family
00:20:21.38\00:20:23.43
and living somewhat
of an unusual lifestyle
00:20:23.46\00:20:27.37
that goes with
the kind of work I do,
00:20:27.40\00:20:29.97
I want to be sure that
00:20:30.00\00:20:32.08
what's happening is
being done for His glory.
00:20:32.11\00:20:35.23
And something eternal
is going to come out of it.
00:20:35.26\00:20:38.85
And it's not going to happen,
00:20:38.88\00:20:40.66
again, it isn't
about me, it's not.
00:20:40.69\00:20:45.95
You can say an amen,
to that if you care. Amen.
00:20:45.98\00:20:49.60
2 Corinthians
5:21, talking about how
00:20:49.63\00:20:54.19
this
righteousness by faith comes.
00:20:54.22\00:20:57.40
This is such a wonderful,
beautiful study in God's words.
00:20:57.43\00:21:01.52
2 Corinthians 5:21, I
love this passages scripture
00:21:01.55\00:21:06.11
where it says about God
in relationship to Jesus.
00:21:06.14\00:21:09.72
It says, "He made Him"
00:21:09.75\00:21:11.18
God made Jesus
"who knew no sin,"
00:21:11.21\00:21:16.23
He is spotless, He
is untainted of sin,
00:21:16.26\00:21:20.43
He certainly understand
sin, He certainly has been
00:21:20.46\00:21:23.66
you know, He's been observing
00:21:23.69\00:21:25.01
what sin is been
doing in our lives
00:21:25.04\00:21:26.67
and upon this planet
00:21:26.70\00:21:28.45
that's why He
stepped in to deal with it.
00:21:28.48\00:21:31.60
But He is absolutely
and totally innocent.
00:21:31.63\00:21:35.38
Experientially when it
comes to this matter of sin,
00:21:35.41\00:21:39.19
"He knew who--
00:21:39.22\00:21:40.25
Him who knew no sin
to be--" He made him.
00:21:40.28\00:21:43.32
Let me get that back together,
00:21:43.35\00:21:44.79
"He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf."
00:21:44.82\00:21:51.59
Now often we talk
about Jesus bearing our sins
00:21:51.62\00:21:55.62
and it's true, He bore our sins.
00:21:55.65\00:21:57.87
But this text says that
00:21:57.90\00:21:59.61
when Jesus as a
representative of the human race
00:21:59.64\00:22:03.52
having taken
human flesh upon Himself
00:22:03.55\00:22:05.39
and the
incarnation, taking our place
00:22:05.42\00:22:07.66
as the divine substitute
on the cross of Calvary
00:22:07.69\00:22:11.85
He not only bore our
sins but, listen to this,
00:22:11.88\00:22:15.10
His identity was so complete
and so full with-- full with us
00:22:15.13\00:22:21.52
as sinners that the text
says, He became sin itself.
00:22:21.55\00:22:28.95
His identity was
that He became sin itself.
00:22:28.98\00:22:31.66
And I don't think you
and I can began to appreciate
00:22:31.69\00:22:34.39
what this did to
the innocent heart
00:22:34.42\00:22:37.99
and soul of the Savior as
sin was being laid upon Him
00:22:38.02\00:22:43.22
and as He was becoming sin,
00:22:43.25\00:22:44.84
as He became the
object of God's wrath.
00:22:44.87\00:22:47.47
And let me tell you,
God is-- God rightfully--
00:22:47.50\00:22:50.92
somebody better be angry
about this mess that we are in
00:22:50.95\00:22:53.53
and the horrible
things that are happening
00:22:53.56\00:22:55.01
because of sin, don't you think?
00:22:55.04\00:22:56.86
What kind of God is
gonna be sitting up there
00:22:56.89\00:22:58.76
you know, twiddling His--
00:22:58.79\00:23:00.14
well, I don't about
that what to say about God,
00:23:00.17\00:23:02.54
you know, that's just
gonna be sitting up there
00:23:02.57\00:23:04.80
and you know, all of
the stuff is going on.
00:23:04.83\00:23:08.11
No, there is a
place when it talks about
00:23:08.14\00:23:10.46
and angry God I am
glad, I am glad we serve a God
00:23:10.49\00:23:13.92
that sometimes is angry about
00:23:13.95\00:23:16.43
the horrible things
that are taking place
00:23:16.46\00:23:18.23
when there's
physical and sexual abuse
00:23:18.26\00:23:20.61
I am glad that there's a
God that's angry about it
00:23:20.64\00:23:23.60
but I am also glad
that we serve a God
00:23:23.63\00:23:25.63
that also is loving.
00:23:25.66\00:23:27.49
Amen.
00:23:27.52\00:23:29.95
And even many of those
who were in the very depths
00:23:29.98\00:23:32.73
of the grip of the horribleness
and awfulness of sin
00:23:32.76\00:23:37.20
who by His grace
yet will be saved.
00:23:37.23\00:23:41.71
That's-- you know,
that's a delicate balance
00:23:41.74\00:23:44.59
that must be caving
of course God is perfect.
00:23:44.62\00:23:47.03
So He is in perfect
balance, we would say that,
00:23:47.06\00:23:49.56
wouldn't we about God?
Perfect balance, He is.
00:23:49.59\00:23:52.92
But think about, Jesus
not only bearing our sins
00:23:52.95\00:23:55.74
but becoming sin itself,
the wrath of God against sin.
00:23:55.77\00:24:00.46
That sense of
absolute abandonment
00:24:00.49\00:24:03.98
that He experienced
on the cross off Calvary
00:24:04.01\00:24:05.78
because of sin, that
separation from God that
00:24:05.81\00:24:08.94
you know, run from His lips,
00:24:08.97\00:24:10.50
"My God, my God, why
have you forsaken me?"
00:24:10.53\00:24:15.97
Again, I don't think you and I
00:24:16.00\00:24:17.70
can be even began to appreciate
00:24:17.73\00:24:21.12
the depth of pain
and grief and sorrow
00:24:21.15\00:24:26.49
that Jesus experienced
on the Cross of Calvary
00:24:26.52\00:24:29.76
when He became sin
itself and when He finally died.
00:24:29.79\00:24:34.21
My friends, He didn't
dies because of the wounds,
00:24:34.24\00:24:36.66
because He was crucified
or that He'd been abused.
00:24:36.69\00:24:39.59
He died because of
sin. Sin killed Him, right?
00:24:39.62\00:24:45.86
And in the end
sin is gonna kill us
00:24:45.89\00:24:48.68
without the relationship.
