Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:00:41.46\00:00:42.93
Father in heaven we
thank You for the opportunity
00:00:42.96\00:00:47.08
of opening Your Holy Word.
00:00:47.11\00:00:49.41
We ask that as we do, Your
Holy Spirit will be with us
00:00:49.44\00:00:54.52
to guide our thoughts,
and to give us understanding.
00:00:54.55\00:00:58.56
We thank You, Father,
for hearing our prayer
00:00:58.59\00:01:02.12
for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, Amen.
00:01:02.15\00:01:06.76
As we've seen in our previous
lectures, the Bible has only a
00:01:06.79\00:01:15.52
limited number of things to say
about Mary, the mother of Jesus.
00:01:15.55\00:01:20.57
In preparation for our
study today it's necessary
00:01:20.60\00:01:25.31
to underline the fact that the
Bible says nothing about where,
00:01:25.34\00:01:31.43
when, from whom,
or how Mary was born.
00:01:31.46\00:01:37.85
We don't know the
name of her parents,
00:01:37.88\00:01:41.04
and we don't know
anything about her birth.
00:01:41.07\00:01:46.70
All we know is what
Scripture has to say
00:01:46.73\00:01:50.14
about the birth of Jesus.
00:01:50.17\00:01:52.83
However, in Roman Catholic
theology Mary is spoken of as
00:01:52.86\00:02:02.47
being different than
us in two specific ways.
00:02:02.50\00:02:09.67
In fact in Roman
Catholic theology, first of all,
00:02:09.70\00:02:13.08
it is taught that
Mary was born immaculate.
00:02:13.11\00:02:18.52
In other words, she
was born with the nature
00:02:18.55\00:02:21.55
of Adam before the fall.
00:02:21.58\00:02:24.17
She was born without
a fallen human nature.
00:02:24.20\00:02:29.97
Secondly, in Roman Catholic
theology we find the teaching
00:02:30.00\00:02:35.12
that Mary never actually
committed any sin during
00:02:35.15\00:02:41.09
her life; no mortal
sin and no venial sin.
00:02:41.12\00:02:46.33
And there are two reasons
why the Roman Catholic Church
00:02:46.36\00:02:50.42
underlines these
two ideas about Mary.
00:02:50.45\00:02:54.54
Why they teach that she was
born without the fallen nature
00:02:54.57\00:02:59.75
of Adam, and why she never
actually committed sin at all
00:02:59.78\00:03:04.97
during her lifetime.
00:03:05.00\00:03:06.20
And I would like to share
with you, as we begin our study,
00:03:06.23\00:03:09.88
the two reasons why
the Roman Catholic Church,
00:03:09.91\00:03:13.50
through its
theologians primarily,
00:03:13.53\00:03:15.39
teaches these
two ideas about Mary.
00:03:15.42\00:03:18.96
First of all I would like
to read several statements from
00:03:18.99\00:03:23.99
the book, The Glories of
Mary, of St. Alphonsus Liguori,
00:03:24.02\00:03:28.39
which we studied last time,
and there might be a couple of
00:03:28.42\00:03:31.95
quotations also from other Roman
Catholic sources as to why Mary
00:03:31.98\00:03:37.18
was born immaculate,
and why she never sinned,
00:03:37.21\00:03:41.63
even though the Bible
does not address this issue.
00:03:41.66\00:03:44.45
The first quotation is found in
The Glories of Mary, page 295,
00:03:44.48\00:03:50.82
where we are told this:
00:03:50.85\00:03:52.80
I think that's pretty clear.
00:04:06.27\00:04:08.93
Once again, but how could Jesus
Christ be said to be separated
00:04:08.96\00:04:12.76
from sinners if He had
a mother who was a sinner?
00:04:12.79\00:04:17.65
On page 296 of, The Glories
of Mary, St. Bridget is quoted
00:04:17.68\00:04:24.80
in the following fashion:
00:04:24.83\00:04:26.33
We're discovering that the
reason why, in Roman Catholic
00:04:38.53\00:04:42.59
theology, Mary is spoken
of as being born immaculate is
00:04:42.62\00:04:46.60
because if she wasn't she
could not bring the immaculate
00:04:46.63\00:04:50.08
Jesus into the world.
00:04:50.11\00:04:52.15
On page 297 of the
book, The Glories of Mary,
00:04:52.18\00:04:57.01
we find this statement:
00:04:57.04\00:04:58.58
Again on page 297
we find this statement:
00:05:16.06\00:05:20.75
Maybe two or three other
statements, because this is
00:05:38.36\00:05:42.10
such an important point.
00:05:42.13\00:05:43.90
Mary had to be born immaculate
in order to bring an immaculate
00:05:43.93\00:05:48.62
Son into the world.
00:05:48.65\00:05:50.20
So goes the argument.
00:05:50.23\00:05:51.45
On page 311 of the
book, The Glories of Mary,
00:05:51.48\00:05:55.48
we find St. Peter Damian
quoted, and he says this:
00:05:55.51\00:06:01.24
In other words, she had
the nature of Adam before Adam
00:06:12.40\00:06:17.14
sinned, so that Jesus, in
this view, could also be born
00:06:17.17\00:06:23.03
with the nature of
Adam before Adam sinned.
00:06:23.06\00:06:27.74
Once again, The
Glories of Mary, page 299,
00:06:27.77\00:06:32.58
we find this statement:
00:06:32.61\00:06:33.83
Those are the less serious sins.
00:06:43.38\00:06:45.35
In other words, Jesus the
Perfect One, could not have a
00:07:03.72\00:07:06.84
mother who was a
sinner in actual fact,
00:07:06.87\00:07:10.34
by committing actual
sins, or by by having
00:07:10.37\00:07:14.29
the sinful nature of Adam.
00:07:14.32\00:07:16.98
One final quotation from
a pamphlet published by the
00:07:17.01\00:07:20.86
Knights of Columbus.
00:07:20.89\00:07:22.27
The title of the pamphlet is,
The Mother of Jesus, page 25.
00:07:22.30\00:07:27.32
Notice this statement:
00:07:27.35\00:07:28.38
It can't get any
clearer than that.
00:07:48.92\00:07:51.80
Mary had the nature of
Adam and Eve before the fall.
00:07:51.83\00:07:58.34
In other words, she was
not born with a sinful nature,
00:07:58.37\00:08:02.43
and she never committed sin.
00:08:02.46\00:08:04.44
Now the first reason that we've
noticed why the Roman Catholic
00:08:04.47\00:08:08.18
Church teaches that she
had to be born immaculate,
00:08:08.21\00:08:11.76
and she could not have sinned,
is because she had to be so
00:08:11.79\00:08:15.96
in order to bring into the
world a Son who had the same
00:08:15.99\00:08:19.69
characteristics; who would not
suffer the results of her sin
00:08:19.72\00:08:24.94
or of the nature
of the sinful Adam.
00:08:24.97\00:08:27.45
But there's a second reason why
Roman Catholic theology teaches
00:08:27.48\00:08:31.70
that Mary was born
immaculate, and she actually
00:08:31.73\00:08:35.37
lived without committing sin,
and that is in Roman Catholic
00:08:35.40\00:08:41.86
theology Mary died, and
she remained in the tomb
00:08:41.89\00:08:47.78
for three days. Her
body saw no corruption.