00:24:48.71\00:24:51.79
And that's why God stepped in.
00:24:51.82\00:24:54.51
That's why Jesus
stepped into this mess
00:24:54.54\00:24:57.10
and said this will not stand,
I am not gonna let this happen.
00:24:57.13\00:25:01.50
There's more to this, so there's
two sides on this substation
00:25:01.53\00:25:05.09
as we are taking a look at it.
00:25:05.12\00:25:06.88
So, "He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf,"
00:25:06.91\00:25:10.10
it goes on to say, "So that"
00:25:10.13\00:25:11.90
this is giving
us a reason for it,
00:25:11.93\00:25:14.10
"So that we" that's' you and me,
00:25:14.13\00:25:16.78
vast in the grasp of sense,
00:25:16.81\00:25:18.53
"So that we might become
the righteousness of God."
00:25:18.56\00:25:22.33
And notice the
phrase, "In Him," in Jesus.
00:25:22.36\00:25:26.55
This is how it all takes place.
00:25:26.58\00:25:28.07
It is in the
relationship, isn't it,
00:25:28.10\00:25:31.03
that we become the
righteousness of God.
00:25:31.06\00:25:32.67
So this is the
divine transaction
00:25:32.70\00:25:35.05
that takes place at
the Cross of Calvary.
00:25:35.08\00:25:37.55
It's a transaction of
love and the part of God
00:25:37.58\00:25:40.71
in the person of Jesus
00:25:40.74\00:25:41.97
as He on one side bore
our sins, became sin itself
00:25:42.00\00:25:45.25
and on the other
side of the transaction
00:25:45.28\00:25:47.22
by faith in Jesus
Christ we become righteous.
00:25:47.25\00:25:51.70
He became sin so that we
might become righteous in Him.
00:25:51.73\00:25:56.99
Don't ever forget that
word, that phrase, in Jesus.
00:25:57.02\00:26:00.61
That's what it's
about, isn't it? Amen.
00:26:00.64\00:26:03.87
And it's all there at
Calvary, it's all there.
00:26:03.90\00:26:08.77
Let's go back to
Philippines 3:7, 8.
00:26:08.80\00:26:13.71
Philippians 3:7, 8,
00:26:13.74\00:26:17.73
we're gonna pick
up where we left off.
00:26:17.76\00:26:20.06
As Paul continues to bear his
testimony something dramatic,
00:26:20.09\00:26:24.88
something fundamental changed
in the life of this Pharisee.
00:26:24.91\00:26:30.91
Those religious things
that seemed so important
00:26:30.94\00:26:32.62
but they were Christ-less.
00:26:32.65\00:26:34.88
Those things
that seemed so vital
00:26:34.91\00:26:36.55
but they were Christ-less
00:26:36.58\00:26:39.96
when he really discovered Jesus.
00:26:39.99\00:26:41.47
I tell you a
change, a fundamental change
00:26:41.50\00:26:43.56
came into his heart and
it will with us as well.
00:26:43.59\00:26:46.37
Verse-- verse,
let's see, we read verse 6
00:26:46.40\00:26:49.68
and we want to
look up verses what?
00:26:49.71\00:26:51.19
Let me look at
my notes, it helps,
00:26:51.22\00:26:53.19
yeah, its verses 7 and 8
00:26:53.22\00:26:55.40
where it says, but
what-- "But whatever."
00:26:55.43\00:27:00.51
That word, "but" is a contrast.
00:27:00.54\00:27:02.56
A contrast to what
preceded it to what now follows.
00:27:02.59\00:27:09.33
And my friend, as you and I
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.20
come into that committed
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:27:12.23\00:27:15.94
there will be a
contrast between what we were
00:27:15.97\00:27:19.87
without Christ to what
we now become in Christ.
00:27:19.90\00:27:24.43
Amen. Okay.
00:27:24.46\00:27:26.53
So it says, "But whatever
things were gain to me,"
00:27:26.56\00:27:29.03
I mean this was his
life, this was his life,
00:27:29.06\00:27:32.76
this Pharisee and
all that went with it.
00:27:32.79\00:27:35.15
"But whatever
things were gain to me
00:27:35.18\00:27:37.44
those things I have counted
as loss for the sake of Christ."
00:27:37.47\00:27:43.58
You see what began
to really captivate him.
00:27:43.61\00:27:47.07
And my friend, it was Jesus.
00:27:47.10\00:27:49.87
And in light of Jesus
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.27
and what Jesus
came to mean to him,
00:27:52.30\00:27:56.23
he really began to see things
00:27:56.26\00:27:58.07
from a totally fundamentally
different perspective.
00:27:58.10\00:28:02.05
Those things that he once--
00:28:02.08\00:28:03.74
those things that
were gained to him
00:28:03.77\00:28:05.99
he count them as
loss, as worthless.
00:28:06.02\00:28:10.46
And my friend,
all that we can do
00:28:10.49\00:28:12.33
apart from Christ even
in the religious realm,
00:28:12.36\00:28:14.82
if done apart from
Christ is absolutely worthless
00:28:14.85\00:28:20.84
and he counted it as
loss for the sake of Christ.
00:28:20.87\00:28:24.51
But my friend, it
is the relationship
00:28:24.54\00:28:26.37
that gives
meaning to what we do,
00:28:26.40\00:28:30.23
to what we do in church,
00:28:30.26\00:28:31.81
what we do as Christians
in our everyday walk up there.
00:28:31.84\00:28:36.78
Not just here but up there.
00:28:36.81\00:28:38.99
Jesus makes a totally
difference within our lives
00:28:39.02\00:28:42.88
as we come to Him as you know.
00:28:42.91\00:28:44.98
And my friend,
for the apostle Paul
00:28:45.01\00:28:47.93
it was you know
the difference between
00:28:47.96\00:28:50.79
a life that
really though religious
00:28:50.82\00:28:52.81
was very much centered in self.
00:28:52.84\00:28:54.58
Those things that
once were gained to him,
00:28:54.61\00:28:56.40
that's self centeredness.
00:28:56.43\00:28:58.67
And my friend, nothing worse
than a self-centered religion.
00:28:58.70\00:29:02.46
But again when he came to Jesus
00:29:02.49\00:29:04.52
there was this change,
this fundamental change.
00:29:04.55\00:29:07.47
Again, those things
that were gained to him
00:29:07.50\00:29:09.36
he consider to
be loss for Christ
00:29:09.39\00:29:11.52
because now it's not centered
in self it is now centered--
00:29:11.55\00:29:16.40
a experience that
is centered in whom?