00:08:47.81\00:08:50.48
And then on the third day
she was assumed to heaven.
00:08:50.51\00:08:54.52
And we're going to talk
more about the dogmas about Mary
00:08:54.55\00:08:58.58
in Roman Catholicism a little
bit later on in this series.
00:08:58.61\00:09:01.91
But they believe that Mary
presently is standing before
00:09:01.94\00:09:07.94
her Son, and she is serving
as advocate of the human race.
00:09:07.97\00:09:12.66
And, of course, there is no
way that Mary could serve as the
00:09:12.69\00:09:17.80
advocate of the human race
if she had been conceived in sin
00:09:17.83\00:09:22.45
and if she actually committed
sin, because the righteousness
00:09:22.48\00:09:26.58
of Christ would destroy her.
00:09:26.61\00:09:28.56
Allow me to read you a
couple of statements here
00:09:28.59\00:09:32.16
from Roman Catholic theologians.
00:09:32.19\00:09:34.17
This is from St. Alphonsus
Liguori, The Glories of Mary,
00:09:34.20\00:09:37.60
page 293. He's
quoting St. Anselm.
00:09:37.63\00:09:43.55
He also quotes St. Gregory.
00:10:02.46\00:10:05.90
And this is where you come
to the specific point about Mary
00:10:05.93\00:10:09.34
not being able to serve
as advocate of the human race
00:10:09.37\00:10:12.52
if she actually committed sin.
00:10:12.55\00:10:14.75
This is found in St.
Alphonsus Liguori, page 289.
00:10:14.78\00:10:19.97
So first she had to be
born immaculate, and live a life
00:11:07.44\00:11:12.88
without sin, because Jesus
was going to come from her,
00:11:12.91\00:11:17.37
and He was going to
have the same nature.
00:11:17.40\00:11:19.62
And secondly, in Roman Catholic
theology, she was going to serve
00:11:19.65\00:11:24.29
as the mediatress, or the
advocate of the human race,
00:11:24.32\00:11:27.95
and a sinner could not appear
before the presence of God
00:11:27.98\00:11:31.83
to represent humanity.
00:11:31.86\00:11:33.94
In actually fact, the Bible
teaches that we have a mediator
00:11:33.97\00:11:40.70
in heaven, Jesus Christ our
high priest, who is sinless,
00:11:40.73\00:11:45.56
undefiled, and
perfect, and therefore can
00:11:45.59\00:11:49.01
represent us before God.
00:11:49.04\00:11:50.73
You can read Hebrews 7:26.
00:11:50.76\00:11:54.55
It says that Jesus was
separated from sinners.
00:11:54.58\00:11:57.90
Nowhere in the Bible will you
find that Mary was born without
00:11:57.93\00:12:03.45
the fallen nature of Adam,
and that she never actually
00:12:03.48\00:12:07.07
committed sin in her life.
00:12:07.10\00:12:08.70
This comes into the
church as a result purely
00:12:08.73\00:12:12.06
of human tradition.
00:12:12.09\00:12:13.63
The Bible speaks about the
birth and sinlessness of Jesus.
00:12:13.66\00:12:17.22
It does not speak about the
birth and the sinless of Mary.
00:12:17.25\00:12:21.90
Now in other venues we have
studied about the antichrist.
00:12:21.93\00:12:27.07
And I'm not going to get into
a full study of the antichrist
00:12:27.10\00:12:30.47
in our lecture today.
00:12:30.50\00:12:32.26
We've studied, for
example, about the little horn,
00:12:32.29\00:12:36.00
about the beast, about
the harlot of Revelation 17,
00:12:36.03\00:12:40.52
the man of sin of
2 Thessalonians 2.
00:12:40.55\00:12:44.27
We've studied basically
all of the antichrist passages
00:12:44.30\00:12:50.46
of Scripture previously.
00:12:50.49\00:12:52.06
And we've noticed
several characteristics
00:12:52.09\00:12:55.16
about the antichrist.
00:12:55.19\00:12:56.53
It persecutes the
saints of the Most High.
00:12:56.56\00:13:00.14
It speaks blasphemies against
the Most High, in other words it
00:13:00.17\00:13:03.67
claims to have the
power to forgive sins.
00:13:03.70\00:13:06.44
It claims to have God's
representative on earth.
00:13:06.47\00:13:10.20
We noticed that this
power rules for 1,260 years
00:13:10.23\00:13:15.09
after the Roman Empire is
divided into ten kingdoms.
00:13:15.12\00:13:19.23
We noticed
several characteristics
00:13:19.26\00:13:22.12
about the antichrist.
00:13:22.15\00:13:23.53
But there is one characteristic
which is not contained in any
00:13:23.56\00:13:27.59
of these antichrist
passages, like Revelation 13,
00:13:27.62\00:13:31.95
and Daniel 7, and
Daniel 11, and Revelation 17,
00:13:31.98\00:13:37.34
and 2 Thessalonians 2.
00:13:37.37\00:13:38.78
There's one characteristic which
is found in another passage
00:13:38.81\00:13:42.94
of the apostle John.
00:13:42.97\00:13:45.79
I would like to
read that passage.
00:13:45.82\00:13:48.01
It's found in 1 John 4:1-3,
1 John 4:1-3. We're told here:
00:13:48.04\00:14:00.72
Now how can you test a spirit
to see whether it's of God?
00:14:15.35\00:14:19.15
How can you understand whether
a prophet truly speaks for God?
00:14:19.18\00:14:24.13
Notice verse 2:
00:14:24.16\00:14:25.19
And then verse 3
becomes even more explicit.
00:14:40.26\00:14:44.44
Every spirit that doesn't
confess that Jesus Christ
00:15:03.79\00:15:07.73
has come in the flesh, according
to this passage, is not only not
00:15:07.76\00:15:12.49
of God, but actually possesses
the spirit of the antichrist.
00:15:12.52\00:15:18.48
And that's the reason why
in John 1:14 we are told that:
00:15:18.51\00:15:25.41
In other words, Scripture tells
us that Jesus came to this world
00:15:39.26\00:15:43.40
and He took flesh of our
flesh, bone of our bones.
00:15:43.43\00:15:47.13
He took blood of our blood.
00:15:47.16\00:15:49.36
He became like one of us.
00:15:49.39\00:15:52.72
And according to this passage,
anyone who does not believe
00:15:52.75\00:15:57.01
or teach that Jesus came in
the flesh, cannot be of God.
00:15:57.04\00:16:01.26
In fact, this is the
spirit of the antichrist.
00:16:01.29\00:16:05.67
Now the lecture today is
not primarily about Mary.
00:16:05.70\00:16:10.53
The lecture today is
primarily about Jesus.
00:16:10.56\00:16:14.63
But we had to introduce the
lecture by speaking about Mary
00:16:14.66\00:16:19.13
because in Roman Catholic
theology the idea is that Mary
00:16:19.16\00:16:23.71
was born with the unfallen
nature of Adam, so that Jesus
00:16:23.74\00:16:28.66
could be born with the
unfallen nature of Adam.