00:29:16.43\00:29:19.54
In Jesus.
00:29:19.57\00:29:21.67
And my friend, that
makes all the difference.
00:29:21.70\00:29:25.44
It's fundamental, but that--
00:29:25.47\00:29:27.72
everything falls
out of that, right.
00:29:27.75\00:29:31.39
It does.
00:29:31.42\00:29:33.97
And some of us have been content
00:29:34.00\00:29:36.19
in our experience
for far less than this.
00:29:36.22\00:29:42.23
We have, I am not
here to beat anybody down
00:29:42.26\00:29:44.84
but I am just saying
there's something more.
00:29:44.87\00:29:48.68
I know some
people, they says like
00:29:48.71\00:29:50.23
when you get married
the first year or two,
00:29:50.26\00:29:51.69
it's wonderful,
it's all this emotion
00:29:51.72\00:29:54.11
but then let the
few decades go by,
00:29:54.14\00:29:56.50
you just kind of settle down.
00:29:56.53\00:29:58.69
And they look at the religious
life something like that.
00:29:58.72\00:30:01.06
But my friend,
it is our privilege
00:30:01.09\00:30:03.39
with an active relationship
with God through Jesus Christ
00:30:03.42\00:30:06.94
to continue on in our
first love experience.
00:30:06.97\00:30:12.22
It may not be something
of the history of our past,
00:30:12.25\00:30:15.27
it can be an
active part of who we are
00:30:15.30\00:30:18.92
in Jesus Christ
today and tomorrow
00:30:18.95\00:30:21.92
and on through
the ages of eternity.
00:30:21.95\00:30:28.23
And I believe that
God is calling back
00:30:28.26\00:30:30.85
some of us who lost it
00:30:30.88\00:30:32.43
or calling us back to
our first love experience.
00:30:32.46\00:30:36.79
Oh, the joy and the vitality
00:30:36.82\00:30:38.90
and oh, the--
yeah, all that joy.
00:30:38.93\00:30:41.71
That's why when I talk
about doing evangelism,
00:30:41.74\00:30:44.44
I tell people it can be
one of the most joyous things
00:30:44.47\00:30:48.56
that you can do.
00:30:48.59\00:30:50.38
When Jesus is present and
He said where two or three
00:30:50.41\00:30:54.13
or I will be present.
00:30:54.16\00:30:56.03
But we need to be sensible
to His presence, don't we?
00:30:56.06\00:30:59.95
And when Jesus
is touching hearts
00:30:59.98\00:31:02.17
and when Jesus
is revealing Himself
00:31:02.20\00:31:04.14
through His word and
Jesus is being exalted
00:31:04.17\00:31:06.98
and He is the focal point
let me tell you there is joy.
00:31:07.01\00:31:12.03
And my friend,
that's where the traditional
00:31:12.06\00:31:13.83
more doctrinal approach
is really kind of short.
00:31:13.86\00:31:17.78
I mean, it's more than
making you know, the gospel
00:31:17.81\00:31:22.42
and what Jesus did at Calvary,
one of the things that we teach
00:31:22.45\00:31:26.35
in the sequence
of our teachings.
00:31:26.38\00:31:28.87
It's making Jesus
as He ought to be,
00:31:28.90\00:31:32.34
the focal point and the thread
00:31:32.37\00:31:34.50
that goes through
everything that we teach,
00:31:34.53\00:31:37.97
preach and sing about.
00:31:38.00\00:31:42.51
And that can't happen, you can't
just learn that by education,
00:31:42.54\00:31:46.94
going to seminary.
00:31:46.97\00:31:48.20
That comes out of our,
once experience in Jesus.
00:31:48.23\00:31:54.31
That's how it works.
00:31:54.34\00:31:56.65
And so we can't contrive this,
we really can't contrive it.
00:31:56.68\00:32:00.87
And as I said, this--
for Paul this all happened
00:32:00.90\00:32:03.70
on the Damascus
road, it was life changing,
00:32:03.73\00:32:06.35
fundamentally it
was life changing.
00:32:06.38\00:32:08.47
I take you on to
verse 9, he continues,
00:32:08.50\00:32:12.56
I don't think,
did we read verse 8?
00:32:12.59\00:32:15.37
Oh, I got caught up in verse 7,
00:32:15.40\00:32:16.55
so I didn't finish
verse 8, we have to do that.
00:32:16.58\00:32:18.87
"More than that," Paul says,
"I count all things to be loss
00:32:18.90\00:32:22.72
in view of the surpassing value
00:32:22.75\00:32:25.41
of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord."
00:32:25.44\00:32:27.78
Now when he talks about
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
00:32:27.81\00:32:30.57
this is more than
knowing about Jesus,
00:32:30.60\00:32:33.88
it's more than
knowing the doctrine
00:32:33.91\00:32:37.42
and the teaching about Jesus.
00:32:37.45\00:32:39.97
Knowing Jesus is speaking
00:32:40.00\00:32:42.96
of an intimate
committed relationship in Jesus.
00:32:42.99\00:32:49.44
It is speaking
of a love connection
00:32:49.47\00:32:52.01
between us and Christ.
00:32:52.04\00:32:54.01
His love flowing by
His spirit into our hearts
00:32:54.04\00:32:57.16
and in return our love flowing
00:32:57.19\00:32:59.13
back in connection to
the one we love, right.
00:32:59.16\00:33:05.50
So when we talk
about knowing Jesus,
00:33:05.53\00:33:07.14
it has
intellectual content through it
00:33:07.17\00:33:11.92
but it must be
experiential and it must go--
00:33:11.95\00:33:15.96
you know,
listen, it's not either
00:33:15.99\00:33:18.72
or, the intellect
or the experiential.
00:33:18.75\00:33:21.71
If you lead one-- you know,
you got to have both of that.
00:33:21.74\00:33:24.51
Intellect without
experience is pretty dry.
00:33:24.54\00:33:27.65
The experience
without the content
00:33:27.68\00:33:29.49
of the intellect side of
what we were studying here
00:33:29.52\00:33:33.19
and whatever else
we might study these,
00:33:33.22\00:33:35.47
the experience
pretty shallow, right.
00:33:35.50\00:33:38.96
We need both.
00:33:38.99\00:33:40.35
It's none and either
or proposition whatsoever.