00:16:28.69\00:16:31.94
You know, a question which
people ask me very frequently
00:16:31.97\00:16:35.98
is, do you believe that Jesus
took the nature of Adam before
00:16:36.01\00:16:41.06
the fall, or do you believe
that Jesus took the nature
00:16:41.09\00:16:44.32
of Adam after the fall?
00:16:44.35\00:16:46.43
And, of course, they want
to work you into a corner.
00:16:46.46\00:16:49.08
And basically what I say is,
I don't believe that Jesus took
00:16:49.11\00:16:54.44
the nature of Adam before the
fall, and I don't believe that
00:16:54.47\00:16:59.36
Jesus took the nature of
Adam immediately after the fall.
00:16:59.39\00:17:03.08
I believe that Jesus took the
nature of Adam after the fall,
00:17:03.11\00:17:10.47
the nature of the Adam who
was born again after he sinned.
00:17:10.50\00:17:16.94
In other words,
Jesus took the regenerated
00:17:16.97\00:17:19.46
sinful nature of Adam.
00:17:19.49\00:17:21.63
In other words, Jesus did
not come to this world with a
00:17:21.66\00:17:27.30
sinful nature of someone
who had not been born again,
00:17:27.33\00:17:30.39
someone who had not been
regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
00:17:30.42\00:17:33.75
It would have been impossible
for Jesus to overcome,
00:17:33.78\00:17:36.98
so Scripture, I believe, teaches
that Jesus took the nature
00:17:37.01\00:17:40.89
of the sinful Adam after
Adam had been converted to God
00:17:40.92\00:17:45.71
after he committed his sin.
00:17:45.74\00:17:48.78
There's a passage
that we find in Romans 8,
00:17:48.81\00:17:53.29
which is very significant.
00:17:53.32\00:17:54.89
And I would like to
read several verses at the
00:17:54.92\00:17:57.96
beginning of Romans 8.
00:17:57.99\00:18:00.35
Actually, in this passage
what is being done is there's a
00:18:00.38\00:18:06.54
comparison between Jesus, who
came in the likeness of sinful
00:18:06.57\00:18:11.99
flesh, but through the
Spirit lived a spiritual life of
00:18:12.02\00:18:15.85
victory over sin, and
His followers who also
00:18:15.88\00:18:20.86
have a sinful nature, and
by the power of the Holy Spirit
00:18:20.89\00:18:22.37
and by the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:18:22.40\00:18:24.84
they also overcome sin.
00:18:24.87\00:18:27.84
In other words, a parallel
is being drawn between Jesus,
00:18:27.87\00:18:31.29
who took the likeness of sinful
flesh, and by the power of the
00:18:31.32\00:18:36.39
Spirit gained
the victory over sin,
00:18:36.42\00:18:38.52
and what should happen
with His followers who have
00:18:38.55\00:18:41.88
a sinful nature, and through
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:18:41.91\00:18:45.16
also can overcome
sin in their lives?
00:18:45.19\00:18:48.44
Allow me to read this
passage, and I'll explain a few
00:18:48.47\00:18:52.14
things as we go along.
00:18:52.17\00:18:53.55
Now are you
following what this is saying?
00:19:05.79\00:19:08.46
Do we have flesh?
Were we born in the flesh?
00:19:08.49\00:19:11.80
Of course we were.
00:19:11.83\00:19:13.13
But do we walk according to the
flesh if we've been born again?
00:19:13.16\00:19:16.76
Absolutely not!
00:19:16.79\00:19:18.25
See, that's talking
about the new birth.
00:19:26.36\00:19:29.07
Then we find in verse 3:
00:19:29.10\00:19:31.78
In other words, because
of our fleshly sinful nature
00:19:35.60\00:19:39.34
the law could do nothing
but what? but condemn us.
00:19:39.37\00:19:43.01
So the law could
not save us. So it says:
00:19:43.04\00:19:45.56
According to this.
00:20:08.16\00:20:09.83
Let me ask you, did Jesus
come in your and our flesh?
00:20:09.86\00:20:15.03
He most certainly did.
00:20:15.06\00:20:16.77
Did He battle
with sin in that flesh?
00:20:16.80\00:20:19.83
He most certainly did.
00:20:19.86\00:20:21.20
But who guided and
controlled His life?
00:20:21.23\00:20:23.57
The Spirit guided
and controlled His life.
00:20:23.60\00:20:26.80
And He gained the total
and complete victory over sin.
00:20:26.83\00:20:30.94
Now let me ask you,
Is that a possibility
00:20:30.97\00:20:34.13
for the followers of Jesus?
00:20:34.16\00:20:36.19
It most certainly is.
00:20:36.22\00:20:38.02
Lets continue reading.
00:20:38.05\00:20:39.54
Verse 4. That the righteous
requirement of the law might
00:20:39.57\00:20:45.80
be fulfilled in us.
00:20:45.83\00:20:47.46
See, now it goes
on to speak about us.
00:20:47.49\00:20:49.81
Might be fulfilled in us who do
not walk according to the flesh,
00:20:49.84\00:20:54.03
but according to
what? the Spirit.
00:20:54.06\00:20:56.41
As Jesus had the likeness of
sinful flesh, but lived by the
00:20:56.44\00:21:01.26
power of the Spirit,
we also in sinful flesh,
00:21:01.29\00:21:04.92
can live by the
power of the Spirit.
00:21:04.95\00:21:07.30
That's the argument
of the apostle Paul.
00:21:07.33\00:21:09.95
Notice once again verse 4, That
the righteousness requirement
00:21:09.98\00:21:13.59
of the law might be fulfilled
in us, who do not walk according
00:21:13.62\00:21:17.11
to the flesh, but
according to the Spirit.
00:21:17.14\00:21:19.23
For those who live according
to the flesh set their minds
00:21:19.26\00:21:23.34
on the things of the flesh; but
those who live according to the
00:21:23.37\00:21:27.05
Spirit, the
things of the Spirit.
00:21:27.08\00:21:28.81
Do you see the
two modes of living?
00:21:28.84\00:21:30.99
You can live in the flesh,
or you can live in the Spirit.
00:21:31.02\00:21:33.50
Jesus had the likeness of sinful
flesh, but in sinful flesh
00:21:33.53\00:21:39.59
He lived by the power of
whom? of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:39.62\00:21:43.03
Can we also have sinful
flesh and live in the power
00:21:43.06\00:21:46.64
of the Holy Spirit
in our lives? Certainly.
00:21:46.67\00:21:49.21
Verse 6. For to
be carnally minded...
00:21:49.24\00:21:52.19
By the way, that word
carnally is the same as flesh.
00:21:52.22\00:21:54.61
It's the same word
for flesh in Greek.
00:21:54.64\00:21:57.92
So you could say, for
the fleshly mind is death:
00:21:57.95\00:22:02.49
but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.
00:22:02.52\00:22:06.02
Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God:
00:22:06.05\00:22:09.53
for it is not subject to the
law of God, nor indeed can be.
00:22:09.56\00:22:14.17
So then those who are in
the flesh cannot please God.
00:22:14.20\00:22:18.60
Let me ask you, was Jesus born
in the likeness of sinful flesh
00:22:18.63\00:22:22.12
with a human nature that had not
been regenerated by the power
00:22:22.15\00:22:25.28
of the Holy
Spirit? Absolutely not!
00:22:25.31\00:22:27.44
Jesus could not have overcome,
because He would have been
00:22:27.47\00:22:31.23
at enmity
against the law of God.
00:22:31.26\00:22:33.26
There would be no way
that He could obey if He simply
00:22:33.29\00:22:36.44
inherited sinful flesh.
00:22:36.47\00:22:38.16
He inherited sinful
flesh regenerated by the power
00:22:38.19\00:22:41.97
of the Holy Spirit.
00:22:42.00\00:22:43.09
And then the apostle Paul says,
But you are not in the flesh,...
00:22:43.12\00:22:48.68
Although we are. You are not
in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
00:22:48.71\00:22:52.97
if indeed the Spirit
of God dwells in you.
00:22:53.00\00:22:57.46
Now if anyone does
not have the Spirit
00:22:57.49\00:23:00.04
of Christ, he is not His.
00:23:00.07\00:23:03.80
So Jesus took the
nature of Adam after the fall,
00:23:03.83\00:23:08.26
the likeness of sinful flesh.
00:23:08.29\00:23:10.53
But through the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:23:10.56\00:23:12.58
He overcame sin in His life.
00:23:12.61\00:23:15.64
He never committed even
one sin in the sight of God.
00:23:15.67\00:23:20.25
Now lets notice a few other
texts from the New Testament.
00:23:20.28\00:23:25.00
Hebrews 4:15. Go
with me to Hebrews 4:15.
00:23:25.03\00:23:32.62
Did Jesus overcome sin
as Adam before his fall,
00:23:32.65\00:23:39.35
or did Jesus come with the
nature of Adam after the fall?
00:23:39.38\00:23:45.70
Well, I believe that Hebrews
4: 15 explains that Jesus
00:23:45.73\00:23:51.33
identifies with us
more than He identifies
00:23:51.36\00:23:54.62
with the pre-fall Adam. Notice:
00:23:54.65\00:23:57.01
Adam's weaknesses.
00:23:57.04\00:24:04.95
Is that what it says?
00:24:04.98\00:24:07.72
That's not what it says.
00:24:07.75\00:24:08.94
For we do not have a high priest
who cannot sympathize with our..
00:24:08.97\00:24:13.57
Adam was, yet without sin.
00:24:18.42\00:24:21.04
It says that He was tempted in
all things as what? as we are,
00:24:21.07\00:24:26.83
yet without sin. His connection,
and His link is with us.
00:24:26.86\00:24:33.15
Notice also
Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:14.
00:24:33.18\00:24:42.63
In as much then as the
children,... That's us.
00:24:42.66\00:24:47.57
...have partaken of flesh
and blood, He Himself likewise
00:24:47.60\00:24:55.45
shared in the same; that through
death He might destroy him
00:24:55.48\00:25:01.62
who had the power of
death, that is, the devil.
00:25:01.65\00:25:05.83
Because the children had
flesh and blood, He also partook
00:25:05.86\00:25:10.53
of what? He also
partook of the same.
00:25:10.56\00:25:14.98
Notice Hebrews 2:11, 12,
Hebrews 2:11, 12. It says:
00:25:15.01\00:25:24.75
Notice that God is going
to bring many sons to glory.
00:25:36.07\00:25:39.42
God the Father is actually going
to bring many sons to glory,
00:25:45.00\00:25:48.73
and He's going to use the
captain of salvation to bring
00:25:48.76\00:25:51.84
those sons to glory.
00:25:51.87\00:25:53.24
Now notice verse 11.
00:25:53.27\00:25:56.93
Who calls us brethren?
God the Father or Jesus?
00:26:12.21\00:26:16.02
According to
this text it is Jesus.
00:26:16.05\00:26:17.93
So you notice that the Father
actually uses Jesus as the
00:26:17.96\00:26:22.86
captain of our salvation
to bring many sons to glory.
00:26:22.89\00:26:26.57
But God has a Son also.
00:26:26.60\00:26:28.59
And the sons are
brothers and sisters of the Son.
00:26:28.62\00:26:32.02
Now notice once again verse 11.
00:26:32.05\00:26:35.28
For both He who sanctifies,
and those who are being
00:26:35.31\00:26:38.29
sanctified are all of
one: for which reason He is not
00:26:38.32\00:26:42.15
ashamed to call them brethren,
00:26:42.18\00:26:44.26
Because the
brothers had flesh and blood,
00:26:54.28\00:26:57.29
He partook of the same.
00:26:57.32\00:26:59.06
Here we find that Jesus
calls those who have joined
00:26:59.09\00:27:04.12
Him His brethren.
00:27:04.67\00:27:05.88
Now let me ask you, Is
everyone in this world a brother
00:27:05.91\00:27:09.44
and a sister of Jesus? No.
00:27:09.47\00:27:13.28
This is a technical term
which refers to those who have
00:27:13.31\00:27:18.47
been born with sinful
flesh, but who have accepted
00:27:18.50\00:27:22.15
Jesus as Savior, have
joined Him, and have become
00:27:22.18\00:27:25.82
His brothers and
sisters through conversion.
00:27:25.85\00:27:28.32
Notice Mark 3:35, Mark 3:35.
00:27:28.35\00:27:35.50
The definition of
Jesus as our brother.
00:27:35.53\00:27:39.58
And who are the
brothers of Jesus?
00:27:39.61\00:27:42.17
It says here in Mark
3:35, Jesus is speaking:
00:27:42.20\00:27:47.35
Could a common,
ordinary, unconverted
00:27:50.63\00:27:54.65
person do the will
of God? Of course not.
00:27:54.68\00:27:57.42
According to Jesus what?
00:28:01.52\00:28:02.95
Notice that the word brother
means someone who has been
00:28:09.18\00:28:13.15
converted and
does the will of God.
00:28:13.18\00:28:15.48
So what does the Bible
mean when it says that Jesus
00:28:15.51\00:28:18.33
became like His brethren?
00:28:18.36\00:28:19.89
In fact, let's read
it in Hebrews 2:17, 18.
00:28:19.92\00:28:25.13
Did Jesus come to this world
with the unregenerateD nature
00:28:25.16\00:28:29.46
of a thief, and a
murderer, and a drunkard?
00:28:29.49\00:28:33.51
Of course not. He came
to this world with a nature
00:28:33.54\00:28:37.91
like the nature His
brethren possess when they
00:28:37.94\00:28:41.14
are converted to Jesus.
00:28:41.17\00:28:43.63
Notice Hebrews 2:17, 18.
00:28:43.66\00:28:46.54
How many things? What
does the word all mean?
00:28:49.94\00:28:56.23
Do we need to debate
the meaning of the word all?