00:33:40.38\00:33:43.60
So I don't want
to be misunderstood
00:33:43.63\00:33:45.24
but I am talking about,
00:33:45.27\00:33:46.92
we gonna have the
intellectual side--
00:33:46.95\00:33:48.10
we gonna have the
truth but without Jesus
00:33:48.13\00:33:50.31
we really don't have the truth
00:33:50.34\00:33:51.85
because He is the truth. Amen.
00:33:51.88\00:33:55.02
That's the testimony He bore
00:33:55.05\00:33:57.12
and that's what we
ought to be preaching,
00:33:57.15\00:33:58.67
that's what we
ought to be sharing.
00:33:58.70\00:33:59.85
So anyway, "The surpassing value
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord
00:33:59.88\00:34:03.92
for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things."
00:34:03.95\00:34:07.01
There's that perspective
00:34:07.04\00:34:08.13
that changed
fundamentally for Him.
00:34:08.16\00:34:10.41
"And count them but rubbish
00:34:10.44\00:34:11.87
so that I may
gain Christ." Amen.
00:34:11.90\00:34:15.98
This becomes the focal point,
00:34:16.01\00:34:18.05
this becomes the most
important thing in one's life.
00:34:18.08\00:34:22.11
And my friend,
this is what swings it
00:34:22.14\00:34:24.08
when things are
going well in our lives
00:34:24.11\00:34:25.55
and when things are going bad.
00:34:25.58\00:34:27.82
We are going
through tough times.
00:34:27.85\00:34:31.10
It's Jesus that
can get us through.
00:34:31.13\00:34:33.42
And I went through this
00:34:33.45\00:34:35.01
some two years
ago in my own family.
00:34:35.04\00:34:37.43
Some horrible
things were happening
00:34:37.46\00:34:40.25
and when I talk about my family,
00:34:40.28\00:34:42.55
I am talking
about my birth family.
00:34:42.58\00:34:44.42
And probably I
shouldn't get into this too much
00:34:44.45\00:34:47.26
but I just went through an
experience where I just said,
00:34:47.29\00:34:50.50
God, I don't know how
this is gonna work out
00:34:50.53\00:34:52.41
but I am gonna
do this one thing,
00:34:52.44\00:34:54.04
I am gonna trust You
no matter what. Amen.
00:34:54.07\00:34:57.19
Took about two years
for this, whole family--
00:34:57.22\00:34:58.90
I dealt with
money and I tell you
00:34:58.93\00:35:01.31
when a family
money it can be blessing,
00:35:01.34\00:35:03.16
it can be a curse.
00:35:03.19\00:35:05.28
But anyway there's
someone in family that felt
00:35:05.31\00:35:08.33
that they should have it all
and start to take all of us down
00:35:08.36\00:35:13.64
in their attempt
to get out the money.
00:35:13.67\00:35:16.96
And my mother is
still alive, she's 87.
00:35:16.99\00:35:20.69
They really had
their eyes on her assets
00:35:20.72\00:35:23.76
and felt the
rest of us ought to--
00:35:23.79\00:35:26.14
anyway, we have gone into it.
00:35:26.17\00:35:27.90
It was horrible, it's awful.
00:35:27.93\00:35:30.50
But I tell you, when
things are going badly in life
00:35:30.53\00:35:35.52
my friend, once faith in Jesus
will make all the difference.
00:35:35.55\00:35:41.13
It will.
00:35:41.16\00:35:42.38
I don't know what's
going on in your life,
00:35:42.41\00:35:44.11
I don't know what's
going on in you heart
00:35:44.14\00:35:45.56
but anyway,
that's what it's about.
00:35:45.59\00:35:47.57
Verse 9, it goes on to
say, "And may be found in Him,"
00:35:47.60\00:35:50.66
in Jesus "not having a
righteousness of my own."
00:35:50.69\00:35:54.05
Take a good look at this,
"Not having a righteousness
00:35:54.08\00:35:56.12
of my own derived from the Law."
00:35:56.15\00:35:58.01
That is not based
upon my obedience,
00:35:58.04\00:36:00.29
what I can do and measuring
up to what the law requires.
00:36:00.32\00:36:03.93
So, "It's not righteousness
of my own derived from the Law,
00:36:03.96\00:36:07.26
but that which-- that
which that is that righteousness
00:36:07.29\00:36:12.04
which is through
faith in Christ."
00:36:12.07\00:36:16.24
It is through the relationship
00:36:16.27\00:36:19.94
that we derive
our righteousness.
00:36:19.97\00:36:22.90
And it's not
really-- it becomes ours
00:36:22.93\00:36:25.09
but it's really
about His righteousness
00:36:25.12\00:36:28.75
that by faith becomes ours
because you know He's perfect.
00:36:28.78\00:36:35.09
And by the way, to be perfect
is to be perfect in love,
00:36:35.12\00:36:37.95
for remember, the law
is summed up in these words
00:36:37.98\00:36:41.99
from Romans 13 where it says,
00:36:42.02\00:36:44.31
"Love is the
fulfilling of the law."
00:36:44.34\00:36:48.51
So to be perfect in love
is to be perfect-- perfect--
00:36:48.54\00:36:51.62
yeah, man, I don't
want to get into it
00:36:51.65\00:36:54.82
but that, you know, perfection.
00:36:54.85\00:36:57.47
People got all tied up in
this matter of perfectionism
00:36:57.50\00:36:59.86
forgetting the essence of it.
00:36:59.89\00:37:01.17
Some of the most unlovely
and most unchrist like things
00:37:01.20\00:37:03.68
have been done in the
name of perfectionism,
00:37:03.71\00:37:08.53
right and many have forgotten
it's really about love.
00:37:08.56\00:37:16.32
It's about love,
truly it's about love.
00:37:16.35\00:37:20.56
Anyway, where do we leave on?
00:37:20.59\00:37:21.66
And okay, "And
may be found in Him,
00:37:21.69\00:37:23.29
not having a righteousness
of my own derived from the law,
00:37:23.32\00:37:25.98
but that which is
through faith in Christ,
00:37:26.01\00:37:28.38
the righteousness
which comes from God
00:37:28.41\00:37:32.35
on the basis of faith."
00:37:32.38\00:37:37.04
And faith is that-- commitment
00:37:37.07\00:37:38.50
faith is that love that binds us
00:37:38.53\00:37:41.50
into this committed relationship
that we are talking about.
00:37:41.53\00:37:47.02
And let me share with
you another statement,
00:37:47.05\00:37:48.94
this one, 1
Selected Messages, page 367,
00:37:48.97\00:37:52.40
this really puts it
together in a way you know,
00:37:52.43\00:37:54.98
I am trying to emaciate it
00:37:55.01\00:37:56.04
but this really
puts it together.