00:28:56.26\00:29:00.36
How did Jesus
come to this world?
00:29:09.97\00:29:13.55
He came into this world
as what? as His brethren.
00:29:13.58\00:29:18.88
Are His brethren the
converted or the unconverted?
00:29:18.91\00:29:21.53
The converted.
00:29:21.56\00:29:22.86
I'd like to read a
series of statements,
00:29:42.43\00:29:45.60
very interesting statements,
that we find in different
00:29:45.63\00:29:48.57
sources on this aspect
of the nature of Christ.
00:29:48.60\00:29:52.75
The first one is found in Signs
of the Times, May 16, 1895.
00:29:52.78\00:29:58.66
And the writer of
this statement, of course,
00:29:58.69\00:30:00.62
is Ellen White. She says this:
00:30:00.65\00:30:03.93
She grasped what the
Bible was talking about.
00:30:03.96\00:30:06.78
We think of Jesus as
being too aloof of us.
00:30:29.45\00:30:32.86
And, by the way, in Roman
Catholic theology Jesus is
00:30:32.89\00:30:36.40
aloof. That's the reason
you have to go through Mary
00:30:36.43\00:30:41.14
to Jesus, because
Mary is the human.
00:30:41.17\00:30:43.56
Mary is the loving mother.
00:30:43.59\00:30:45.30
Mary is the merciful mother.
00:30:45.33\00:30:47.57
Jesus is different than us.
00:30:47.60\00:30:50.72
See, He's the one
who meets out justice
00:30:50.75\00:30:53.97
in Roman Catholic theology.
00:30:54.00\00:30:55.55
She continues
saying: this is because...
00:30:55.58\00:30:59.75
The reason why we
look at Jesus this way.
00:30:59.78\00:31:01.46
This is because we do
not take in the fact of
00:31:01.49\00:31:06.09
His oneness with humanity.
00:31:06.12\00:31:09.23
Why do we think that
Jesus can't sympathize with our
00:31:09.26\00:31:11.30
frailties and our weaknesses?
00:31:11.33\00:31:12.48
Because we don't realize that
He is what? one with humanity.
00:31:12.51\00:31:16.21
That is a powerful statement.
00:31:43.55\00:31:45.77
Jesus can sympathize with us.
00:31:45.80\00:31:48.67
We can know that He
understands us in our frailties,
00:31:48.70\00:31:51.98
and in our weaknesses.
00:31:52.01\00:31:53.12
And the power which He had to
overcome is the same power that
00:31:53.15\00:31:56.63
we can have to overcome.
00:31:56.66\00:31:58.26
There is no excuse,
in other words, for sin.
00:31:58.29\00:32:01.53
We can't say the
devil made me do it.
00:32:01.56\00:32:04.79
My weak sinful
flesh made me do it.
00:32:04.82\00:32:07.39
Is that the excuse that we're
going to render God when we
00:32:07.42\00:32:11.42
get before His judgment seat?
00:32:11.45\00:32:14.25
Oh, you know, the
flesh was too weak.
00:32:14.28\00:32:16.66
Do you know what
Jesus is going to say?
00:32:16.69\00:32:18.24
But My Spirit was very strong.
00:32:18.27\00:32:20.57
See when you say that we can't
overcome sin, you're not saying
00:32:20.60\00:32:25.34
that the flesh is weak, what
you're saying is that God is not
00:32:25.37\00:32:28.17
powerful enough to give
us the victory over sin.
00:32:28.20\00:32:31.16
You're saying that
the flesh is more powerful
00:32:31.19\00:32:33.76
than the power of God.
00:32:33.79\00:32:37.20
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:32:37.23\00:32:38.59
Now notice once
again another statement.
00:32:38.62\00:32:41.29
General Conference
Bulletin, February 25, 1895.
00:32:41.32\00:32:45.41
Powerful statement.
00:32:45.44\00:32:46.47
Whose place did He take?
00:32:57.65\00:33:00.04
That is Adam.
00:33:30.44\00:33:31.47
Another statement in the
Adventist Review and Sabbath
00:33:56.75\00:34:00.49
Herald, February 24, 1874.
00:34:00.52\00:34:03.84
Is that clear? Only by taking
the place of whom? fallen Adam.
00:34:14.04\00:34:20.63
In the Youth's
Instructor, December 20, 1900
00:34:40.99\00:34:45.03
we find this
amazing statement. She says:
00:34:45.06\00:34:48.45
That's a powerful
statement. Once again:
00:35:04.95\00:35:08.39
But He had the
Spirit in His life.
00:35:13.52\00:35:15.14
And His Spirit gave Him the
victory even over sinful flesh.
00:35:15.17\00:35:20.02
In other words, Jesus lived
a perfect life in sinful flesh,
00:35:20.05\00:35:24.67
because He allowed
the Spirit to dictate
00:35:24.70\00:35:27.95
the decisions of His life.
00:35:27.98\00:35:29.80
She continues saying:
00:35:29.83\00:35:31.77
Have you ever read the
genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1?
00:35:37.86\00:35:42.80
Whom did Jesus descend from?
00:35:42.83\00:35:47.54
He descended
from Abraham the liar.
00:35:47.57\00:35:51.22
He descended from
Jacob the supplanter.
00:35:51.25\00:35:58.05
He descended from
David the adulterer.
00:35:58.08\00:36:02.20
He descended
from Rahab the harlot.
00:36:02.23\00:36:06.12
He descended from
Ruth the Mohabitest.
00:36:06.15\00:36:09.66
She wasn't a bad lady, but
she wasn't even an Israelite.
00:36:09.69\00:36:12.53
He descended from
Manassa, one of the worst
00:36:12.56\00:36:17.16
and most wicked kings
in the history of Israel.
00:36:17.19\00:36:20.39
And he also descended from Amon,
00:36:20.42\00:36:22.56
who was even worse than Manassa.
00:36:22.59\00:36:25.35
Jesus, in other words, received
by heredity the characteristics
00:36:25.38\00:36:32.56
that these ancestors possessed.
00:36:32.59\00:36:35.67
He came with the
likeness of sinful flesh,
00:36:35.70\00:36:38.62
but by the power of God, he
overcame sin in sinful flesh.
00:36:38.65\00:36:44.21
You know, that is an
extraordinary miracle of God,
00:36:44.24\00:36:48.60
that Jesus depended on
divine power to overcome sin.
00:36:48.64\00:36:53.31
In that classic book,
The Desire of Ages, page 49,
00:36:53.34\00:36:59.50
we find this amazing statement:
00:36:59.53\00:37:02.56
Are you digesting that
part of that statement?
00:37:16.93\00:37:21.43
Did Jesus come with
the unfallen nature of Adam
00:37:21.46\00:37:25.07
as it was in the
garden of Eden? No. She says:
00:37:25.10\00:37:28.37
Here's the but.
00:37:37.10\00:37:38.56
Let me ask you, if Jesus came
with a different nature than we
00:38:20.45\00:38:23.68
have, His
brethren, His regenerated,
00:38:23.71\00:38:26.18
converted brethren.