00:37:56.07\00:37:57.74
"The law demands righteousness."
00:37:57.77\00:37:59.57
It does, but the problem
is we've been tainted by sin.
00:37:59.60\00:38:03.22
It could demand righteousness
for as long as the day
00:38:03.25\00:38:08.07
you know, it can demand
all of the righteousness
00:38:08.10\00:38:10.91
it wants of us but we
have been corrupted by evil.
00:38:10.94\00:38:16.52
We just can't measure up
and you and I can't produce it.
00:38:16.55\00:38:20.27
It can demand it and it does.
00:38:20.30\00:38:22.65
And be assured of it,
00:38:22.68\00:38:23.71
God's standard is
absolute perfection.
00:38:23.74\00:38:27.38
Did you hear me?
00:38:27.41\00:38:29.00
Not 99.9% will do,
it is 100% perfection.
00:38:29.03\00:38:34.95
I didn't mean to
get into perfectionism
00:38:34.98\00:38:36.60
but I guess
it's on my mind here.
00:38:36.63\00:38:39.03
100% righteousness alone
00:38:39.06\00:38:42.41
is our qualification for heaven.
00:38:42.44\00:38:44.29
You just stay with me though.
00:38:44.32\00:38:46.79
Okay, just stay with me I
am going to put this together.
00:38:46.82\00:38:49.67
It demands it and we
see this awful scripture,
00:38:49.70\00:38:52.39
there is this high standard,
this is what God requires.
00:38:52.42\00:38:57.69
And many of us have you know,
00:38:57.72\00:39:01.04
we struggle with this
and because you know what,
00:39:01.07\00:39:04.48
you and I cannot
possibly measure up
00:39:04.51\00:39:07.12
to what's required of us.
00:39:07.15\00:39:09.25
Who of us here is able
of ourselves to measure up?
00:39:09.28\00:39:12.25
Let me see your
hand and afterwards,
00:39:12.28\00:39:15.36
Gale, you and I will sit down
00:39:15.39\00:39:16.90
and we will have a
little conversation.
00:39:16.93\00:39:20.10
You tell me, you know.
00:39:20.13\00:39:22.09
Anyway, "The law
demands righteousness,
00:39:22.12\00:39:23.85
and this the
sinner owes to the law;
00:39:23.88\00:39:25.74
but he is
incapable of rendering it."
00:39:25.77\00:39:30.37
I tell you there are those
who have gone through a lifetime
00:39:30.40\00:39:33.40
in the church seeking to
do what God requires of them,
00:39:33.43\00:39:37.77
they have sweated blood itself.
00:39:37.80\00:39:43.01
And some people never
come to an understanding,
00:39:43.04\00:39:45.55
particularly the
strong willed individual,
00:39:45.58\00:39:47.95
he can't do it.
00:39:47.98\00:39:50.56
You and I can't do it.
00:39:50.59\00:39:52.95
We are incapable
and we are incapable
00:39:52.98\00:39:56.36
because of what
sin has done to us,
00:39:56.39\00:40:00.19
in our hearts and minds.
00:40:00.22\00:40:02.06
"The only way in
which he can attain
00:40:02.09\00:40:03.66
to righteousness
is through faith."
00:40:03.69\00:40:05.61
We've already seen
that, the word of God.
00:40:05.64\00:40:07.16
So it clearly indicated there.
00:40:07.19\00:40:08.92
"By faith he can bring
to God the merits of Christ,
00:40:08.95\00:40:12.40
his perfection
and the Lord places
00:40:12.43\00:40:14.97
the obedience of His Son
to the sinner's account."
00:40:15.00\00:40:17.94
It is like a bank account.
00:40:17.97\00:40:19.44
You are in a deficit situation,
00:40:19.47\00:40:21.22
you and me as sinners
were in deficit situation.
00:40:21.25\00:40:25.84
And my friend, the
righteousness of Jesus
00:40:25.87\00:40:29.01
is put into our account
00:40:29.04\00:40:33.37
and the debt is satisfied.
00:40:33.40\00:40:36.48
That's the way it works.
00:40:36.51\00:40:38.00
"Christ's
righteousness is accepted
00:40:38.03\00:40:40.11
in place of man's
failure," praise His name.
00:40:40.14\00:40:43.54
"And God receives"
this is all by faith.
00:40:43.57\00:40:47.69
I know there's
gonna some that say,
00:40:47.72\00:40:49.04
"This can't be this
easy. It's just faith.
00:40:49.07\00:40:53.32
There's nothing
that we have to do."
00:40:53.35\00:40:55.60
Oh, yes, there's
something you have to do.
00:40:55.63\00:40:57.02
You have to respond in faith
and that's all you and I can do.
00:40:57.05\00:41:03.83
"And God receives,
pardons, justifies,
00:41:03.86\00:41:06.69
the repentant,
believing soul, treats him
00:41:06.72\00:41:09.00
as though he were righteous."
00:41:09.03\00:41:11.69
He treats us as we never sinned.
00:41:11.72\00:41:13.41
Can you imagine that?
That's pretty good stuff.
00:41:13.44\00:41:17.68
And furthermore it
says, "And loves him or her
00:41:17.71\00:41:21.17
as He loves His Son."
00:41:21.20\00:41:23.63
Well, does that put
a value on you and me?
00:41:23.66\00:41:26.79
Amen. God loves me like that?
00:41:26.82\00:41:30.21
All of the words and
all of the-- you know.
00:41:30.24\00:41:35.13
It is secrecies of
my life and it says
00:41:35.16\00:41:37.87
"This is how faith is accounted"
or considered "righteousness."
00:41:37.90\00:41:44.57
Oh, my friend,
embedded in the bible
00:41:44.60\00:41:46.73
and in the Revelations
of this Spirit of Prophecy
00:41:46.76\00:41:49.93
it bares testimonies
is this wonderful truth
00:41:49.96\00:41:53.65
in Jesus Christ.
00:41:53.68\00:41:56.42
And see, knowing and
understanding the truth
00:41:56.45\00:42:01.82
by faith leads us
into a deeper understanding
00:42:01.85\00:42:06.23
and experience which
is absolutely essential.
00:42:06.26\00:42:09.26
But what do we do?
00:42:09.29\00:42:11.25
We have those texts
00:42:11.28\00:42:12.60
but then there's
texts like Revelation 14:12
00:42:12.63\00:42:15.05
where it says, "Here are they
00:42:15.08\00:42:16.28
who keep the
commandments of God."
00:42:16.31\00:42:19.47
We've already settled it,
00:42:19.50\00:42:21.08
it can demand
righteousness of it,
00:42:21.11\00:42:22.50
we can't render it as we
are incapable of rendering it.
00:42:22.53\00:42:25.90
And we are accepted by
faith, we are accounted,
00:42:25.93\00:42:28.84
we are considered
righteousness by faith in Jesus.
00:42:28.87\00:42:32.19
Then where does
this whole matter
00:42:32.22\00:42:33.90
and it's all through the bible,
00:42:33.93\00:42:35.95
this whole matter of
keeping the commandments,
00:42:35.98\00:42:37.95
you know John 14:15,
00:42:37.98\00:42:39.34
"If you love me,
keep my commandments."
00:42:39.37\00:42:41.36
"Here are they we just ready to
keep the commandments of God."
00:42:41.39\00:42:45.17
This is love for God that
you keep His commandments.
00:42:45.20\00:42:49.31
You know, we got to find harmony
there's some are, don't we?
00:42:49.34\00:42:52.51
And there is harmony
if properly understood
00:42:52.54\00:42:56.19
and experienced as
I will not point out.
00:42:56.22\00:43:00.78
And I am going to
touch this part of our study
00:43:00.81\00:43:04.12
this morning in the
context of the relationship.
00:43:04.15\00:43:07.77
And that's where it
ought to be look at,
00:43:07.80\00:43:09.23
in the context of relationship.
00:43:09.26\00:43:10.50
In John 15:5, Jesus said,
00:43:10.53\00:43:13.39
"He who abides
in Me and I in him."
00:43:13.42\00:43:18.54
Boy, that's pretty
intimate, isn't it?
00:43:18.57\00:43:21.86
"He who abides in Me
and I in him" he will what?
00:43:21.89\00:43:26.03
"He bears much fruit."
00:43:26.06\00:43:31.02
One of the most powerful things
00:43:31.05\00:43:32.62
that we experience in
life are relationships.
00:43:32.65\00:43:36.59
Relationships, they
are, think about it.
00:43:36.62\00:43:40.77
The relationships,
00:43:40.80\00:43:42.01
a relationship
between a husband and a wife,
00:43:42.04\00:43:44.86
family relationships,
a parent and a child.
00:43:44.89\00:43:48.91
Well, I love-- I
just love my kids
00:43:48.94\00:43:50.74
you know, I just learn so
much more about God's love
00:43:50.77\00:43:53.46
when I had children.
00:43:53.49\00:43:55.15
You can bear witness to that,
00:43:55.18\00:43:56.21
those of you who
are parents, right.
00:43:56.24\00:43:58.39
I love them in the good times
00:43:58.42\00:43:59.73
and I love them
in the bad times.
00:43:59.76\00:44:02.87
I love them when they
are doing what is right
00:44:02.90\00:44:04.55
and I love them
when they are failing.
00:44:04.58\00:44:07.82
And you know what, we
are made in the image of God,
00:44:07.85\00:44:09.95
that's the reflection of
God's love for His children.
00:44:09.98\00:44:13.88
God's love not conditioned
on our performance, it's not.
00:44:13.91\00:44:18.60
And that's what
wins hearts over,
00:44:18.63\00:44:20.30
that's what keeps
winning my heart over
00:44:20.33\00:44:22.52
and that's why I
keep preaching it.
00:44:22.55\00:44:25.19
So out of the
relationship we bear fruit.
00:44:25.22\00:44:29.90
It says, we bear fruit,
tie into it Philippians 1:9
00:44:29.93\00:44:35.14
where Paul says, "I
pray, that your love"
00:44:35.17\00:44:38.36
It comes out of
the relationship,
00:44:38.39\00:44:39.67
we love because
He first loved us.
00:44:39.70\00:44:41.96
So if we love it means
00:44:41.99\00:44:43.38
because we are experiencing
His love and some other.
00:44:43.41\00:44:46.11
"I pray, that your love
may abound still more and more"
00:44:46.14\00:44:50.78
that's talking
about growing in love.
00:44:50.81\00:44:54.11
Amen. Growing in love.
00:44:54.14\00:44:56.78
"I pray, that your
love may abound still more
00:44:56.81\00:44:59.22
and more having been filled"
What does it mean, filled?
00:44:59.25\00:45:05.08
Who's been filled? We.
00:45:05.11\00:45:08.71
"Having been filled
00:45:08.74\00:45:10.53
with the fruit
of righteousness,"
00:45:10.56\00:45:13.63
notice the next part,
00:45:13.66\00:45:14.77
"which comes
through Jesus Christ"
00:45:14.80\00:45:20.36
as a result of the relationship.
00:45:20.39\00:45:23.85
Relationships on a human
level are transformational.
00:45:23.88\00:45:29.22
Now that can go two different
directions, can't they?
00:45:29.25\00:45:33.62
But they could
be transformational.
00:45:33.65\00:45:35.91
But above every relationship
00:45:35.94\00:45:38.06
that you and I can
possibly experience
00:45:38.09\00:45:39.73
on the human level
is the relationship
00:45:39.76\00:45:42.16
we are privilege to
experience in Jesus Christ.
00:45:42.19\00:45:45.76
That relationship is the most
powerful of any relationship
00:45:45.79\00:45:50.55
and is truly transformational.
00:45:50.58\00:45:54.02
Not instantaneous
00:45:54.05\00:45:55.81
because it's growing
in love more and more
00:45:55.84\00:45:59.14
you know, it's growing.
00:45:59.17\00:46:01.61
It becoming, the
process of becoming--
00:46:01.64\00:46:03.68
have you ever seen two people
00:46:03.71\00:46:05.17
that have spent decades together
00:46:05.20\00:46:07.40
who even look alike
and talk just alike?
00:46:07.43\00:46:13.23
How does that happen? It's love.
00:46:13.26\00:46:17.69
It's the years
of being together,
00:46:17.72\00:46:20.16
of being molded
and being you know,
00:46:20.19\00:46:22.92
the two shall become
one, becoming truly one.
00:46:22.95\00:46:26.59
They start to sound alike,
even look alike, you know.
00:46:26.62\00:46:31.38
And that's how it is with
our relationship with Jesus.
00:46:31.41\00:46:34.85
We become like Him,
the one that we love,
00:46:34.88\00:46:37.52
the one who has
promised to come to abide in us,
00:46:37.55\00:46:40.96
abiding in us.