00:38:26.21\00:38:27.30
If Jesus had a different nature
than us, could He ever ask us
00:38:27.33\00:38:31.35
to follow His
example? Absolutely not!
00:38:31.38\00:38:34.33
If Jesus had powers and
resources that we do not have
00:38:34.36\00:38:38.19
access to, He could not ask
us to overcome as He overcame.
00:38:38.22\00:38:42.66
You know, I use this example.
00:38:42.69\00:38:44.59
Supposing that
Superman did exist,
00:38:44.62\00:38:46.80
and we know that he
doesn't exist, of course.
00:38:46.83\00:38:48.60
And that he appeared here
at the back door and he said,
00:38:48.63\00:38:51.50
Hello folks, how are
you all doing this wonderful
00:38:51.53\00:38:54.30
Sabbath afternoon?
00:38:54.33\00:38:55.36
And then he says, Watch me!
00:38:55.39\00:39:00.59
And he says not only
watch me, he says, follow me,
00:39:00.62\00:39:05.61
and he flies off
into the heavens.
00:39:05.64\00:39:07.70
What would you say?
00:39:07.73\00:39:10.13
You'd say, Now wait a minute!
00:39:10.16\00:39:11.19
Follow me? Why
couldn't we follow him?
00:39:11.22\00:39:13.72
Because he has
powers that we don't have.
00:39:13.75\00:39:17.87
How could Jesus say, Follow
Me, if Jesus had powers that we
00:39:17.90\00:39:23.43
do not have access to, if
Jesus had a superior nature
00:39:23.46\00:39:27.46
to the nature that we receive
when we are born again through
00:39:27.49\00:39:31.08
the power of the Holy Spirit?
00:39:31.12\00:39:32.81
Incidentally, Ellen White
is not the only one who teaches
00:39:32.84\00:39:37.33
that Jesus took the
nature of Adam after the fall,
00:39:37.36\00:39:40.24
after it had been regenerated
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:39:40.27\00:39:43.94
Debateably the greatest
theologian of the twentieth
00:39:43.97\00:39:47.78
century was called Carl Barth.
00:39:47.81\00:39:49.50
Maybe you haven't heard of him,
but he wrote a series of books
00:39:49.53\00:39:52.50
called Church Dogmatics.
00:39:52.53\00:39:54.26
And this is what Carl Barth
had to say about which nature
00:39:54.29\00:39:58.37
Jesus took upon Himself.
00:39:58.40\00:40:00.00
He continues saying:
00:40:18.58\00:40:21.28
Powerful statement by
a theologian who is not
00:40:48.88\00:40:53.38
a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:40:53.41\00:40:54.44
And there are also other
theologians who have similar
00:40:54.47\00:40:58.83
statements to this statement.
00:40:58.86\00:41:00.92
Now I'd like to read a couple of
verses which have been greatly
00:41:00.95\00:41:05.90
debated by theologians.
00:41:05.93\00:41:07.43
And you know, they've tried to
fix the translation by saying,
00:41:07.46\00:41:10.53
you know, that a person who
is born of God does not continue
00:41:10.56\00:41:14.12
habitually to sin.
00:41:14.15\00:41:15.22
You know, they do all
kinds of trying to fix the text.
00:41:15.25\00:41:20.21
But I want to
read this statement as
00:41:20.24\00:41:22.00
it's found in the Bible.
00:41:22.03\00:41:23.44
1 John 3:8, 9, 1 John 3:8, 9.
00:41:23.47\00:41:30.86
Here John, the beloved
disciple of Jesus says this:
00:41:30.89\00:41:38.97
And now notice this:
00:41:55.36\00:41:56.62
Is that talking about
conversion? those who are
00:42:01.25\00:42:05.04
born of the water and
of the Spirit? Absolutely!
00:42:05.07\00:42:07.56
Remember that!
00:42:15.31\00:42:16.34
And immediately when I read
that, the first question that
00:42:21.36\00:42:24.03
comes to the minds of
people, Well, Pastor Bohr,
00:42:24.06\00:42:26.41
are you perfect? And my
answer is always, Far from it!
00:42:26.44\00:42:33.03
But listen, the reason I am
not perfect is not because God
00:42:33.06\00:42:39.39
doesn't have the power to give
me the victory and to make me
00:42:39.42\00:42:42.85
perfect, it's because I
don't meet the conditions.
00:42:42.88\00:42:46.17
It's because I don't
constantly come close to Jesus,
00:42:46.20\00:42:50.95
abide in Jesus, remain in Jesus.
00:42:50.98\00:42:53.92
In other words, it's no lack of
the power of God; it's a lack of
00:42:53.95\00:42:58.60
submitting to Jesus as
my Savior, and as my Lord.
00:42:58.63\00:43:02.16
And, by the way, the possibility
of perfection does not hinge
00:43:02.19\00:43:06.09
on whether I am perfect or not.
00:43:06.12\00:43:08.22
It hinges on whether God has the
power to make me perfect or not.
00:43:08.25\00:43:13.00
Notice 2 Peter 1:4.
00:43:13.03\00:43:18.29
Let me ask you, Did Jesus
have access to the power of the
00:43:18.32\00:43:23.11
divine nature to
overcome sin in His humanity?
00:43:23.14\00:43:27.05
Did Jesus have
divine power? Yes, He did.
00:43:27.08\00:43:30.35
Did God give Him divine power
to overcome sin in His life?
00:43:30.38\00:43:35.03
Constantly! Yes! He
was born of the Spirit.
00:43:35.06\00:43:38.38
He actually grew
up in the Spirit.
00:43:38.41\00:43:40.79
He was baptized by the Spirit.
00:43:40.82\00:43:42.46
He ministered by the Spirit.
00:43:42.54\00:43:43.89
He died by the Spirit.
00:43:43.92\00:43:45.29
He was
resurrected by the Spirit.
00:43:45.32\00:43:47.20
In other words, the Spirit
was in total control of His life
00:43:47.23\00:43:50.04
from beginning to end.
00:43:50.07\00:43:51.26
And so it can be with us if
we meet the same conditions.
00:43:51.29\00:43:55.20
Notice 2 Peter 1:4.
00:43:55.23\00:43:57.97
What has God given us? He has...
00:44:06.57\00:44:08.75
Who is you? That's us! Yes!
00:44:15.83\00:44:20.80
Can we have a divine nature?
00:44:34.30\00:44:36.81
Can we receive the power
of the divine nature of Jesus?
00:44:36.84\00:44:40.33
Yes, we can! Can it lead
our human nature to overcome
00:44:40.36\00:44:45.96
the power of sin? Absolutely!
00:44:45.99\00:44:48.85
You know, we all know about
the ladder which is mentioned
00:44:48.88\00:44:54.29
in actually two places in
Genesis 28, and also John 1.
00:44:54.32\00:45:01.36
That ladder is Jesus.
00:45:01.39\00:45:03.99
We've already noticed
that in Roman Catholic theology
00:45:04.02\00:45:06.51
the ladder is Mary.
00:45:06.54\00:45:07.84
She's the bridge
between heaven and earth.
00:45:07.87\00:45:10.24
Because Jesus is really
the advocate of justice.