00:46:40.99\00:46:42.47
And if He's in us,
00:46:42.50\00:46:44.23
He begins to infiltrate
into every aspect of life,
00:46:44.26\00:46:47.40
into our thinking,
into our value system,
00:46:47.43\00:46:51.15
into what we do
and into what we say,
00:46:51.18\00:46:54.35
even how we speak is
affected by His love embrace
00:46:54.38\00:46:58.02
when Jesus is
present in the life.
00:46:58.05\00:47:00.37
This is a growth experience.
00:47:00.40\00:47:03.13
It's growing in Him, isn't it?
00:47:03.16\00:47:05.97
And that take you
to 1 Peter 1:1, 2.
00:47:06.00\00:47:10.07
For the Holy Spirit has
a part in all of this too
00:47:10.10\00:47:12.35
and I can only touch on this
00:47:12.38\00:47:14.16
but look at the salutation here
00:47:14.19\00:47:17.02
1 Peter 1, "Peter, an
apostle of Jesus Christ,
00:47:17.05\00:47:20.77
to those who reside as aliens,
scattered throughout Pontus,
00:47:20.80\00:47:25.02
Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
00:47:25.05\00:47:29.25
who are chosen,"
00:47:29.28\00:47:30.64
its talking about
God's people who are chosen.
00:47:30.67\00:47:34.37
And my friend,
we have been chosen.
00:47:34.40\00:47:37.39
You have been
chosen, I've been chosen.
00:47:37.42\00:47:38.70
But notice what is says of them,
00:47:38.73\00:47:39.96
"Who are chosen
00:47:39.99\00:47:41.02
according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father,
00:47:41.05\00:47:44.01
and by the
sanctifying work of the Spirit."
00:47:44.04\00:47:49.51
We've been chosen
by the sanctifying
00:47:49.54\00:47:52.00
work of the Spirit
and for what purpose.
00:47:52.03\00:47:55.76
"To obey Jesus Christ
00:47:55.79\00:47:58.62
and be
sprinkled with His blood."
00:47:58.65\00:48:01.25
We have been chosen by God
00:48:01.28\00:48:04.62
through the sanctifying
work of the Holy Spirit.
00:48:04.65\00:48:07.86
And remember, it is
through the Holy Spirit
00:48:07.89\00:48:09.42
that Jesus abides in us anyway.
00:48:09.45\00:48:12.82
Right? Okay.
00:48:12.85\00:48:16.49
And so this
through the sanctifying,
00:48:16.52\00:48:18.44
that's being set
apart, that's what it means.
00:48:18.47\00:48:21.22
And we're set
apart for the powerful
00:48:21.25\00:48:22.91
working of God's love and
grace through Jesus Christ
00:48:22.94\00:48:26.77
as He is abiding in us
00:48:26.80\00:48:30.57
through the
sanctifying work of the Spirit.
00:48:30.60\00:48:34.09
To obey, oh,
no, in Jesus Christ,
00:48:34.12\00:48:38.27
we are not
uncomfortable with this word,
00:48:38.30\00:48:40.66
obedience in its proper setting.
00:48:40.69\00:48:45.78
We better not be
because those of us
00:48:45.81\00:48:47.80
who are parents are
going to have a lot of trouble
00:48:47.83\00:48:50.05
if we don't believe that there's
a proper place for obedience.
00:48:50.08\00:48:53.67
You know, when you love somebody
you want to please them.
00:48:53.70\00:48:56.25
When you love
somebody as we love Jesus
00:48:56.28\00:49:00.43
we want to be obedient
00:49:00.46\00:49:02.14
but also know we
are still dealing
00:49:02.17\00:49:04.05
with what sin has
done to us, right.
00:49:04.08\00:49:07.70
And that's where
the growing comes into.
00:49:07.73\00:49:11.54
I will share with
you this statement.
00:49:11.57\00:49:13.01
"He who is being
sanctified by the truth"
00:49:13.04\00:49:15.96
and remember, the
spirit is the Spirit of truth.
00:49:15.99\00:49:19.41
"Will be self-controlled,
00:49:19.44\00:49:20.95
and will follow in
the footsteps of Christ
00:49:20.98\00:49:22.72
until grace is lost in glory."
00:49:22.75\00:49:25.61
Now notice, "The Righteousness
00:49:25.64\00:49:27.54
by which we are
justified is imputed."
00:49:27.57\00:49:30.51
That's what we
consider righteousness.
00:49:30.54\00:49:34.04
"The Righteousness by which
we are sanctified is imparted."
00:49:34.07\00:49:38.33
So there are these two aspects
of righteousness by faith.
00:49:38.36\00:49:42.27
The first, we
spent the greater part on
00:49:42.30\00:49:44.43
that is by faith in Jesus,
00:49:44.46\00:49:46.36
we are accepted
through His righteousness,
00:49:46.39\00:49:49.33
not-- it's not
derived from keeping the law,
00:49:49.36\00:49:51.93
it is through the
righteous life of Jesus
00:49:51.96\00:49:54.69
we are accounted, we are
considered to be righteous
00:49:54.72\00:49:57.94
but as in time we
are abiding in Jesus,
00:49:57.97\00:50:01.75
we are becoming like Jesus.
00:50:01.78\00:50:04.34
His life, when it talks about
00:50:04.37\00:50:06.43
the impartation of
the righteousness here,
00:50:06.46\00:50:09.00
it's talking
about the impartation
00:50:09.03\00:50:11.19
of the very life of Jesus.
00:50:11.22\00:50:14.86
Don't lose that connection.
00:50:14.89\00:50:17.72
For the righteousness
to be imparted to us
00:50:17.75\00:50:20.64
is to have the life
of Jesus imparted to us.
00:50:20.67\00:50:23.74
It is our faith,
it is through love
00:50:23.77\00:50:26.03
and it is through time
00:50:26.06\00:50:28.37
that process of
becoming like Him.
00:50:28.40\00:50:32.74
And we may
stumble along the way,
00:50:32.77\00:50:35.07
may, we probably will at
time stumble along the way.
00:50:35.10\00:50:38.76
And when we do, oh, we blew it,
00:50:38.79\00:50:43.16
we are in a
stage of discouragement
00:50:43.19\00:50:45.86
until we get on our
knees and we confess our sins
00:50:45.89\00:50:48.13
and then everything gets solve.
00:50:48.16\00:50:49.70
Is that the way it works?