00:45:10.27\00:45:13.70
Mary is the advocate of mercy.
00:45:13.73\00:45:16.12
Well, my Bible tells me that
Jesus is the advocate of mercy,
00:45:16.15\00:45:19.86
and He's also the
advocate of justice.
00:45:19.89\00:45:22.36
Now you say, Why
can't Mary be the advocate?
00:45:22.39\00:45:27.23
Why can't she be the ladder?
00:45:27.26\00:45:28.68
It's very, very simple.
00:45:28.71\00:45:30.10
The ladder, we are told,
was planted firmly on the earth.
00:45:30.13\00:45:34.15
And the top of the ladder
reached the highest heaven.
00:45:34.18\00:45:38.13
The ladder actually represents
the two natures that Jesus had.
00:45:38.16\00:45:43.50
Jesus had the human nature.
00:45:43.53\00:45:46.77
In other words, He
was established on earth,
00:45:46.80\00:45:49.18
but the ladder
reached to the highest heaven,
00:45:49.21\00:45:51.66
which means that He was God.
00:45:51.69\00:45:53.81
He was God, and He was man.
00:45:53.84\00:45:56.52
Therefore He could be
the ladder, because He has
00:45:56.55\00:45:58.51
the top and the bottom.
00:45:58.54\00:46:00.18
The problem with Mary
is that Mary is only human.
00:46:00.21\00:46:03.08
The problem is with
the top of the ladder.
00:46:03.11\00:46:07.30
Only one who is God can
represent us before God.
00:46:07.33\00:46:11.42
And only one who is
man can adequately present
00:46:11.45\00:46:14.79
our case before God.
00:46:14.82\00:46:16.36
In other words, Jesus is the
bridge between heaven and earth.
00:46:16.39\00:46:19.81
And as Jesus overcame
sin in His sinful nature,
00:46:19.84\00:46:23.53
through the power of
the divine nature, Scripture
00:46:23.56\00:46:27.26
in 2 Peter 1:4 says that
we can have the divine nature,
00:46:27.29\00:46:30.92
and we can also overcome sin.
00:46:30.95\00:46:33.41
Basically, the idea of
the immaculate conception,
00:46:33.44\00:46:38.21
and the idea that Jesus came
into this world through Mary,
00:46:38.24\00:46:42.52
who was immaculate, and
therefore she brought Jesus
00:46:42.55\00:46:47.33
into the world immaculate,
is that it separates Mary
00:46:47.36\00:46:51.27
and Jesus from us.
00:46:51.30\00:46:53.08
It primarily
separates Jesus from us.
00:46:53.11\00:46:55.91
There's a broken
link between Jesus and us.
00:46:55.94\00:46:59.26
In other words, He had a
different nature than we have.
00:46:59.29\00:47:01.80
What hope is there for us
to overcome as He overcame?
00:47:01.83\00:47:05.62
What hope is there for
us to follow His example,
00:47:05.65\00:47:08.44
if He had a
different nature than we have,
00:47:08.47\00:47:11.37
than His brothers
and His sisters have?
00:47:11.40\00:47:13.80
So you see that this idea of the
immaculate conception of Mary,
00:47:13.83\00:47:17.97
and therefore bringing Jesus
immaculately with the nature
00:47:18.00\00:47:21.18
of Adam before the
fall into the world,
00:47:21.21\00:47:22.98
has serious
theological implications.
00:47:23.01\00:47:25.93
The implications are whether
you are able to overcome sin
00:47:25.96\00:47:30.92
or not in your life.
00:47:30.95\00:47:33.36
Now notice this statement from
The Desire of Ages, that classic
00:47:33.39\00:47:37.04
book on Jesus, the
Redeemer of the world.
00:47:37.07\00:47:41.35
It's actually a
beautiful biography of Jesus.
00:47:41.38\00:47:43.80
Pages 311 and 312.
00:47:43.83\00:47:45.50
Now what does it mean that
it needed to reach the earth
00:48:08.44\00:48:13.72
to the last
step? Now she explains:
00:48:13.75\00:48:16.38
Not where Adam was.
00:48:22.72\00:48:24.69
Isn't that wonderful?
00:48:34.59\00:48:36.39
And then she quotes Romans 8.
00:48:37.70\00:48:39.21
You say, Well, Pastor
that is an impossible goal.
00:49:09.19\00:49:13.25
So what you're
saying is that God gives us
00:49:13.28\00:49:15.58
impossible goals to reach.
00:49:15.61\00:49:17.01
He says, be perfect, but I
know that you really can't.
00:49:17.04\00:49:21.08
Is that the way God
operates? Absolutely not!
00:49:21.11\00:49:25.95
You know that very famous text.
00:49:25.98\00:49:30.18
It's one of my favorites.
00:49:30.21\00:49:31.24
Philippians 4:13. We've quoted
that one before. That text says:
00:49:31.27\00:49:39.75
I can do most things through
Christ who strengthens me.
00:49:39.78\00:49:44.29
Lets try again. I can
do some things through
00:49:44.32\00:49:51.67
Christ who strengthens me.
00:49:51.70\00:49:53.22
No! The text says: I can do
all things except overcome sin
00:49:53.25\00:49:59.88
through Christ
who strengthens me.
00:49:59.91\00:50:01.95
That's not what the text says.
00:50:01.98\00:50:04.43
The text says that we
can do all things through
00:50:04.46\00:50:08.11
Christ who strengthens us.
00:50:08.14\00:50:10.62
In other words, we can overcome
sin by the power that God
00:50:10.65\00:50:15.91
gives us in Jesus Christ.
00:50:15.94\00:50:17.61
We also, in the likeness
of sinful flesh, if we depend
00:50:17.64\00:50:22.08
upon God as Jesus depended
upon His Father, we can be more
00:50:22.11\00:50:26.44
than overcomers through
Jesus Christ who loved us
00:50:26.47\00:50:30.04
and gave His life for us.
00:50:30.07\00:50:31.92
The reason why we haven't
reached that goal is because
00:50:31.95\00:50:36.01
we do not fulfill the
conditions of abiding in Jesus.
00:50:36.04\00:50:40.73
Abide in Me and I in you.
00:50:40.76\00:50:44.01
When we submit ourselves to
Jesus every moment, every day,
00:50:44.04\00:50:48.49
and the Holy Spirit leads our
life, we gain victory over sin.
00:50:48.52\00:50:52.19
But the trouble is
we're dedicating so much time
00:50:52.22\00:50:54.80
in front of the television.
00:50:54.83\00:50:56.71
Do you actually think
that that's going to give
00:50:56.74\00:50:59.59
us victory over sin?
00:50:59.62\00:51:00.69
We dedicate so much of our
time to running to and fro,
00:51:00.72\00:51:05.36
in things that are
not bad in themselves.
00:51:05.39\00:51:07.26
You know, in our
work we're so busy.
00:51:07.29\00:51:10.36
We're so caught up in the
routine of life that we barely
00:51:10.39\00:51:13.37
have time to even think
about Jesus in the course
00:51:13.40\00:51:16.01
of our daily activities.
00:51:16.04\00:51:17.53
And, of course, if we're not in
tune with Jesus at every moment
00:51:17.56\00:51:21.66
of every day, there's not
going to be victory over sin.
00:51:21.69\00:51:25.55
I would like to bring my remarks
to a conclusion by reading
00:51:25.58\00:51:30.38
an amazing statement.
00:51:30.41\00:51:32.22
This statement is found in
The Great Controversy, page 623,
00:51:32.25\00:51:37.58
and it's shaken up more than
one person, I must warn you.
00:51:37.61\00:51:42.31
Listen to this:
Now... when? Now.
00:51:42.35\00:51:49.69
That was a weak
now, but that's alright.
00:51:49.72\00:51:51.41
And now notice how she describes
the perfection of Jesus.
00:52:05.43\00:52:10.10
Not even by what?
Not even by a thought
00:52:19.51\00:52:23.99
could Jesus be
brought to yield...
00:52:25.13\00:52:27.48
And then she goes to
speak about us. She says:
00:52:27.52\00:52:30.34
See that? Some
sinful desire is cherished?
00:52:43.06\00:52:47.05
Where's the problem?
00:52:51.97\00:52:53.00
We cherish sin.
And what does sin do?
00:52:53.03\00:52:56.16
It asserts it's what? its power.
00:52:56.19\00:52:58.34
She continues saying:
00:52:58.37\00:52:59.75
And now comes the amazing
conclusion of this statement.
00:53:28.22\00:53:45.45
Ellen White says this:
00:53:45.48\00:53:46.51
That's an amazing statement!
00:53:46.54\00:53:47.57
Not even in what? Not even
in thought, Ellen White says,
00:53:47.60\00:53:54.25
could Jesus be felled
by the power of the enemy;
00:53:54.28\00:53:56.79
much less in action.
00:53:56.82\00:53:59.60
And she says that this is the
condition in which God's people
00:53:59.63\00:54:03.89
will be found who will go
through the time of trouble;
00:54:03.92\00:54:07.38
the time of trouble
such as the world has never
00:54:07.41\00:54:11.42
seen in its history.
00:54:11.45\00:54:13.45
Where God's people
will face the death decree.
00:54:13.48\00:54:17.49
Where God's people will
go through the experience of
00:54:17.52\00:54:20.28
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
00:54:20.31\00:54:21.87
You know, this is one of my
favorite stories of Scripture.
00:54:21.90\00:54:24.79
Let me ask you, was the strength
and the loyalty of these three
00:54:24.82\00:54:30.52
young men fixed in
their minds? Yes, it was.
00:54:30.55\00:54:34.51
Had they grown
in sanctification?
00:54:34.55\00:54:36.94
You know, you
read the first chapter.
00:54:36.97\00:54:39.12
In the first chapter
their lives were not in danger.
00:54:39.15\00:54:42.73
The cook's life was,
because if they were skinny,
00:54:42.76\00:54:47.00
and they were weak,
Nebuchadnezzar was going to
00:54:47.03\00:54:49.16
say to the cook, Hey, how
come these guys are skinny?
00:54:49.19\00:54:52.34
And why isn't their
minds working the way
00:54:52.37\00:54:53.90
it's supposed to work?
00:54:53.93\00:54:54.96
You know, their
lives were not in danger.
00:54:54.99\00:54:58.47
But they decided that
they would remain loyal to God.
00:54:58.50\00:55:01.99
They would be faithful.
00:55:02.02\00:55:03.05
They would be obedient to God.
00:55:03.08\00:55:04.70
And so they asked for
water, and they asked for pulse,
00:55:04.73\00:55:09.23
or for vegetables to eat.
00:55:09.26\00:55:11.09
They made their decision in
a small trial, in a small test.
00:55:11.12\00:55:15.94
And they made that
the model of their life.
00:55:15.97\00:55:17.85
Conquer in the small things
that when the great trials come
00:55:17.88\00:55:21.68
we can also overcome.
00:55:21.71\00:55:23.17
And so then we're
told that they had to face
00:55:23.20\00:55:26.76
a much great trial.
00:55:26.79\00:55:28.23
And they had grown in
their spiritual experience.
00:55:28.26\00:55:31.66
In fact, we're told in
Daniel 3 that they faced
00:55:31.69\00:55:36.78
the image of the beast.
00:55:36.81\00:55:38.41
As Nebuchadnezzar for awhile,
lived as a beast, you know.
00:55:38.44\00:55:41.04
So he raises up an image.
00:55:41.07\00:55:42.88
He commands everyone to worship
the image which he has raised.
00:55:42.91\00:55:47.10
And whoever does not worship
the image will be killed.
00:55:47.13\00:55:50.77
And there's a small remnant
that says, We will not worship.
00:55:50.80\00:55:53.37
Let me ask you, Is
this a pre-figuring
00:55:53.40\00:55:55.50
of the time of trouble?
00:55:55.53\00:55:56.56
It most certainly is.
00:55:56.59\00:55:57.79
You know Revelation 13.
00:55:57.82\00:55:59.56
It says in Revelation 13 that
the beast will raise his image.
00:55:59.59\00:56:03.81
He will command everyone to
worship the image to the beast.
00:56:03.84\00:56:07.63
And whoever does not worship
will be what? will be killed.
00:56:07.66\00:56:10.88
Is God going to have a people
who will stand and will say,
00:56:10.91\00:56:15.45
We will be faithful to
God though the heavens fall.
00:56:15.48\00:56:19.22
Though we lose our lives, we
will be faithful to the Lord.
00:56:19.25\00:56:23.01
Absolutely! Because they
have grown in sanctification.
00:56:23.04\00:56:27.31
If you want to read a
fantastic little book,
00:56:27.34\00:56:29.14
it's one of the less
famous books of Ellen White.
00:56:29.17\00:56:31.15
It's called The Sanctified Life.
00:56:31.18\00:56:33.23
Beautiful little book!
00:56:33.26\00:56:35.57
It deals with Daniel.
00:56:35.60\00:56:37.46
It deals with John the apostle,
one of the sons of thunder.
00:56:37.49\00:56:40.42
If you want to see how he grew
in grace, and in the knowledge
00:56:40.45\00:56:43.19
of Jesus. It's amazing how
it's described in that book.
00:56:43.22\00:56:46.35
So it's time for us to
get down to business folks.
00:56:46.38\00:56:49.38
This idea of the
immaculate conception is really
00:56:49.41\00:56:52.96
an immaculate deception, because
it separates Jesus from us.
00:56:52.99\00:56:57.96
It breaks the link between Jesus
and us, because it makes Jesus
00:56:58.00\00:57:02.94
different than us.
00:57:02.97\00:57:04.54
So Mary had to be different so
that Jesus could be different.
00:57:04.57\00:57:08.46
And a different Jesus cannot
help us in the plight in which
00:57:08.49\00:57:13.73
we are found now.
00:57:13.76\00:57:16.72
So may God bless us and
help us, through His power,
00:57:16.75\00:57:21.50
to gain the victory over sin.
00:57:21.53\00:57:22.56