00:50:49.73\00:50:51.30
No, even at the
point where we may fail
00:50:51.33\00:50:53.98
in our growth in Jesus
00:50:54.01\00:50:55.41
we are still covered
by His perfection. Amen.
00:50:55.44\00:51:00.13
And so when it says the law
requires of His righteousness
00:51:00.16\00:51:03.25
and I went on to
say 100% righteousness
00:51:03.28\00:51:06.60
will do and only do
00:51:06.63\00:51:08.43
and is the primary qualification
for entering into the heaven,
00:51:08.46\00:51:13.90
my friends it is
100% pure in Jesus
00:51:13.93\00:51:17.73
and it is Jesus righteousness
and through His perfection
00:51:17.76\00:51:22.01
that we are accepted
and we will be saved.
00:51:22.04\00:51:27.19
It is nothing of
self, it is all about Him.
00:51:27.22\00:51:32.21
See, we are growing into that
00:51:32.24\00:51:33.44
because you know
sometimes it is about me,
00:51:33.47\00:51:36.16
sometimes self gonna way, right.
00:51:36.19\00:51:39.09
It's making Jesus the
center point of it all, it is.
00:51:39.12\00:51:44.49
There's been swing in
passers of this whole thing.
00:51:44.52\00:51:48.32
There was legalism going on.
00:51:48.35\00:51:50.69
What we need to guard against
when there are extremisms
00:51:50.72\00:51:53.95
that go on in the church is that
we don't overreact and end up
00:51:53.98\00:51:58.18
and find ourselves
in the opposite extreme.
00:51:58.21\00:52:02.34
And I believe
that's happen in part.
00:52:02.37\00:52:04.63
Nobody is interested in
going back to the legalism.
00:52:04.66\00:52:08.06
Anybody here want to
back to it into the legalism
00:52:08.09\00:52:11.77
that some will experience
and some were teaching?
00:52:11.80\00:52:15.16
I don't believe
everybody was into it.
00:52:15.19\00:52:18.70
But there certainly seem
to be a fair amount of it
00:52:18.73\00:52:22.30
but on the other
side of it we want,
00:52:22.33\00:52:25.12
this is where we need to
be balanced in all of this
00:52:25.15\00:52:27.42
and that-- we do that
through our experience in Jesus
00:52:27.45\00:52:29.91
and keeping focus on the truth.
00:52:29.94\00:52:32.27
And the truth is
that there is this process
00:52:32.30\00:52:34.74
of becoming like Him.
00:52:34.77\00:52:36.81
Steps to Christ, my
last statement here,
00:52:36.84\00:52:39.82
"There are two errors against
00:52:39.85\00:52:40.88
which the children of
God, especially need to guard.
00:52:40.91\00:52:43.83
The first is that of
looking to their own works,
00:52:43.86\00:52:46.47
trusting to
anything they can do,
00:52:46.50\00:52:48.28
to bring themselves
into harmony with God.
00:52:48.31\00:52:51.47
The opposite and no
less dangerous error
00:52:51.50\00:52:55.05
is that belief in
Christ releases men
00:52:55.08\00:52:57.77
from keeping the law of God
00:52:57.80\00:52:59.85
that since by
faith" and I know there
00:52:59.88\00:53:02.67
some confusion out in the
church over this whole matter.
00:53:02.70\00:53:06.66
"That since by faith
alone" and it's true, isn't it?
00:53:06.69\00:53:10.47
"By faith alone
00:53:10.50\00:53:11.80
we become partakers
of the grace of Christ,
00:53:11.83\00:53:14.64
our works have nothing
to do with our redemption.
00:53:14.67\00:53:18.39
Instead of releasing man
from obedience, it is faith,
00:53:18.42\00:53:23.07
and faith only,"
that is the relationship
00:53:23.10\00:53:25.25
"that makes us partakers
of the grace of Christ,
00:53:25.28\00:53:27.85
which enables us
to render obedience."
00:53:27.88\00:53:31.61
Amen. Who does the enabling?
00:53:31.64\00:53:34.41
Just try harder
to live the better.
00:53:34.44\00:53:38.37
It's how it comes
the-- what do you say?
00:53:38.40\00:53:42.29
Well, it says we
partake the grace of Christ
00:53:42.32\00:53:45.34
that we are enabled,
it's a process of becoming.
00:53:45.37\00:53:50.94
And my friends, it's
all about knowing Jesus.
00:53:50.97\00:53:55.03
It's all about coming into this
relationship in Jesus Christ.
00:53:55.06\00:53:59.52
I am gonna end with the song,
I want you to bow your heads
00:53:59.55\00:54:03.67
and I want you to mediate
upon the words of the song
00:54:03.70\00:54:06.44
because it's a capstone
00:54:06.47\00:54:08.58
to what I shared
with you this morning.
00:54:08.61\00:54:10.76
What is this thing I feel?
00:54:25.83\00:54:31.50
What makes my heart reveal?
00:54:31.53\00:54:37.00
This strange
attraction to be like Him
00:54:37.03\00:54:43.23
Why can I not ignore
00:54:47.71\00:54:53.00
Like so many times before
00:54:53.03\00:54:58.21
His Invitation to be like Him
00:54:58.24\00:55:05.08
Somehow I can't escape
00:55:09.10\00:55:13.15
the love He has shown
00:55:13.18\00:55:19.05
Somehow His spirit finds a way
00:55:19.08\00:55:24.46
to make it known
00:55:24.49\00:55:30.44
To think that God my life
00:55:30.47\00:55:34.23
Jesus gave up His own
00:55:34.26\00:55:39.76
It makes me want to serve Him
00:55:39.79\00:55:45.13
and trust Him, Him alone
00:55:45.16\00:55:49.59
He chose to lay aside
00:55:53.89\00:55:58.88
all the fame and pride
00:55:58.91\00:56:04.07
That's how my Lord became
00:56:04.10\00:56:08.26
the greatest of all man
00:56:08.29\00:56:13.69
And He is not ashamed
00:56:13.72\00:56:19.29
to let me share His name
00:56:19.32\00:56:25.50
That I might find my life in Him
00:56:25.53\00:56:33.50
What made Him come descend
00:56:44.58\00:56:50.06
to love me like a friend?
00:56:50.09\00:56:55.76
In spite of all my sin
00:56:55.79\00:56:59.67
He bled on me and died
00:56:59.70\00:57:05.63
Lord God, I offer you
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my sin to renew
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Cry unto mighty self
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to be like Him
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Say you desire this morning,
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just raise your
hand right there.
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